About Brandin Tyrrel

The ongoing saga of a galaxy far, far away continues to expand in Zen Studios’ Star Wars Pinball, as The Balance of the Force table pack arrives on Xbox Live Arcade next Wednesday, October 16. The content pack includes three new tables: Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi, Starfighter Assault and Darth Vader, each themed around their own iconic battles and scenes from the films.

Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi places you back on the forest moon of Endor, as Luke, Leia, Han and the rest of the gang attempt to breach the infamous shield generator. Chase the speeder bike scouts, repel the AT-ST and relive the clash between Luke and Lord Vader.

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The deal this week is admittedly scant on Xbox Live Arcade offerings, but there’s a decent pull or two if you’re looking for a game based on a movie. …
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Undead Labs, the development team behind the smash Xbox Live Arcade zombie-apocalypse simulator State of Decay, has detailed what to expect when Breakdown hits Trumbull Valley later this month. Breakdown is Labs’ first …
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Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition‘s unending stream of updates and downloadable content keeps on flowing, as Title Update 13 and the first original texture pack are now available for consumption. We previously documented the newest title update to make landfall on Minecraft‘s blocky shores, which doesn’t add any new features, but fixes a slew of issues.

The Plastic Texture Pack, 4J Studios’ debut offering of the many original texture packs to come, swaps out the default pixelated aesthetic for vibrant, smooth surfaces. A free trial version can be downloaded to test drive the new look before you buy, but the pack itself can be had for a modest $1/$£0.65/€0.95.

Finally, a sequel to popular Battle and Beasts Skin Pack will make its way to the in-game store this Wednesday, October 9. Aptly dubbed the Battle and Beasts Skin Pack 2, the downloadable collection hosts a ton of new wardrobes from historical warriors and the pelts of many fine animals with which you can transform your teal-shirted protagonist. Microsoft Studios confirmed the pack will run $1.99/€1.89/£1.29, and provided a sampling of screenshots to influence your purchasing power – check out the gallery after the jump.

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Remember a few years ago when paranormal reality TV shows like Ghost Hunters were all the rage? Cameras followed a few brave souls who would spend the night in seemingly …
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Xbox 360 owners who aren’t card-carrying members of the Gold club will have a chance to dabble in some of the service’s subscription-based perks. Starting today and continuing throughout …
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Compulsion Games has announced its puzzle-based platformer, Contrast, will finally see the light of day on November 15, priced on Xbox Live Arcade at $15. The game places you in the role of Dawn, the imaginary friend of a troubled little girl, Didi, who relies on the playable character as a coping mechanism to process an unknown trauma. As Dawn you’ll accompany Didi, slipping in and out of shadow form to platform along two-dimensional shadows cast by the 3D environment.

We delved into Contrast at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo during our preview with Compulsion Games Studio Head Guillaume Provost. The game is quite simply loaded with charm and a striking, film-noir aesthetic, but that story of a little girl who escapes into her imagination might be the biggest draw. “We try to explore something that’s a little bit more interesting than saving the world, or beating a big bad guy or getting revenge for something or other,” Provost said during our time with him. “It’s really the story of this little girl and what she wants out of her family.”

Our time with Contrast definitely left us wanting more. Be sure to keep this one on your radar for a busy November, and for more glimpses into the shadows enjoy the slideshow after the jump.

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The first of many original texture packs coming to Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition has been revealed. Dubbed the Plastic Texture Pack, developer 4J Studios and publisher Microsoft Studios have announced the texture collection in a series of screenshots (below) that feature the colorfully smooth surfaces of the upcoming downloadable content.

As of now, there’s no pricing or release information to share. We’ve already learned the packs won’t be free, but they should be relatively inexpensive. In any case, the wait shouldn’t be long according to 4J Studios, which confirmed there will be a trial version for those who want to test drive the texture swap before buying.

The developer also touched on what fans can expect in the future, revealing the next pack in line will be the “Natural Texture Pack,” and teased that “something medieval is coming” down the line. No additional details were revealed for either of the offerings.

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The time to declare a gladiator above all others has arrived. Kung Fu Factory, developer of free-to-play gladiatorial simulator Spartacus Legends, has decreed four weeks of bloodshed in the search for a champion of the Arena. Starting today, players can enter into online matches against a global stable of opponents during four weekly competitions – which together comprise Spartacus Legends‘ first tournament season.

The top 100 players from each week will be gifted rewards befitting their performance, with additional and better rewards going to the highest placed competitors. Victors can claim titles, wealth, legendary equipment and banners for their houses. Upon the conclusion of the season, an overall champion will be named and honored with the title of “Champion of Capua.” The tournament schedule and a full list of reward tiers can be found after the jump.

Spartacus Legends released in June of this year to a cold reception. Our own review found it buggy and bland, with netcode that made online battles nearly impossible to enjoy. However, Kung Fu Factory has supported Spartacus with several patches and compatibility updates, adding new features and addressing the connectivity issues, glitches, bugs and matchmaking system.

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• The parody of a parody of everything you love about ’80s and ’90s culture, Retro City Rampage, has shaved a few dollars off its Xbox Live Arcade price …
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