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Update: Following our report this morning on developer IllFonic’s XBLA shooter Nexuiz having its servers shut down XBLAFans was able to get in contact with IllFonic Creative Director Kedhrin Gonzalez about the unfortunate situation resulting from publisher THQ’s bankruptcy. When asked if it was possible for the developer to take control of the servers now that THQ, the current server manager, is no longer around to foot the bill, Gonzalez explained to us via email that IllFonic does not possess the funding to do so.

“We certainly could pay for the servers to be up and running on XBLA outside of THQ,” he said. “However, the cost to do this is too much for IllFonic in our current state.”

As noted in our original story, the game disappeared from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace earlier this month only to reappear a short time after. Gonzalez explained that that too, as we suspected, was a result of THQ’s bankruptcy filing. He informed XBLAFans that the game was de-listed after its servers were taken down. “However, THQ tried to get them back up for a while longer to keep the game alive. Unfortunately, the costs are just too high for THQ or IllFonic to carry. We are very happy THQ tried to keep things running for as long as they could. This situation has been really sad for us at IllFonic and [we] wish there was something more we could do.”

Gonzalez reiterated the point made in yesterday’s Facebook post on the matter, ensuring PC players that the version of Nexuiz on their platform of choice will remain online since it is hosted on completely different servers than those hosting the XBLA version.

But with THQ planning to sell off Nexuiz as part of a lot of game properties to the highest bidder in April, what will become of IllFonic and its shooter? “Nexuiz will remain in the control of IllFonic even if a new publisher wins the bid of Lot 6 Licensed IPs,” said Gonzalez. “However, we are a developer that believes in working with partners…even if it comes through a unseen circumstance like this. We don’t know what to expect in the event someone does purchases the license. Whatever happens, we will do whatever it takes to make sure our PC players can continue to enjoy the game. However, if a new publisher or owner of the licensed IP wants to turn the XBLA lights back on…we certainly wouldn’t be against it.”

Original Story: Due to the much-publicized bankruptcy of publisher THQ, the servers for XBLA shooter Nexuiz have been shut down. IllFonic, the game’s developer, explained on Facebook yesterday that there is no one to maintain the servers now that THQ is defunct.

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Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment and Monolith Productions unveiled a new game mode for Guardians of Middle-earth. Survival Mode will be available soon for …
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When the Clone Wars series was first announced it was met with some criticism. Star Wars as cartoons? But the series has thrived–so …
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Battleblock Theater is known for making its numerous prisoners perform deadly plays, but no prisoner’s tale is more tragic than that of Prisoner …
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[springboard type=”video” id=”674947″ player=”xbla001″ width=”640″ height=”360″ ] With over a year of delays behind it, Gaijin Games’ Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien will be hitting the Xbox Live …
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The first Star Wars Pinball table pack for the Pinball FX 2 platform was developed by Zen Studios.  It was released February 27, 2013 for 800 MSP. A copy was provided for review purposes.

Zen Studios, makers of Pinball FX 2, is releasing a trio of Star Wars pinball tables this Wednesday, in what will be the first group of many tables to come, much how the studio has released multiple packs of pinball tables from the Marvel comics universe. These Star Wars tables, which include a table for Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, a table designed around the Clone Wars cartoon show, and a table in honor of infamous bounty hunter Boba Fett, are all worthy additions to the ever-expanding body of content available for Pinball FX2. It’s worth pointing out that only one of the three tables is focused on a specific film — this strategy of utilizing both iconic characters (Fett) and Expanded Universe content (Clone Wars) leaves Zen Studios with a range of choices in developing future Star Wars pinball tables.

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From playing games, to watching movies, to listening to music, Microsoft’s all-in-one companion application, Xbox SmartGlass, continues to build a hefty catalog of ways to interact with your Xbox 360. For anyone still in the dark about inviting SmartGlass into their holy trinity of media consumption, or aren’t familiar with what exactly it does, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. His name’s Peter Orullian.

But first, what is Xbox SmartGlass? Consider SmartGlass the very best parts of a friendship without having to subscribe to that nagging social courtesy of considering their feelings. Too lazy to get up and grab your Xbox remote? No problem, SmartGlass loves being a remote. Need a quick tip about the game you’re playing? SmartGlass will show you in real time, and won’t ask to play or tell you what you’re doing wrong. Actually, consider Xbox SmartGlass to be like your personal virtual servant; a media genie that only likes what you like and never pesters you about freedom, or lamps.

In a series of tutorial videos released yesterday, Xbox SmartGlass Product Manager Peter Orullian has outlined the many possible ways you can enhance any experience with the SmartGlass application, including our favorite, Xbox Live Arcade. Giving us the first information on how we can expect to utilize SmartGlass with Signal Studios’ upcoming action-RPG Ascend: New Gods, Orullian demonstrates the newly unveiled Ascend: Oracle of the New Gods, which acts as an interactive compendium, realtime dungeon map and stat tracker. All this while showing off some much appreciated gameplay footage. Check out the video after the jump.

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Themed tracks and a marble skill game; great for those who miss Marble Blast Ultra.
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Update: In the brief span of time since this article was published, Lab Zero Games was able to raise another $25,000, meaning it has hit its first stretch goal: Squigly will now get her own stage and story mode. Original story follows.

Lab Zero Games was hoping to reach its goal in 30 days. Some thought the notion of raising $150,000 for a DLC character for XBLA, PSN and PC fighting game Skullgirls would be “impossible.” As it turns out, it was — just not in the way many onlookers were thinking.

It didn’t take Lab Zero 30 days to raise the funds it requires to finish designing the character Squigly and get her into its game. It didn’t even take 30 hours. In less than a day, the independent studio that last year was sculpted out of some bits of clay that fell from Reverge Labs was able to raise the full $150,000 it says it requires to bring Squigly to gamers.

“In less than 24 hours, #Skullgirls has raised $150k for Squigly!” reads a tweet that went out this morning from the official Skullgirls account. “Everyone at Lab Zero is humbled. Thank you so much!”

Shortly thereafter, Lab Zero Games CEO Peter Bartholow provided XBLAFans with details on the character’s XBLA release. First, a title update and mandatory DLC pack that will add Squigly — along with any stretch items that the Indiegogo campaign is able to hit — will be released. An initially free-of-charge Squigly unlock will be released simultaneously. Squigly will remain free for a 3-month period and will set gamers back $5 from that point forward.

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The popular question: “What would you do in a zombie apocalypse?” was not answered by State of Decay developers Undead Labs. They are letting us figure that answer out …
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