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[Xbox-Scene]

Xbox Live Arcade Retail Surprise Posted by XanTium | June 21 11:13 EST

From next-gen.biz: Encouraged by the success of Live Arcade, Microsoft is planning to bring some of its downloadable games to retail. Xbox chief Peter Moore is pushing to extend the Live Arcade brands to retail, arguing internally that original games like Geometry Wars, retro hits like Smash TV and casual games like Hardwood Hearts will extend Xbox 360's appeal to non-hardcore audiences. The company is seeking to offer the games to the 'other 50%' of gamers that have not signed up to Xbox Live, while using the titles to showcase the platform as a welcoming destination. Read More: next-gen.biz

[MN-Mod-Man]

It was all a matter of time, but I wonder if the games will be installed on your hard drive, or just playable from the disk? Only time will tell.

[PC_Arcade]

Good idea, the only suprise is that they haven't done it already

[Ming3r]

Too bad these (form what I can take of it) won't be on the original Xbox. I'd kill for Geometry Wars Evolved, but all I've got is PGR2...

[twistedsymphony]

I wonder if they plan on releasing a single disc with all the XBLA games on it, then simply allowing you to phone in, connect (with your PC) or purchase at retail codes to make the trail games full versions.

That would be the most cost-effective IMO... they could give the discs away for free and if someone just wants to buy geo-wars they can purchase a code over the phone to unlock it but still have all the other demos which might encourage them to buy more.

[ILLusions0fGrander]

thats a pretty good idea... it would be kinda bulky to have a section of XBLA games next to all the 360 games.

but then, when new games that come out like SF, they would have to either release a stand alone disk, or wait until the next bunch of games comes out.

we will have to see... but my question is.. what is xbox 360 without live?

[lowendfrequency]

I hope they are fairly cheap, considering that many of the games's main value comes from the live experience.

[pepe2004]

Great than they think about the gamers than doesn't have the money to own a broadband conection or people than doesn want to pay for it, not like some company than doesn't think about people than doesn't have that much money to expend on videogames or a HD TV to have some use to the blu-ray you pay 100 dollars more (I'm not saying the name  (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)) . Is great IMO.

This post has been edited by pepe2004: Jun 21 2006, 05:37 PM

[esc1]

They need to focus on getting two or three GOOD xbla games out a month instead of new ways to offer the same stuff we have had for months!

[griffin XXI]

QUOTE(ILLusions0fGrander @ Jun 21 2006, 10:30 AM)

thats a pretty good idea... it would be kinda bulky to have a section of XBLA games next to all the 360 games.

but then, when new games that come out like SF, they would have to either release a stand alone disk, or wait until the next bunch of games comes out.

we will have to see... but my question is.. what is xbox 360 without live?

To answer the question, no different really. So you can't download(and pay) for themes/pics, or game demos and trailers. No biggie, I think many could care less or like to wait and be surprised, like myself. I see it as the same thing, w/o having to pay $50/year to MS, and another $50/month to the ISP. Can't play friends online then? So have em over and play together. I think for me its a money issue, I have the money, but its not worth spending an additional $650+/year on. Thats what the 360 without Live means to me, a better deal without the unnecessary fluff.

[twistedsymphony]

QUOTE(griffin XXI @ Jun 21 2006, 12:18 PM)

To answer the question, no different really. So you can't download(and pay) for themes/pics, or game demos and trailers. No biggie, I think many could care less or like to wait and be surprised, like myself. I see it as the same thing, w/o having to pay $50/year to MS, and another $50/month to the ISP. Can't play friends online then? So have em over and play together. I think for me its a money issue, I have the money, but its not worth spending an additional $650+/year on. Thats what the 360 without Live means to me, a better deal without the unnecessary fluff.

