About Steve Melton

Tribes: Ascend is going free-to-play, but may be straying away from Xbox Live Arcade. The game is set for a fall release, but Hi-Rez Studios’ Todd Harris told Joystiq …
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These days it seems all I hear are constant complaints about pricing for Xbox Live Arcade games. It’s always too expensive. We’ve all done it — looked at a game and said “I like it, but not for 1200 MSP!” Maybe it’s the recession we’re in, maybe it’s because we just don’t have extra points to spend, and maybe we’re just stingy. Still, maybe we’re right. But here’s the thing: maybe developers and publishers are right sometimes too. So where’s the middle? Where is that happy hunting ground where companies can make a profit and players can get the escapes they want at the price they’re willing to pay?

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The 80’s were a decade that truly fits the oft-repeated opening line from A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” On the one hand you had crimped hair, the Chevy Chevette, and leg warmers. On the other there were great bands like U2, Poison and Aerosmith. There were also a handful of truly classic movies. The Back to the Future trilogy was brought to life mostly here, with the third film being released in 1990. It’s a series that plays to so many childhood fantasies, but adaptations to other media have been, well, less than stellar. That is until Telltale Games got hold of the rights.

Back to the Future: The Game isn’t actually a game, it’s five games. In true Telltale format this point-and-click adventure game is split into episodes, much like the Sam & Max games that later were combined into one release for Xbox Live Arcade. In the game you once again live vicariously through Marty as he travels back to 1931 to rescue the jailed Doc Brown. But the changes made in 1931 skew the timeline causing Marty to travel from 1876 through 1986 — and beyond.

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Dead Block, the cartoony zombie tower defense game (what a mouthful), has a solid release date: July 6. We don’t have a price for you, but if we had …
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Our ever vigilant tipper @lifelower pieced together something interesting recently. Over a year ago at the G-Seminar in North Korea Jong Shin Choi, CEO of Barunson Creative, …
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For fans of racing games there’s very little in terms of racing wheel setups. There’s the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel, but it’s been discontinued so you’re stuck hunting down a used one on Amazon.com or eBay. Then there’s the Wireless Speed Wheel coming out this October, but it looks more like a gimmick than something race fans would want. That used to be it; an impressive but out of production wheel or a toy that you hold up in the air. XCM aimed to change that. Earlier this year they released the XCM F1 Converter to very little press and fanfare. What this does is allow you to use your Logitech G25 or G27 racing wheel (PlayStation 3 hardware) on the Xbox 360.

Initially we brushed this off due to some of the issues it presented, but with recent firmware updates we can say folks seem to really like this little dude. It should be noted, however, that this thing still has its ups and downs. On the upside not only can this be used with Logitech racing wheels, but PS3 SIXAXIS controllers can also be used. Not enough? Well, with your wired Xbox 360 controller (required) you can also store button macros. What does that mean? It means one button fatalites and finishing moves, that’s what it means. The downside to this is the sheer cost. One of these will set you back 85 USD on eBay. Don’t have a wired Xbox 360 controller? That’s another 20-25 USD at your local used game store. Don’t have a Logitech wheel? Oh boy, you’d better sit down. You’re looking at around 200 USD, and that’s for a used one.

The verdict is simple: if you’re a racing nut who already has a Logitech G25 or G27 and wants to use it on your 360 then this is for you. For those who don’t yet own a racing wheel hunt yourself down a version 1 model of the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel (V2’s don’t have force feedback). The additional features such as a clutch and H-pattern shifter can’t be used on a 360, so spending the extra dough for both the Logitech wheel and converter just isn’t worth it. Now if by some chance you’re still reading and still interested we’ve posted a list of features after the jump.

*NOTE* Per a discussion below we should also point out that this technically could fall under a Terms of Use violation, so use it at your own risk.

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New details have emerged for Hothead Games’ The Baconing, a hybrid spinoff/sequel to the DeathSpank series. The game is the first in the series not to feature the titular character (DeathSpank) in the title, and follows him as he continues his adventures. The hero tries on all six Thongs of Virtue at once, inadvertently summoning an evil power. To conquer this new enemy DeathSpank must destroy five of the six thongs in the fires of bacon, whatever that means.

The Baconing will retain the two player co-op system, but will allow players to choose from four playable characters. Rumors have surfaced of Sparkles and Ninja Steve returning as well as other allies from the first two games, but there has been no word as to what role those characters will play. The game is due out sometime this summer on Xbox Live Arcade. Hit the jump for additional screenshots and box art.

Source: Co-Optimus

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Video game developers lead an interesting life. Indie video game developers have an even more unique one. Indie Game: The Movie is a documentary that follows Edmund McMillen and …
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We’ve got just one new game with Xbox Live Arcade-based avatar awards, Toy Soldiers: Cold War. Check the listing below for more details. To see all available …
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That crazy gang over at Twisted Pixel is letting yet another dangerous character loose. Ms. Splosion Man will be making her Xbox Live Arcade debut on July  13, 2011. …
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