| GameBump |

Halo Wars Demo Hits Xbox Live

Zach Lott — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:23:58 -0600

The Xbox Live demo for Halo Wars, the RTS title from the recently-disbanded Ensemble Studios, was released back on Thursday, giving fans a chance to check out how Halo holds up as a strategy title.

The download contains a tutorial, along with a skirmish map and couple of scenarios from the campaign. There's no online or single-player co-op, but there's still plenty to check out.

The game will hit store shelves on March 3, so download the demo and let us know what you think.

Resident Evil 5 Demo Hits Xbox Live

Zach Lott — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:16:41 -0600

Although Microsoft is rather busy these days with firing their employees, it seems that they haven't forgotten that they still have an online service to maintain, as Major Nelson has announced via his official blog that a demo for Resident Evil 5 has arrived on Xbox Live.

The demo, which is the same one released in Japan last month, allows you to play "by yourself or play with a partner in co-op mode, either online or offline with a split screen," according to Nelson.

Capcom has yet to reveal a date for the PSN demo, but it shouldn't be long before it'll be available. We'll let you know once it's announced.

Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix Destroys Sales Records

Zach Lott — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:55:34 -0600

Over at Capcom's website, John Diamonon has revealed in a blog post that Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix may very well become the highest-grossing digital game ever made, having already sold over 250,000 units since its release in late November.

Diamonon mentioned in his post that the game has "shattered" day one and week one sales records and is on pace to break the 30 day sales mark.

The game has been reviewed very well and has garnered praise for its music and artwork, the latter of which, interestingly enough, almost got the game cancelled at one point for a perceived lack of quality. You can download it either through the Playstation Store or Xbox Live Arcade.

Capcom announces dates for Super Street Fighter II HD for XBLA, PSN

Zach Lott — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:10:06 -0600

Capcom announced today the release dates for Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix - November 25 for the PSN version and November 26 for the XBLA version.

Also announced was that various Street Fighter-themed DLC will be released for various XBLA titles while another "little surprise" will be coming for PSN later in the year. In addition, a downloable album of hip-hop music inspired by Street Fighter will be made available for PS3 owners when SSFIITHDR is released.

U.S. Chooses Barack Obama

Tim Grube — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:42:55 -0600

Banjo Kazooie Demo Arrives on Xbox Live

Solomon Lee — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:49:44 -0500

Following the special preorder bonus, the demo for Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts has made its way to Xbox Live. The demo is sized at 1.07 GB and allows you to explore vehicle building and "Jiggy" challenges.

Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts is set for release on November 11.

Tomb Raider: Underworld Demo Now Available On XBL

Aaron Dunlap — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:58:36 -0500

In case you haven't got enough Lara in your life, you can now download an official demo for Tomb Raider: Underworld via the Xbox Live Marketplace.

PS3 fans seem to not be invited to this party. We haven't gotten any word that a demo will find its way to the PlayStation Network.

Tomb Raider: Underworld goes on sale November 18.

Rare Announces Details On Banjo-Kazooie Preorder Bonus

Zach Lott — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:00:14 -0500

If you're a Banjo-Kazooie fan, then there's no doubt that you've been waiting since last month for details on how to pre-order Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts, as it was then that Rare revealed that those who do pre-order will receive an Xbox Live Arcade version of the original Kazooie game as a bonus. Wait no longer; those details are finally here.

"You'll get the free B-K download token on or near the time you pick up Nuts & Bolts, and for the period between the launch of the two games (Nuts & Bolts on November 11th/14th in US/Europe, B-K XBLA on November 26th), only N&B pre-order customers will be able to download and play B-K XBLA," says a news post on Rare's official website.

You'll be able to download the game for fifteen dollars if you don't want to pre-order, but it's certainly a good way to save some money if you're planning on picking up Nuts and Bolts.

Here's a full list of participating retailers:

U.K.: Amazon, Play.com, Game, and Gamestation
U.S.: Amazon, EBGames, GameStop, and GameCrazy
FRANCE: Micromania and Game
SPAIN: Game
ITALY: GameStop
SCANDINAVIA: Game and GameStop

Mega Man 9 Achievements Revealed

Zach Lott — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:18:41 -0500

Well, the achievements for the XBLA version of Mega Man 9 have been revealed, and "hardcore" might not be enough of a term to describe them.

Indeed, to collect these virtual treasures it'll take a superhuman effort, as you'll be performing such tasks as clearing the game without using any energy tanks, beating every boss with just the Mega Buster, and clearing the game without dying.

Hit the jump for a full list of what to expect.