I'd have to disagree, I wouldn't be enjoying the 360 nearly as much without Xbox Live... to me that is is 80% of what makes the console so great. Messages, friends lists, the whole standardization of the experience across all the games make's it worthwhile. I can totally understand not paying the $50 for multiplayer, while I use it sometimes I can often go weeks or months without using it. But demos, trailers, the XBLA, added content (like Oblivion missions and extra cars in PGR3), voice and text messaging, gamerscore and achievement tracking all make at least plugging your console in a very worthwhile experience. I don't think I'd go out of my way to buy broadband just for Xbox Live, but if you already have a broadband connection it's more then worth the extra $50 for a router to plug it in and get XBL Silver.

Having friends over to play doesn't work well either... have you even looked at the local multiplayer options for the 360 THEY SUCK. most games are going the way of XBL for the multiplayer experience and people who enjoy local multiplayer get shafted, not because of MS but because companies in general are just concentrating more on online play. Unless you're only playing with 1 other person there arn't many options you have for games to play...

[lostboyz]

meh, I have a friend with 2 27" LCDs a 24" widescreen Dell monitor and 32" SDTV and we had a great time having 4 people with 4 360s playing, screw split screen. But if not for that I agree the local options do suck

[griffin XXI]

QUOTE(twistedsymphony @ Jun 21 2006, 11:48 AM)

I'd have to disagree, I wouldn't be enjoying the 360 nearly as much without Xbox Live... to me that is is 80% of what makes the console so great. Messages, friends lists, the whole standardization of the experience across all the games make's it worthwhile. I can totally understand not paying the $50 for multiplayer, while I use it sometimes I can often go weeks or months without using it. But demos, trailers, the XBLA, added content (like Oblivion missions and extra cars in PGR3), voice and text messaging, gamerscore and achievement tracking all make at least plugging your console in a very worthwhile experience. I don't think I'd go out of my way to buy broadband just for Xbox Live, but if you already have a broadband connection it's more then worth the extra $50 for a router to plug it in and get XBL Silver.

Having friends over to play doesn't work well either... have you even looked at the local multiplayer options for the 360 THEY SUCK. most games are going the way of XBL for the multiplayer experience and people who enjoy local multiplayer get shafted, not because of MS but because companies in general are just concentrating more on online play. Unless you're only playing with 1 other person there arn't many options you have for games to play...

Yeah i definitely agree those are cool things to see and have at your command, but it doesn't make the experience any better or more enjoyable when I'm playing games. It's funny after playing on Live the past months and having just recently disconnecting it, I find myself on the other end of the spectrum Twisted; if giving Live a percentage of what makes the console great, prolly just give it a measly 5% for me. Also i just hi speed for the the xbox, no PCs in the home. As far as friends over, to me that goes without saying, is far and away more enjoyable than playing with the general public, i don't even need to explain why. Fifa has been a righteous multiplayer game, when Me and my 3 friends schedules mesh, and my brother and i played through Kameo. For me and the people i know, there isn't anymore time available than that, and thats fine. There will always be games now and in the future, whether they are single player or multiplayer or coop that you can play locally with FRIENDS in the same room, which blows anything Live can offer out of the water.  This is of course, just my humble opinion coming from a guy who's played both sides.

[TheIceman72]

QUOTE(lostboyz @ Jun 21 2006, 12:58 PM)

meh, I have a friend with 2 27" LCDs a 24" widescreen Dell monitor and 32" SDTV and we had a great time having 4 people with 4 360s playing, screw split screen. But if not for that I agree the local options do suck

You know what though? I never have liked split screen playing with friends over. I have a 32 inch Sony Wega and I just dont think it is large enough to enjoy any split screen games. Now my cousin has a 100 inch projector and honestly i dont enjoy playing split screen on that either. X-Box Live just enhances multiplayer so much. With out it, the xbox would not be where it is now.

As far as the games being sold to pc people.....I think M$ needs to focus on XB and not XB porting.

Also where is my damn Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat on XBL? I want some new games damit!!!!

[Knocks]

Thanks for doing this, MS.

I am a lot more likely to pay for these games if I have them on disc rather than purchase some bogus MS points and have it tied to a paid Xbox Live account.

This way if my Xbox is ever banned for modding, at least I get to keep my arcade games.  In other words, I feel better about making physical purchases than "virtual" purchases that I can't back up.  Smart move!