TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled, the HD remake of one of the best mutant turtle video games ever created, was originally priced at 1200 Microsoft points, or $15. Now IGN reports that Ubisoft and Microsoft are just a couple of big softies, dropping the price to 800 points in advance of next week's release. This means that the special 800 point bonus Microsoft announced yesterday for buying all of the Summer of Arcade titles just got $5 cheaper as well.

I'd say that's one shell of a deal, but that would be stupid.

TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Priced [IGN]

At the "Save South Park One Snowball At A Time" panel at Comic-Con yesterday, South Park Digital's Chris Brion explained how the tower defense / action hybrid's name evolved from the original title, "South Park: Suck My Balls."

After a little bit...it was probably two months when Microsoft asked us to change it. Questions arose about Xbox Live Marketplace censoring. Would we just censor the U-C-K (S***)? Or if we censored the whole thing people might think it was Fuck My Balls. We ended up coming up with a name we felt was much improved.

That title? South Park: Snowballing.

"That one lasted about two or three weeks and went through a couple of levels before somebody finally said, "Wait a minute."

So they had to pull that one, and their next tile, "Baru Baru Suki Suki" got nixed right away, despite its pseudo-Japanese charm. In the end, they stuck with the Japanese feel, giving us South Park's Let's Go Tower Defense Play!, which I'm still not so sure about.

Radiant Silvergun is a classic shooter that's developed a cult following despite the fact that it never saw release here in the states. In fact, it was the first game I ever imported, opening up a whole new expensive way for me to burn through my paycheck. It's no wonder Microsoft wants it. Getting it, however, is another story.

"Microsoft actually asked us if we could put it out," he says. "We're thinking about it, certainly, but it's not as simple as just saying 'OK, let's put it up.' I mean, sure, with Ikaruga, we released it as-is without having to do or add a great deal to the game, and it was popular and well accepted for what it was. But if you play Radiant Silvergun nowadays, it's certainly aged in assorted ways, and I'm not sure they're all good,"

Basically, Treasure would love to see the game get back into the hands of the players, but isn't sure that XBLA is the place to do it.

"I think we'd definitely like to see it out there. But the situation around that game is a bit different from Ikaruga, so I don't know if we'd see it on [Xbox Live]."

Could this herald a possible remake of the beloved title? Inquiring minds want to know. I want to know.

Hit up the link below for more, and be sure to check out Gama's full interview with Maegawa for more juicy Treasure info.

Treasure's Maegawa: Microsoft Asked For Radiant Silvergun On XBLA [Gamasutra]

ARKANOID Live!

Fact Sheet

(October 2008)

Title: ARKANOID™ Live!

Publisher: Taito

Developer: Taito

Platform: Xbox LIVE® Arcade

Rating: RP

Availability: 2009

Price: TBD

# of Players: 1 ~ 2

Product Overview:

Arkanoid, the block-breaking masterpiece now for Xbox LIVE Arcade!

First appearing in the 1980’s as a new style block-breaking game, ARKANOID, appears on Xbox LIVE Arcade having accomplished even further evolution. Enjoy Arkanoid in high-definition with beautifully choreographed background movies and background music. Loaded with 120 stages in all and colorful cooperative and versus modes.

Game Features:

As part of “TAITO’s Collection Series”, in which Taito’s masterpiece games are remade, ARKANOID is remade with even cooler background movies and sound and loaded with colorful game modes. Within the simplistic block-breaking game element, and beyond effects incurred by items and the appearance of enemies, several kinds of new bosses appear in the final stage.

New Visuals and Music: Block-breaking is rendered cooler than ever with ARKANOID’s inorganic interpretation of our world through cool background graphics and new background music.

120 Stages of Block-Breaking: Even including stages from the past ARKANOID series, compete for the high-score and/or record clear time in all 120 stages with leaderboards score.

Abundant Game Customization: Barrier Type or Player Stock Type game play? A Player 1 and Player 2 collaboration? Customize your game play for variety enjoyment.

VS Mode Play: Heat up your CPU or Local 2Player and Live Play VS play with two rules.
- Bust All Battle Mode – The player who breaks all the blocks first wins
- Bust Color Battle Mode – The player who breaks all the color blocks designated to them wins.

The information contained in this fact sheet relates to a pre-release product that may be modified before its commercial release. Accordingly, the information may not accurately describe or reflect the product when it is commercially released. The fact sheet is provided for informational purposes only, and the publisher and developer make no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the fact sheet or the information contained in it.

Some will meet these prices with outrage, while I say why not? I've played both of these titles (Braid extensively) and they are completely worth the extra real currency substitute. I've paid $60 for disc-based titles that had a quarter of the entertainment value of these two games. More power to them.

真夏のXbox LIVE アーケード最新 4 タイトルの配信日が決定 [Japanese Xbox Blog via GamerBytes - Thanks ZeroMystic!]

UPDATE:Microsoft contacted Kotaku to clarify some details. Apparently the price of Braid is listed incorrectly, with the correct price being announced Monday, while North American Castle Crashers pricing will be announced August 25th. Note they didn't say the Castle Crashers price was incorrect.

Also coming this Wednesday is Frogger 2, which includes 15 levels of action, boss battles, two new online multiplayer modes, and no free beta version of Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, all for 800 Microsoft points.

I am sensing a clear winner here.

This week on Arcade: Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 and Frogger 2 [Xbox Live's Major Nelson]

The Windows, Mac and Linux game will sell for $20 and the 360 arcade version will go for 1600 Microsoft Points.

Hit the jump for the full release.