Jitterbug -- Clear the game in 60 minutes or less (20 Achievement points)

Invincible -- Clear the game without dying (30 points)

Almost Invincible -- Clear the game without continuing (20 points)

No Coffee Break Clear the game without using any Energy or Mystery Tanks (10 points)

Peacekeeper -- Clear the game by defeating the fewest number of enemies possible (20 points)

Conservationist -- Clear the game by using the least amount of Weapon Energy possible (20 points)

Gamer's Day -- Clear the game five times in one day (20 points)

Whomp Wily! -- Clear the game once (5 points)

Destroyer -- Defeat your 1000th enemy (20 points)

World Warrior -- Defeat every type of enemy (5 points)

Trusty Sidearm -- Defeat the eight Bosses with the Mega Buster (20 points)

Blue Bomber -- Defeat a Boss without getting damaged (10 points)

GFW Live Multiplayer Features Now Free, Marketplace Coming

Zach Lott — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:49:44 -0500

Microsoft's Games For Windows initiative has caught a lot of anger from the gaming community for a variety of reasons, but some of those are about to erased, as 1up is reporting that a couple of big announcements regarding GFW Live have been made at Gamefest 2008.

First up is the news that multiplayer features such as matchmaking and cross-platform play with the Xbox 360 no longer require a paid GFW Live Gold account. Many gamers have been hostile towards Microsoft in the past for charging for these features, most of which are free on services such as Steam.

Next was the announcement that the long-overdue GFW Live Marketplace is coming, from which you will be able to pick up demos, trailers, and more. Microsoft plans to make it as functional and content-rich as the Xbox Live Marketplace.

In addition, it was announced that a change to the GFW interface making it easier for developers to make their games compatible with the service is coming. A pair of upcoming GFW games were also revealed in the form of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II and Battlestations: Pacific.

Microsoft looks like they're finally ready to take their PC gaming service seriously, but with Steam ruling the market it may be hard or impossible to overcome the disastrous launch and convince gamers that GFW Live is the future of PC gaming. It'll be interesting to see how these announcements go over with the PC gaming community.

E3 2008: Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 Announced

Tim Grube — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:02:54 -0500

Activision and Microsoft announced today the development of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 for Xbox Live Arcade on the Xbox 360.

The game is developed by Bizarre Creations, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 takes players on an all new ride through six different action-packed gameplay modes. With all the signature vibrant visuals and heart-pumping battles of the original, the game also features a new electrifying soundtrack and exhilarating local multiplayer modes in either versus or co-op for up to four players.

The title is scheduled for release this summer via download and has been rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

E3 2008: Microsoft Reveals XBLA Lineup

Zach Lott — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:29:35 -0500

Microsoft made quite a few announcements at their press conference today, not the least of which is that they've got several titles slated for Xbox Live Arcade this year.

Leading the way is Portal: Still Alive, an expansion of Valve's wildly popular puzzle game from last year that will contain fresh levels and achievements. It should hit XBLA this fall.

Also announced were Geometry Wars 2 and Galaga Legions, which should satisfy those of you craving more retro-style shooters. The latter will be released next month.

Other announcements include Rare's N64 classic Banjo-Kazooie, Uno Rush, and an unnamed South Park title.

New Mega Man 9 Trailer And Info

Zach Lott — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:08:18 -0500

It's not quite time for E3, but Capcom has given IGN some fresh details about Mega Man 9 in addition to the game's first trailer.

Perhaps the most interesting announcement is that Mega Man 9 will be hitting XBLA and PSN in addition to Nintendo's WiiWare service. Capcom had previously declared the game to be a Wii exclusive, but the end of the new trailer prominently displays logos for Microsoft and Sony's respective services.

Details about the story have also been unveiled: Mega Man 9 is set after Mega Man 8. Some of Dr. Light's creations are involved in global riots, and Dr. Wily blames him for the occurrences on TV. It's up to Mega Man to clear Dr. Light's name.

IGN notes that the game looks and feels like a classic Mega Man title, with character designs straight from Keiji Inafune, creator of the franchise. There are also over 50 new enemies and bosses, and an online leaderboard will rank you against other players worldwide.

Finally, the first two NES Mega Man games are set to be released on the Virtual Console sometime in the near future.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer, which shows off a variety of levels.

Rumor: Original Metal Gear Solid To Hit XBLA

Zach Lott — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:51:43 -0500

In news unrelated to the E3 leak, Wired's Game|Life blog has heard a rumor that the original Metal Gear Solid was recently spotted on Microsoft's developer-only PartnerNet service, which is used to test upcoming Xbox Live games. If true, this rumor means the game will likely be released on XBLA sometime in the near future.

However, members of the NeoGAF forums quickly pointed out that the huge amount of audio in the game would make it nearly impossible to shrink the game down to the 350 megabyte limit on the size of XBLA games, meaning that Microsoft may once again increase the allowed file size to accommodate the game provided that the rumor is true.

Commando 3, Frogger 2 Coming To XBLA

Solomon Lee — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:58:40 -0500

1UP has reported that the arcade shooter, Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 and Frogger 2 will be making its way to Xbox Live Arcade this week.

Both titles will be available this Wednesday and are priced at 800 Microsoft Points each.

Aces of the Galaxy, Roogoo Coming To XBLA

Solomon Lee — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:15:22 -0500

1UP has reported that Roogoo and Aces of the Galaxy will be making its way to Xbox Live Arcade this week.

Both titles will be available this Wednesday for which Roogoo and Aces will cost 800 Microsoft Points each.

