Microsoft Games Studio

This week’s Deal of the Week comprises a number of XBLA classics published by Micosoft Studios. The list was announced last week on Major Nelson’s blog but here’s a …
Read More

Twisted Pixel, the Austin, TX developer behind hit XBLA titles Ms. Splosion Man and The Gunstringer, today released the first gameplay footage of its next release, Lococycle. The game was first glimpsed in teaser form this past June during Microsoft’s pre-E3 2012 media briefing. At the time it was clear that Lococycle was a motorcycle racing game of sorts that featured a motorcycle named I.R.I.S. that appeared to have ridden right off of the set of Tron and onto XBLA. Twisted Pixel released a few scant details at the time betraying I.R.I.S.’s profession (assassin) and skill with weapons and hand-to-hand combat.

Today’s footage puts to rest any doubts in the minds of gamers that a motorcycle can in fact be an assassin. The wild video shows I.R.I.S. ripping down the asphalt at a blistering pace while dragging a rider behind her and spraying bullets all over the place. That’s not the wild part. Later in the trailer, the motorized killer leaves the confines of the road behind and leaps into the air to in hand-to-hand — or wheel-to-hand, to be more precise — combat against some jetpacking assailants. It looks mighty similar to the type of action game combat that has become commonplace in the years since Devil May Cry introduced it.

Read More

Analyst firm Forecasting and Analyzing Digital Entertainment (FADE) has released a new report that shows XBLA revenue increased 18 percent last year to $144 million. From Dust, created by Eric Chahi (Another World) and developed by Ubisoft Montpellier, and The Behemoth’s popular game Castle Crashers earned the most money with $4.6 million each in revenue off 308,000 and 335,000 units sold respectively. Microsoft Games Studio’s Full House Poker moved the most units with 375,000 units sold but was fourth overall in revenue with $3.6 million.

From Dust was part of Microsoft’s “Summer of Arcade” promotion and joins Bastion, Toy Soldiers: Cold War, and  Fruit Ninja Kinect among the top grossing XBLA games of 2011. In total, the Summer of Arcade games listed in the top ten sold over 1.1 million units and grossed $15 million in revenue. Hit the jump for the full list issued by FADE (ordered by units sold):

Read More

Orcs. They’re green, they’re smelly, they’re rude, and they cheat at poker, so they must die. But it shouldn’t stop there, their transgressions upon humanity are so notorious that they shouldn’t just die, they should be punished for having lived. No game features as much orc-centric punishment as Orcs Must Die! from Robot Entertainment. Use sadistic traps and powerful weapons to sort, punish and mow down waves of brutish creatures in this real time strategy turned fast paced action game.

At first glance Orcs Must Die! is a game of strategy requiring much thought. It requires players to manage space with different traps dealing different amounts of damage and have various affects on enemies. Tar traps slow and magma tiles burn, spike traps impale and archers perforate, and when conducted properly the trap symphony comes together in a comical crescendo of devilishly delivered death. However the action is just as player focused as it is trap focused. Our hero’s faithful crossbow can dole out headshots or hectic rapid fire and can supplement his repertoire with other weapons like one that shoots ice and one that can lay down a powerful firewall. Orcs Must Die! is a hybrid title like no other.

Read More

South Park Let’s Go Tower Defense Play was developed by Double Six and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was released on October 7^th, 2009 for 800MS points.

South Park LGTDP is a tower defense game with twist. The twist is that you can control one of fifteen available characters from the South Park world as you build your defenses. This adds a very welcomed action element to the game making it much more than a strategic experience. South Park fans have waited a long time for a quality console game based off the show; there was quite a large amount of expectations with this title. Thankfully, South Park LGTDP delivers a great amount of fun, content, innuendos and laughs for a minimal fee. Read More