Announcing upcoming XBLA titles

Manager
Monday, March 17, 2008 | 5:54 PM
26 comments

Xbox 360

Microsoft today revealed some of the upcoming Xbox Live Arcade line-up, all of them to be released "in the near future". Doom and Assault Heroes were also added to the Arcade Hits section, starting Wednesday having the price of 400 points. More information and images inside of Rocky and Bullwinkle, TiQal, Shotest Shogi and Wits & Wagers.

Microsoft press release:
With 14 Xbox LIVE Arcade games clocking in with a Metacritic score of 80 or higher and seven of those games available only on Xbox LIVE Arcade, the platform has established itself as the go-to source for quality pick-up-and-play gaming. More than 120 games are currently available on Xbox LIVE Arcade, with new content added on Wednesdays. Specific information about each new title will be available on http://www.xbox.com in the coming weeks, but here is an early look at a few games coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade in the near future:

* “Rocky and Bullwinkle” (Zen Studios Ltd.). And now, here’s something you’ll really like! Based on the highly popular cartoon series of the same name, “Rocky and Bullwinkle” on Xbox LIVE Arcade is a fast and fun party experience packed with over 100 micro-games and decked out in an authentic retro art style. All your favorite characters are coming straight out of Frostbite Falls and into your living room: Rocky, Bullwinkle, Boris, Natasha, Dudley Do-Right and many more. Plus, players with an Xbox LIVE Vision camera can control 25 of these games using fun gestures. Gee whiz, Rock!

* “Shotest Shogi” (AI Factory Ltd. and Rubicon Development Ltd.). Experience a new kind of shogi, Japan’s top board game, which encourages complex tactical play and strategic sacrifices. Set in an elegant Japanese room, this beautifully rendered game features 16 challenging artificial intelligence opponents as well as an online multiplayer mode*. For beginners, “Shotest Shogi” on Xbox LIVE Arcade also offers an advanced tutorial that guides and tests players as they progress through the game.

* “TiQal” (Slapdash Games). An addictive new puzzler, “TiQal” takes players on an epic journey to save an ancient Mayan village. Players demolish enemy block walls by matching squares of the same color and building them up to unleash massive combo points and mind-blowing power-ups. Partner with a friend over local or LIVE* co-op play to rescue the village, while enjoying sumptuous graphics, pulse-pounding sound effects and an awe-inspiring musical score.

* “Wits & Wagers” (Hidden Path Entertainment LLC). Party and trivia fun! Even if trivia isn’t your thing, the first trivia and party game to hit Xbox LIVE Arcade is one in which players can win by making educated guesses, playing the odds or just knowing the interests of other players, whether they are local or online. Break out the Big Button Pad controllers or play couch vs. couch on Xbox LIVE for a trivia party extravaganza.

* “Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3” (Capcom Entertainment Inc.). Xbox LIVE Arcade’s “Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3” revives one of the most popular arcade shooters with an all-new adventure. Battle solo or recruit two other specialized commandos to conquer the evil tyrant, General Ratiev. Players can play as Codename Wolf, Coyote or Fox to take on waves of soldiers, rescue POWs and blow up armored vehicles through a variety of dangerous battlefields.

Rocky and Bullwinkle

Shotest Shogi

TiQal

Wits & Wagers

ApolloCreed

Commented on 2008-03-17 18:25:08

the puzzle game is the only one I'm interested in

In reply to

spif2001

Commented on 2008-03-17 18:32:11

@ApolloCreed: Good to know...

Slabs

Commented on 2008-03-17 18:38:25

Trivia game could be a lot of fun!

KnudoW

Commented on 2008-03-17 18:56:13

Shogi!! I allways wanted to learn that game, this is my chance,

BooMMooB

Commented on 2008-03-17 19:20:22

I want commando3. Why is there no screenies of commando3???

Manager

Commented on 2008-03-17 19:52:34 In reply to BooMMooB

Posted by BooMMooB

Capcom released the images last week:
http://www.gamersyde.com/news_6139_en.html

Commented on 2008-03-17 19:56:31 In reply to spif2001

Posted by spif2001

What is the point of commenting on these pics? no seriously do the makers of this site want my opinion or something else? I think they do want an opinion, just like all the other comments you're seeing on this page, so dont get cute with me smart-ass...