Warlords, Sudoku Coming To XBLA

Solomon Lee — Tue, 27 May 2008 19:34:14 -0500

Kotaku has reported that Warlords and Buku Sudoku will be making its way to Xbox Live Arcade this week.

Both titles will be available this Wednesday for which Warlords and Buku Sudoku will cost 400 and 800 Microsoft Points respectively.

Ikaruga, Poker Smash DLC Coming To XBLA

Solomon Lee — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:12:10 -0500

According to 1UP, the highly anticipated shooter, Ikaruga, in addition to downloadable Poker Smash content, is finally making its way to Xbox Live Arcade this week.

Ikaruga will be available this Wednesday for 800 Microsoft Points whereas the Poker Smash DLC Packs will cost 100 Points each respectively.

Rocky, Commando 3 Coming To XBLA

Solomon Lee — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:58:55 -0500

CVG has reported that Rocky and Bullwinkle and Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 are amongst a list of titles making its way to Xbox Live Arcade in the next few weeks.

The highlights of the titles includes Assault Heroes and Doom that are both available for the reduced cost of 400 Microsoft Points each.

Hit the jump for the full list.

Excerpt:

· Assault Heroes (Sierra Online). Become the only surviving member of an elite special forces unit searching for a secret underground lab. Play the mission alone or fight side-by-side with a friend in the two-player cooperative mode. The winner of IGNs Xbox LIVE Arcade game of the year for 2006, Assault Heroes will be available for 400 Microsoft Points.

· DOOM (id Software). Originally released in 1993, DOOM introduced millions to the white-knuckle excitement of the first-person shooter (FPS). Relive the classic demon-blasting action with up to four players over Xbox LIVE*, complete with 5.1 surround sound and smoother graphics. Doom will be available for 400 Microsoft Points.

· Rocky and Bullwinkle (Zen Studios Ltd.). Heres something youll really like! Based on the highly popular US cartoon series of the same name, Rocky and Bullwinkle on Xbox LIVE Arcade is a fast and fun party experience packed with over 100 micro-games and decked out in authentic retro art style. All your favourite characters are coming straight out of Frostbite Falls and into your living room: Rocky, Bullwinkle, Boris, Natasha, Dudley Do-Right and many more. Plus, players with an Xbox LIVE Vision camera can control 25 of these games using fun gestures. Gee whiz, Rocky!

· Shotest Shogi (AI Factory Ltd. and Rubicon Development Ltd.). Experience a new kind of shogi, Japans top board game, which encourages complex tactical play and strategic sacrifices. Set in an elegant Japanese room, this beautifully rendered game features 16 challenging artificial intelligence opponents as well as an online multiplayer mode*. For beginners, Shotest Shogi on Xbox LIVE Arcade also offers an advanced tutorial that guides and tests players as they progress through the game.

· TiQal (Slapdash Games). An addictive new puzzler, TiQal takes players on an epic journey to save an ancient Mayan village. Players demolish enemy block walls by matching squares of the same colour and building them up to unleash massive combo points and mind-blowing power-ups. Partner with a friend over local or Xbox LIVE* co-op play to rescue the village, while enjoying sumptuous graphics, exciting sound effects and an awe-inspiring musical score.

· Wits & Wagers (Hidden Path Entertainment LLC). Party and trivia fun! Even if trivia isnt your thing, the first trivia and party game to hit Xbox LIVE Arcade is one in which players can win by making educated guesses, playing the odds or just knowing the interests of other players, whether they are local or online. Break out the Big Button Pad controllers or play couch vs. couch on Xbox LIVE for a trivia party extravaganza.

· Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 (Capcom Entertainment Inc.). Xbox LIVE Arcades Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 revives one of the most popular arcade shooters with an all-new adventure. Battle solo or recruit two other specialised commandos to conquer the evil tyrant, General Ratiev. Players can play as Codename Wolf, Coyote or Fox to take on waves of soldiers, rescue POWs and blow up armoured vehicles through a variety of dangerous battlefields.

GB Review: Wipeout Pulse (PSP)

Shiva Stella — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:37:59 -0500

Though it's perhaps not the definitive Wipeout experience, Wipeout Pulse is definitely an improvement on its PSP predecessor in almost every way, offering online multiplayer, customizable music options, seven race types, and even the ability to design your own ship, limited though it may be. It starts slow, and you might be perturbed by the campaign mode now and then as well as a few graphical and acoustic slips, but on the whole it retains the franchise's almost zen-like quality during high-speed, weapons-intense races along with the same futuristic style that fans love.

Click here for an explanation of our review and scoring format.

Wipeout Pulse maintains the feel of the Wipeout universe complete with a futuristic presentation, plenty of techno beats, and fun high-speed races that completely defy a storyline or setting. The essential gameplay aspects of Pulse are strikingly similar to those of its predecessors; the player's objective still being to survive an onslaught of vicious attacks while en route to the finish line for a medal. No significant tweaking has been given to the standard single-race - if you spent more than five minutes with the PlayStation's Wipeout XL then you'll feel right at home, which is a boon for franchise veterans looking for the same thrills they encountered in previous Wipeout games. The dark side of Wipeout racing has also been left intact, with players still blasting each other with three-pronged missile attacks, bomb trails, and the infamous earthquake while nudging opponents into walls or soaring across chasms.

