XBLAFancast Episode 31
After a week off due to scheduling crazyness we’re back, although it’s just myself and Todd. We hit some of the news from the last couple of weeks before the usual what we’ve been playing. Including the few XBLA related things I played during my time at Eurogamer Expo.
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[podcast]https://xblafans.com/xblafancast/XBLAFancastEp31.mp3[/podcast]How Microsoft derailed Nintendo
It’s no secret that Nintendo isn’t in the best shape right now. After finding great success with the Nintendo DS, the Wii launched and got the masses talking about Nintendo once again. Then something happened. The Wii’s sales plummeted, the Nintendo 3DS launched poorly, and investors are questioning Nintendo’s direction with their next console, the Wii-U. Nintendo is desperately trying to gain back momentum. What happened to Nintendo’s mojo? Well, Microsoft, the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live Arcade all have something to do with it.
To truly understand what’s at play here, we have to first consider why Nintendo has historically been a successful company. Nintendo has always excelled at making games that appeal to the masses. Nintendo makes games that anyone can pick up and play. Mario has been a part of our living room since 1983 because Mario games have always been easily approachable for anyone who wants to sit down and play. Whether it’s you, your little sister, your best buddy or your dead beat uncle, Nintendo makes products for everyone. When Nintendo is succeeding, it has always been the case. So why are the tables turning?
Interview with James Petruzzi of Discord Games
Tell us a little bit about yourself/company/team?
Discord was formed in 2009 by life-long friends James Petruzzi and Tim Dodd. Our original intention was to kill time, and have fun creating stuff. At some point we realized we had a shot at doing something really cool and unique, so we put our heads down and started working on what was to become Take Arms.
What made you decide to use the XBLIG platform for your game?
I think both of us have always wanted a game on a console, and XBLIG is the easiest path to that. No publishing deals, devkits, etc. are needed. It’s an awesome platform, just a shame it isn’t a little better managed.
New vs. Old: Why XBLA titles are better than the classics
While Xbox Live Arcade hosts numerous classics both untouched and unaltered, it also hosts modern renditions of the same titles with contemporary additions. But XBLA is becoming known for games that take the mechanics of classic titles and makes them better. It’s a concept that draws a line in the sand, pitting friend against friend, brother against brother. But in the end there’s a reason why you often see the word enhanced in regards to XBLA titles: they’re simply better than the classics. I chose three classic games to go toe-to-toe with three modern XBLA games. Each defines their genre relative to when they were released.
Avalanche Studios releases new Renegade Ops screenshots
The creators of Just Cause 2 just released new screenshots for their upcoming Xbox Live Arcade title, Renegade Ops. Using the same engine as the aforementioned game, Avalanche hopes to update the genre of vehicular, arcade-like combat much like Shadow Complex built upon the framework of Metroid-style games in a modern context. Renegade Ops is slated to hit this fall on XBLA, so check out the screenshots after the jump to get a sneak peek.
Rewind Review: Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project (XBLA)
Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project was developed by 3D Realms and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was released June 23, 2010 and retails for 800 MSP.
Just over a week ago, Duke Nukem Forever was released onto the world and while you may think that’s a sign of the apocalypse, we’re all still here. Duke’s brand of humor and violence has been seen in countless iterations in different genres from first and third person shooters to the classic side-scroller. Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project aims to return to the classic side-scrolling days and make sure the aliens pay. Duke must save the city of New York from imminent destruction from aliens and fight his way through levels ranging from Chinatown to the depths of space. Now this all sounds great and fun but you have to remember that this game originally came out in 2002. What was great eight years ago doesn’t always fly in today.
Rewind Review Month
Here at XBLAFans it’s Rewind Review month for all of June. Every day this month, we will feature a new Rewind Review from one of our many staff writers. You can check back right here at this post each day for a link to our latest Rewind Review along with our current back catalog of Rewind Reviews from the past. If you’ve been holding back on some of the older XBLA titles because you weren’t quite sure if they were worth your hard earned money, make sure to check this post periodically and we might have a review for the game in question. Read More
Contest: Guess the 2011 Summer of Arcade Games
As anyone who plays XBLA games knows, Summer of Arcade is a big deal. It’s a spotlight of some of the season’s most promising games. Summer of …
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Firebies, The New Zombies review (XBLIG)
Firebies, the New Zombies is an Xbox Live Indie Game developed by Latin Soul Studio for 80 MSP. It was released February 4, 2011
Some games have really great titles and turn into great games (‘Splosion Man, Shadow Complex, Monday Night Combat) but some on the other hand, can have a wonderfully weird title but allude to something else. Firebies, The New Zombies is more the latter than the former with its inventive name but each play-through make it feel lesser despite its price.