Commented on 2008-03-17 20:07:21 In reply to Manager

Posted by Manager

cheers, Manager. I just thought a new batch of screenies would follow this announcement as well. :)

strawhat

Commented on 2008-03-17 20:35:30

tatami and fusuma and zabuton with an armrest...very classy. where's my cha-wan cup of tea? wonder who's responsible for the AI of shogi. oh, and don't try shogi right in the middle of a Japanese garden. Japanese garden is usually for seeing from inside the room, not for going in unless you're a gardener. :)

synce

Commented on 2008-03-17 20:37:58

What kind of people actually spend money on this crap?

krush

Commented on 2008-03-17 20:47:55

people like your avatars mummy.

indigo0086

Commented on 2008-03-17 20:51:31

Anything less than Bionic Commando is unworthy.

Isomac

Commented on 2008-03-17 21:15:54

Assault Heroes for 400 points. hmm I have to think about it.

MaxHartkopf

Commented on 2008-03-18 01:06:55

Is there a reason why there's a Rocky and Bullwinkle game on XBLA? Is it some tie-in to some movie that I don't know about, or are they going to bring the TV show to Video Marketplace?

The trivia game looks like it could be fun.

Ishigami

Commented on 2008-03-18 02:41:24

Nice a Shogi Arcade game!

Ted

Commented on 2008-03-18 02:50:57

What I would like to see on Xbox arcade is TMNT: Turtles in time. I had fun playing that when it was in the arcades and I liked the snes version. Another game I would love to see and is the best 2 player side scroller out there… Contra 3. Yes it was a Nintendo game but damn it would be worth any cost to be able to play that online with a friend... Yes I could get a wii but I don't think you can play the old games online like that.

PlumbDrumb

Commented on 2008-03-18 03:33:50

Ugh, Turtles in Time. I tried playing that a couple months ago and I have to admit, the beat 'em all is SOOOO over.

It would take a ten ton shot of adrenaline and a pound of meth to revitalize that genre.

GriftGFX

Commented on 2008-03-18 03:38:18 In reply to PlumbDrumb

Posted by PlumbDrumb

There are good beat'm ups. Turtles just isn't one of them. Konami's 90's arcade games all have aged quite poorly. Castle Crashers on the other hand.. DO WANT.

Commented on 2008-03-18 03:52:10

I forgot about that Castle Crashers game; it does look pretty fun.
Also, AvP Arcade is still pretty shizzy after all these years, with all its guns and acid splat.

Guess I spoke too soon.

Commented on 2008-03-18 04:38:33 In reply to PlumbDrumb

Capcom had some good ones. Their D&D games are (still) awesome too.

FordGTGuy

Commented on 2008-03-18 06:15:02 In reply to synce

Posted by synce

Alot of people the Trivia game looks cool to me.

crookedmind

Commented on 2008-03-18 07:12:28

Castle Crashers... give it!

barnard666

Commented on 2008-03-18 08:46:33

My god, it all looks terrible, when will microsoft realise that XBLA is not a casual games platform, the people who can be bothered to get their xbox connected to the internet and go hunting for games are probably hardcore gamers, the people who get casual games I would imagine just go and do an impulse purchase in a normal retail store rather than dig through geeky internet things.

No doubt there is reems of data to prove me wrong, I just would rathe we were seeing something of value instead of this gack.

Commented on 2008-03-18 09:53:55 In reply to barnard666

Posted by barnard666

You couldn't be more wrong. MS have said that several times that the want a piece of the huge cake that is casual gaming, and XBLA is their foremost advance in getting this. Get used to it, these 'crap' games are here to stay.

And if I may add, there are quite a few gems in there for those who actually bother to look through the list.

ManThatYouFear

Commented on 2008-03-18 11:17:52

Release a light gun, then let them bring on the mini games (point blank style) i will be happy then.