While Pulses basic gameplay aspects might have been overlooked, Sony still managed to differentiate Pulse from its Wipeout brethren by updating the franchises mode offerings. The traditional campaign mode for single-player features the usual seven base race teams vying for supremacy of 12 distinct tracks, with each anti-gravity vehicle sporting its own stats (speed, handling, thrust, etc) and now a loyalty bar that players fill each time they ride with a certain team; obtain enough loyalty points and the game rewards you with a bonus, though other than this free skin gift the bar serves no purpose. The campaign mode is much less linear than in past Wipeout games, though this admittedly comes with some caveats. The mode is split into sixteen sectors, each with four grids, while each grid contains anywhere from eight-sixteen blocks or "racing events" that are unlocked by completing an initial one or two events for that grid. A racing event may contain the usual single-race, zone (in which you fly through a track until you explode, attempting to hit a certain zone count), tournament (short series of single-races), or time trial or it could feature a head-to-head round, speed lap (in which you beat the single best lap time), or eliminator match.

The eliminator race type is a great addition to the series and has players racing to a kill-count instead of the finish line, and while the usual campaign eliminator round has a kill-count of 10, it is possible to up that to 25 for a gold in the game's racebox mode, which enables players to create their own instant matches or additional campaigns (other than that, though, it's practically useless). While the campaign mode is slightly different from what fans are used to, and therefore a bit refreshing, it does get annoying when you're forced to play through events you dislike just to open up the next single-race, zone, or eliminator match, as that amounts to a waste of time for those of us who'd rather race as opposed to perfecting our time trial records. Add to this the fact that the game starts off very slowly for the first four hours and you can accurately estimate the level of frustration you're in for.

The control scheme is carried over from Wipeout Pure and is still as simplistically designed and easy to grasp for newcomers, with D-pad/analog controls managing turning, L/R the left/right airbrakes, X acceleration, and square weapon usage. The absorb ability that allows you to replenish your vehicle's shield (life) is yet another carry-over, followed by the weapon/item (turbo) speed pads that should be recognized instantly by fans as they sport the same X-weapon and arrow-speed design elements, while track design contains the standard loops, tight corners, gaps, and tunnels that you'd expect from almost any racing game.

Sony's biggest sell-point for Pulse is that it features a multiplayer mode that meets Pure's ad-hoc offering and then bests it with online (infrastructure) play, but that's not by very much. The primary hitch is that there are few race customization options here, especially when compared to the almost pointless racebox mode. The only race types for infrastructure include single-race and tournament, which is a shame considering what fun it would be to slaughter opponents online during 25 laps of eliminator. The lack here is a huge missed opportunity and is highlighted by the other "customization options" for infrastructure, which include the ability to select from a handful of tracks and to turn weapons on/off. The attention that racebox received over infrastructure is mind-boggling. Another key issue is that there are very few people playing online, which is sad for a game that's been out for less than a month. Pulse's replay value, which could have been raised significantly by a decent infrastructure, takes another hit from the limited track offerings; the game boasts 12 unique tracks, and while it also utilizes a "black" and a "white" version of each for a touch of variety, that doesn't necessarily up the count to 24 as most of the variations come in race direction and the inclusion of "hidden" areas.

Though most of Pulse's presentation is on par with the rest of the series, showcasing a smooth framerate, mediocre visuals and race tracks heavy on the gray palette, there are some graphical and audio catches during explosions or when a lot of action is occurring on-screen at once, which appears to be more than the game can handle. Additionally there are some clipping issues when the player gets caught in an earthquake attack or lands on his vehicle's nose and has to wait patiently for the game to set him right-side up, after which hes probably lost the race. There's also not a lot of graphical flash except for weapons fire and the destruction of enemy ships, but while that's bearable it's a little more difficult to come to terms with the lag that rears its ugly head precisely as the player approaches a barrage of ships blasting each other into bits. Fortunately the lag is minimal during online play, and in fact its more common in offline races, but this might be because I've yet to play through an eight-person match.

Wipeout Pulse does contain one saving grace: its soundtrack customization. Pulse moves light-years beyond Pure in this area, as it enables gamers to include up to 30 of their own mp3s (depending on card size, of course) in the track list. This absolutely saves the game for those with low tolerance levels for electronica, as track offerings are less than inspiring and pale in comparison to song lists from previous installments. The ambient noises - the hovering of your anti-gravity craft, the thump and skid sounds as you dance near the edge of the track - are intact and functional for most of the gameplay, with the highlight being weapons fire, but there are a few audio catches during intense ship battles as noted above, as well as times when your ship will silently explode to poor background music.

Sony included two other incentives, a free skin editor available on wipeout-game.com and a photo mode, both equally unimpressive. The photo mode is an unnecessary trinket only accessible from the pause menu while the skin editor is plain and cumbersome; its much easier to just download skins from the site than to bother with the online editor. There are also several expansion packs available (or soon to be) for those craving new vehicles, skins, and tracks, but while they add some variety and replay value to Pulse, an expanded infrastructure mode would have made them a greater asset.

Publisher: SCEA
Developer: Studio Liverpool
Release: Feb 12, 2008
MSRP: $29.99
E10+

Ninja Title Coming To XBLA

Solomon Lee — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 20:25:47 -0600

Microsoft has reported that N+, a ninja platformer title will be making its way to Xbox Live Arcade this week.

Quoth directly from the story:

"N+ is a peerless action-puzzle platformer with more than 300 levels in which to hone your ninja reflexes..."

N+ will be available on February 20 for 800 Microsoft Points.

Discs of Tron, Commanders Coming To XBLA

Solomon Lee — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:14:45 -0600

Kotaku has reported that Commanders: Attack of the Genos and Discs of Tron will be making its way to Xbox Live Arcade this week.

Both titles will be available on February 13 at 9 am (GMT) for which Commanders and Tron will cost 800 and 400 Microsoft Points respectively.

Microsoft Adds Three Xbox Originals Games

Shiva Stella — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:20:00 -0600

Microsoft has updated its Xbox Originals program offerings to include Black, Ninja Gaiden Black, and Sid Meier's Pirates.

If you're into the whole "downloading what you should already own in hardcopy" thing, head over to Live now to check them out.

Poker Smash Coming To XBLA

Solomon Lee — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:14:19 -0600

Joystiq has reported that Poker Smash will be making its way to Xbox Live Arcade this week. The game will be available on February 6 at 9 am (GMT) for 800 Microsoft Points.

In addition, a free update will arrive on Xbox Live for the classic title, Crystal Quest that features a score multiplier that allows you to accumulate higher scores in the game.

Call of Duty 4 Best Game Ever

Shiva Stella — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:53:29 -0600

More good news from Activision this morning, as the company has confirmed that Infinity Ward's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare "was the #1 title in units worldwide for calendar 2007, according to The NPD Group, Chart Track and The GFK Group." Larry Hyrb's blog also lists the game as the #1 360 title on Xbox Live (based on unique users).

Here's the rundown on the game's rewards so far:

More than 18 perfect score reviews
More than 40 combined Editors' choice, Game of the Year awards (US)
Nominated for 10 Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences awards (including Game of the Year)
GameBump's own Best Shooter of 2007

"We're very excited about this achievement especially given so many competitive titles this year," said Will Kassoy, senior vice president, global brand management, Activision Publishing, Inc. "Consumer and critics agree that Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is one of the best games ever created and further establishes Call of Duty as one of the premier brands in the industry. This ground-breaking game and franchise continue to establish new standards by which all other action games will be judged."

The game has also sold more than 7 million copies worldwide.

Rez HD Coming to XBLA Next Week?

Solomon Lee — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:47:06 -0600

According to Kotaku, rumors are circulating that Rez HD is coming to Xbox Live Arcade on January 30.

The game was previously released on the Dreamcast and PS2 and is expected to cost Live users 800 Microsoft Points.

Here's to hoping that Rez HD appears on Xbox Live Arcade next week.

The Club Demo Now Available in North America

Shiva Stella — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:20:01 -0600

Some good news for Xbox 360 gamers in the US today, as The Club demo that was previously made available to Australia, Europe, and New Zealand is now up for download via the Xbox Live service.

Not a lot of perky bits of information have been filtered from the Microsoft camp since its little holiday hiccup, aside from a free download of Undertow that no one cares about anyway (why not arrange a price point and let me download one XBLA game I actually want), but at least the demos continue. And everyone loves the demos.

Microsoft Announces Free XBLA Game

Solomon Lee — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:05:47 -0600

Following the recent news of the Xbox Live lawsuit, Microsoft has officially confirmed the free Xbox Live Arcade game being offered to Xbox Live users.

The side-scrolling title, Undertow, will be available on January 23 at 2 am (PST) until January 27, 11:59 pm (PST) as Microsoft's compensation for their Live service downtime over the holiday season.

Xbox Live's Major Nelson has issued this comment on the forums:

"If you have already purchased the game, you can contact support and they will take care of you."

Those that wish to visit the site can do so here.

Lawyer Addresses Xbox Live Class-Action Lawsuit

Solomon Lee — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:46:55 -0600

Regarding the news of the Xbox Live lawsuit, the plaintiffs' lawyer, Jason Gibson, has recently spoken with MTV to defend the lawsuit against heavy criticism by the media and consumers.

Gibson has denied allegiations that the Texas residents are seeking excessive financial benefits from the lawsuit by stating that his clients are "college-educated" individuals who treat the Live service downtime as a "real issue." Furthermore, he explains that they are seeking to be compensated for the Xbox Live services they failed to receive.

MTV has reported that others have pledged their support with over 50 plaintiffs joining the lawsuit. Despite Microsoft's apology and their publicized promise to compensate Gold members with a free yet unconfirmed Xbox Live Arcade game, Gibson has declared that the class action lawsuit will proceed.

Microsoft has not issued a comment in response at this time.

GoldenEye on Xbox Live Arcade?

Akshay Masand — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:15:48 -0600

Rumor has it that the James Bond license issue has been finally simmered down as a clear winner approaches from the feud.

Xbox Evolved suspects that classic rare titles such as Goldeneye for the N64 will soon be on the Xbox Live Marketplace with better graphics and of course multiplayer.

Check back for further updates on the issue. More OddJob complaints are hopefully headed your way in the future.

Peggle Heading to Xbox Live Arcade

Shiva Stella — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:01:46 -0600

I never thought I'd actually type these words, but PopCap's cuddly and wonderfully colored Peggle is in fact coming to the Xbox 360 via the Xbox Live Arcade service; furthermore, the game will be released in the second quarter, although pricing is still TBA.

Peggle is already available on the PC and Mac, with Peggle Extreme included in Valve's immensely popular Orange Box. You can still download Peggle demos here.

Microsoft Getting Sued for Poor Live Service Over Holidays

Shiva Stella — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:32:40 -0600

In more bad (but stupid) news regarding Microsoft's Xbox Live service, a class action lawsuit has been filed in Texas that seeks $5 million dollars in damages for Live's poor service over the holiday season.

The three individuals bringing suit against Microsoft claim that the company breached its contract because it knew that "an increase in subscriptions would increase gameplay on its servers" and yet "failed to provide adequate access and service to subscribers."

Though I join many others in scoffing at Microsoft's "failure" to foresee the increased server demand and really don't care for the unannounced free Xbox Live Arcade game being offered as compensation, how the hell could anyone have suffered damages due to poor Live service? And damages that amount to $5 million? Who are these crazies and why are you still breathing in our valuable oxygen?

Microsoft to Compensate Gold Members for Live Downtime?

Shiva Stella — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:13:09 -0600

Regarding those nasty Xbox Live issues that gold members have been experiencing since Christmas,Torrent Davis over at The Bitbag recently confirmed that he'd been in contact with a source at Microsoft who stated that "we [Microsoft] will definitely be doing something for our Gold memebers that weren't able to get online over the last week."

This is interesting in that it would mark the first time Microsoft has compensated members for Live "issues".

Sounds spiffy considering that 360 owners have been complaining that they have basically been paying Microsoft in order to beta test their Xbox Live service. Of course, gamers who were frustrated in their attempts to play Call of Duty 4 or Halo 3 online could have just played other games, but why pay for a service if you don't even get to use it for the games you want?

The good news is that Live seems to have stabilized some.

Metal Slug 3 Hits XBLA, Next Year

Solomon Lee — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:52:24 -0600

According to Gamernode, Metal Slug 3 is scheduled to arrive on Xbox Live Arcade early next year on January 2. The game was initially released on the Xbox but will feature new weapons, equipment, character mutations and best of all, an online cooperative mode.

Metal Slug 3 is expected to cost 800 Microsoft Points.

Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom Demo Now Available

Shiva Stella — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 11:40:00 -0600

Microsoft has added a 1.2GB demo of its RPG Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom to the Xbox Live marketplace today, although Live members under 18 won't be able to access it due to the game's Mature rating. The game is still set for a January 8, 2008 launch.

Third Bomberman Live DLC On Its Way

Solomon Lee — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:34:32 -0600

Hudson Entertainment has announced the third update for Bomberman Live with the Bomb-Up Pack 3 coming to the Xbox Live network.

Quoth from the press release, the new add-on pack features the following extras:

Ten New Characters - With new characters like "Shinobi Bomb" the ninja and "Bomb2-D2" the robot, players can customize their in-game Bomberman in even more new ways.
Two Additional Levels - New arenas include "Cavity Land," a sugary sweet candy land, and the industrial "Robot Factory." Both levels allow users to select any gimmick to use.
One New Game Mode - In "Friendly Fire," there's no place to hide as you race to get the most frags. Players start with the "power bomb" power-up and hard blocks are replaced by holes, leaving nothing to stop explosions, except Bombermen!
Two New Leaderboards - Gaze down upon the Bomberman masses from atop two new ranking systems on the Xbox LIVE network. The new leaderboards will track performance on both a weekly and an all-time basis for the new "Friendly Fire" game mode.

The Bomb-Up Pack 3 will be released on December 26 for 250 Microsoft Points.

Teen Arrested for Threat on Xbox Live

Brian Mohr — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:39:07 -0600

According to the Cumberland Times, a Frostburg State University students was arrested after comments he made on Xbox Live.

The 19-year old reportedly mentioned to fellow Call of Duty 4 players a threat of shooting up the school. Apparently the student went into much detail about how he would even do it.

Police followed up with the reports by working with Microsoft and Xbox Live to track down the suspect through his internet address.

Following his arrest, he reportedly told investigators he was joking and had no intention of following through with the threat. He could face up to a year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine.

Tired of Paying For Microsoft Points You Don't Need? Get Used To It

Akshay Masand — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:12:49 -0600

Have you ever purchased a bundle of Microsoft Points so you can get something you want only to find out that you have an obscure number of points leftover? It has been a common thing for a while on the Marketplace and even more so recently thanks to DLC from games such as Rock Band and Guitar Hero 3. With the newly released single song downloads for the following games, many of the users find themselves having an odd number of points leftover and then having to purchase another bundle of points for future purchases.

The aggravation had risen to the point where 1up editor Patrick Klepek decided to speak to a product manager Aaron Greenberg about the issue. Greenberg mentioned that the reason Microsoft does this is because they don't want to "burden" the consumers with the publishers, themselves, or transaction fees. He mentioned that they bundle the points to keep infrastructure costs down even though it is frustrating at times.

Regardless of whether we like it or not, we're stuck with these bundled Microsoft Points as Greenberg had mentioned that there is no future plan to change this process. We're going to have to put up with the issue unless for some odd reason you don't want any DLC, Xbox Live Arcade Games, or anything else the Xbox Live Marketplace has to offer.

Xbox 360 Fall Update Full Features List

Aaron Dunlap — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 11:25:56 -0600

The full list of features for the Xbox 360 Fall Update has just been released.

The update will go live 2PM Pacific, December 4th.

New Features:

Xbox Originals: Purchase and download select original Xbox titles. Initial games offered: "Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex" "Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge," "Halo," "Fable," "Fuzion Frenzy," "Psychonauts."
Cost: 1200 Microsoft Points per game
Xbox Live Arcade Hits: Certain, bestselling Xbox Live Arcade titles will have their prices permanently reduced.
Initial games offered: "Bankshot Billiards 2" and "Lumines LIVE," which will be available for 800 Microsoft Points each, and "Marble Blast Ultra," "Small Arms" and "Zuma Deluxe," which will be available for 400 Microsoft Points each.
Inside Xbox: Described by Microsoft as, "A new direct feed brings current news straight from Xbox.com into the Xbox LIVE Dashboard providing members an easy, predictable entry point where they can discover what's new in: game releases, events, and Xbox LIVE Marketplace offers."
Enhanced Online Profiles: Users will be able to enter information about themselves, like an online bio.
Enhanced Friends List: Users will be able to browse the friends list of their friends, provided they haven't disabled that.
Enhanced Parental Control: Family timer lets parents set hourly limits on their children's playtime.
Video Features: Quoth Microsoft, "The convenience of full-screen movie previews and enhanced video codec support further expand the options when it comes to the Xbox 360 entertainment experience." I think that means Xvid.

Now you can Stalk the Friends of your Friends: New Live Feature

Shiva Stella — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:20:00 -0600

True to the company's word, Microsoft has announced one of the new features to be available on Xbox Live following the December 4 update. Xbox 360 owners who install the firmware update will be able to view not only their friends list, but the friends list of their friends. I'll give you a moment to re-read the sentence.

Here's the scoop from Microsoft:

Members will now be able to check out the friends lists of fellow Xbox LIVE members right from the Dashboard. With this new feature, members can find old friends or connect with new ones within the community of more than 8 million people on Xbox LIVE around the globe and send messages and game invites, as well as compare games and Achievements.

With the prevalence of social media websites such as MySpace and FaceBook, this type of capability has largely come to be expected from consumers as a means to relate in an online community. Xbox LIVE continually seeks new ways to better serve the expectations of its members, which often result in enhancements made available for free through the bi-annual Dashboard updates.

When the Fall Dashboard update is distributed on December 4th, the new default setting on Xbox LIVE will be active enabling members to see the Friends lists of other Xbox LIVE members.

For those of you who'd rather keep all your gamer buddies to yourself (selfish bastards), Microsoft recommends you head over here and select an option for your gamertag:

Everyone (only available to members 18 and older)
Friends only (available to members 13 and older)
Blocked (available to all members, and automatic for anyone under the age of 13)

Remember, children. Share.

New Orange Box Demo Today

Shiva Stella — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 14:48:36 -0600

Reports are surfacing that a new demo for The Orange Box is releasing on the Xbox Live service.

The demo features Half-Life 2, Episode Two and should be available sometime today. For the ignorant among the masses, The Orange Box contains the following:

Half-Life 2, Episode One
Half-Life 2, Episode Two
Portal
Team Fortress 2

New BlackSite: Area 51 Demo on XBL, Boasting Two Levels

Shiva Stella — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:23:53 -0600

The aliens are coming...

Midway sent over word this morning that a new BlackSite: Area 51 demo featuring two levels is now available over the Xbox Live service.

Here's the run-down from Midway:

The demo highlights two levels from the game's single-player campaign, taking gamers through the Rachel, NV town square and courthouse, and placing players in the gunner's seat during a helicopter escort mission through the desert canyons of Nevada.

BlackSite: Area 51 gives gamers a chance to direct their living, breathing squad mates with a context-sensitive "One-Button Squad Command" control. Destructible environments can be reduced to rubble, creating interactive cover points that can be blown away with enough firepower.

The title is already available for the Xbox 360/PC and will ship for the PlayStation 3 in December.

Call of Duty 4 Play and Win Sweepstakes Starts Tomorrow

Shiva Stella — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:07:20 -0600

Shoot to win.

Call of Duty 4 fans interested in earning freebies via logging in online play time on the 360 version may do so beginning Friday, Nov 16 at 12:01 est for a 72-hour "play and win sweepstakes."

A winner will be selected every hour and gamers are automatically entered for each hour of play. Here's a look at prizes and instructions:

Friday, Nov. 16 Sunday, November 18 Play and Win.

Register and Play COD4: Modern Warfare on Xbox LIVE during the weekend and win an Xbox 360 Elite, Infinity Ward team autographed Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare swag, limited edition Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare faceplates, Xbox 360 accessories, Microsoft Points and other great Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare prizes. There will be one winner for every hour this weekend (72 hours) as well as the grand prize which includes the Elite, autograph swag, faceplate and accessories. (The hourly winners get Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare poster, t-shirt, and MS Points.)

Here's an "event" schedule:

Friday, Nov. 16 6pm -9pm EST Play with over a dozen gamers from developer, Infinity Ward.

Saturday, Nov. 17 The PMS Clan joins the online action for Saturday night gaming.

Hopefully Infinity Ward has addressed those multiplayer issues to the point that people are actually able to play online and thus enter the sweepstakes. Cross your fingers.

Free XBLA Game Coming

Brian Mohr — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 22:24:22 -0600

To celebrate the five year anniversary of Xbox Live on November 15, Microsoft will be giving away a free game download to active members who are online between 12:01 P.M. Pacific time on the 15 to 11:59 p.m. Pacific on November 16.

Everyone will be given the chance to land Carcossonne between this time except for those in Korea who will get Hexic 2.

In addition, Microsoft has announced that they will be giving away 500 free Microsoft Points to all members who joined the XBL service in 2002.

Shrek-N-Roll, Screwjumper coming to XBLA Wednesday

Brian Mohr — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:25:52 -0600

Xbox Live Arcade will be releasing two more games on Wednesday, specifically Shrek-N-Roll and Screwjumper.

The two releases will mark the 100 game to come to the service. Both will retail for 800 points or $10 and be available on November 14.

Screwjumper has players fall through mines. On the way, the goal is to blow them up while escaping before the entire building collapses. Meanwhile, Shrek-N-Roll has players work through tilt-controlled puzzles.

Next week is Xbox 360 and Live Arcade's two year anniversary and Chair Entertainment's Undertow is set to release on November 21.

Gamer Plays Clive Barker's Jericho with his Feet...

Shiva Stella — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:54:40 -0500

If you're up for a little unusual entertainment this evening then Heavy.com has a show for you. The site has posted a video of Sexy Joe (self-labeled, we presume), a game reviewer, sitting down with Clive Barker's Jericho (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC bound) and playing the title with his feet. It's definitely weird.

Check out the video after the jump.

Find more videos at Heavy.com

EA Cancels PS3 NBA Live 07

Brian Mohr — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 21:20:00 -0600

This article was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Certain formatting, imaged, and embedded content may have been lost in the transition process.

Electronic Arts has announced that they have cancelled the PlayStation 3 version of NBA Live 07.

The company states that instead they will be focusing their energy on developing an NBA Street title for the next-generation console in early 2007. That means the first NBA Live will be for the 2008 season on the PlayStation 3.

EA Canada, public relations manager David Tinson said, "We are concentrating our efforts on creating a spectacular NBA Street: Homecourt. Homecourt is coming to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 early next year."

Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 At E3

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Thu, 11 May 2006 16:50:00 -0500

Japanese magazine Famitsu recently had a chance to speak to Tomonobu Itagaki, president at Team Ninja and he revealed that the company would be showing Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball 2 at this years E3. The game is in development for the Xbox 360 console.

E3 is scheduled for May 10 12 and Gaming Horizon will be there covering the show. We will have more as it develops.

Originally written by Tim Grube

Koei Announces Gitaroo-Man Live!

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 21:03:00 -0500

Koei has announced that they are developing a remake of the PlayStation 2 music action title Gitaroo-Man for the PSP, titled Gitaroo-Man Live!

The game is expected to feature new songs and modes that weren't in the 2001 release. Gitaroo is also planning to support 2-player ad hoc in versus or duet modes. Gitaroo-Man Live! is expected to release in Japan next month followed by a release later this year in North America.

Originally written by Brian Mohr

Dead or Alive 4 At E3

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 11:03:00 -0600

In the recent issue of Famitsu, the developers behind Dead or Alive -- Team Ninja, plan to reveal their new Dead or Alive title at this years E3 Expo in Los Angeles. Details were not revealed, but we could possibly see it released on the new consoles instead of the PS2 and Xbox. As always, keep your browsers bookmarked to Gaming Horizon for the latest. Originally written by Tim Grube