Windows, Mac and Linux Versions of Episode One Reach Gold Master

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - May 1, 2008 - Hothead Games is thrilled to announce that the Windows®, Mac®, and Linux® versions of Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One have reached gold master status and are planned for worldwide download via the new digital download service Greenhouse at www.playgreenhouse.com later this quarter. In celebration, Hothead gave some infamous Penny Arcade characters a new look and let them loose on the unsuspecting websites www.rainslick.com, www.hotheadgames.com, and www.playgreenhouse.com for the public to enjoy.

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One is an RPG-adventure game set in the comic-book-meets-pulp-horror-meets-H.P. Lovecraft deranged 1920s universe of New Arcadia, delivered to gamers via accessible episodic releases. Players join Gabe and Tycho, the crime-solving team of the Startling Developments Detective Agency, to combat savage enemies and solve mysteries hidden deep in the sinister heart of New Arcadia. The game is the result of close collaboration between Hothead Games and Penny Arcade, featuring distinct artwork and characters designed exclusively by Mike "Gabe" Krahulik, story and dialogue by Jerry "Tycho" Holkins, and both brought to life by the Hothead team.

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One is priced at $19.95 for the Windows, Mac, and Linux versions and at 1600 Microsoft points via Xbox LIVE® Arcade, with a rating of "M" for Mature by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board for all platforms.

This week on Arcade: Bullwinkle and Battlezone [Xbox Live's Major Nelson]

Out initial plan was to port lots of good arcade titles to XBLA. We talked to IP holders of these titles, and persuaded them. We secured these licenses, and finally talked with Microsoft. There they rejected all of our proposals saying, 'We are going to cut down faithful arcade ports.' We felt so frustrated.

Give Your Brain a Boost with "Brain Challenge" and Control the Wind with "Bliss Island" � Both Available this Wednesday on Xbox LIVE Arcade
London - 10th March 2008 - Experience the first mind exercise game available on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for Xbox 360™ with Gameloft's "Brain Challenge" and harness the power of the wind to conquer levels in Codemasters' "Bliss Island," an updated version of the popular Windows Vista puzzler. Both titles will be available on Xbox LIVE Arcade on Wednesday 12th March at 08.00 GMT.

Don't let a good mind go to waste! Increase brain activity with "Brain Challenge," an entertaining brain training program that helps players develop stress-manBrain training cmes agement skills through a wide variety of games. A personal coach helps players develop their abilities in five areas of cognitive function, including logic, maths, memory, visual thinking and concentration, in a fun and easy way.

"Brain Challenge" has something for everyone including Daily Test Mode, where players undergo a series of brain exercises and Stress Mode, which tests player's abilities to stay calm under stress. For those looking for a relaxing experience, Creative Mode allows players to relax and explore their imagination and Child Test lets players play & share their exercises with younger people. For competitive players, the game features multiplayer support for up to four players offline and online, as well as detailed stats and graphs where they can track their overall performance and progression.

In our second game explore "Bliss Island" as Hoshi the Zwooph, a mystical blue creature that emits precise puffs of air to create clouds. Help Hoshi become the Bliss Island champion by winning over 25 unique challenges across nine intense levels. Better yet, challenge friends online for more competitive gameplay or focus on topping the Leaderboard charts!

N+ on XBLA this Wednesday (the 20th)!! YES!!!!!!! [Metanet Blog - Thanks Michael!]

Combatants Prepare to Battle Sark Again in Discs of Tron

Disney Interactive Studios Announces Classic Game Will Be Available Through Xbox LIVE Arcade on February 13

BURBANK, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—The ground-breaking film "Tron," about a man who ventures inside a video game and has to battle for survival, spawned two classic arcade games in the early 1980s. Disney Interactive Studios today announced Discs of Tron, the second arcade game inspired by the film, will be available on February 13 for Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

In Discs of Tron, players face off in a three-dimensional arena against the film's villain, Sark, as they throw discs to try to knock him off of a platform or "derezz" him with a disc while he counters. The game, which includes both classic and enhanced modes, gets increasingly more difficult as players progress. A player's advancement through the game includes multiple platforms of different altitudes, a barricade between the two combatants and chasers, which are secondary weapons from Sark. The player's deflector can provide necessary temporary protection from Sark's onslaught of discs.

Discs of Tron, which received an 8.0 out of 10 review score from Official Xbox Magazine (U.S.), includes multiplayer modes: Classic Versus (highest score wins), Speed Versus (player to reach determined score first wins), Co-op (two players' scores combined for leader board results) and Deadly Disc Versus (players play simultaneously and power-ups help one player or hinder another).

"Discs of Tron is considered an arcade classic as it mesmerized fans who wanted an entertaining and challenging experience derived from the innovative film," said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. "The game's release on Xbox LIVE Arcade enables multiple generations to play the addictive game in both its original form from 25 years ago and an enhanced mode with upgraded graphics and sound."

The enhanced mode features high-definition graphics that show the three-dimensional arena surrounded by a cityscape from the world of Tron. The game's audio is also upgraded in the enhanced mode.

From Disney Interactive Studios and developed by Backbone Entertainment, Discs of Tron is rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).

The original Tron arcade game, which is comprised of four mini-games inspired by the film and features an enhanced mode and multiplayer challenges, is now available on Xbox LIVE Arcade.

"We've been looking to move into Xbox LIVE Arcade titles and Load Inc. wanted to do something brand new with the racing genre. This really appealed to us," said Melanie Mroz, CEO of SouthPeak Games. "Competing with real life remote control cars is great fun, so why not do it in a videogame?

SouthPeak Get Wheels, Goes Live

Things On Wheels Coming To Xbox LIVE Arcade

Wednesday 30th January/...SouthPeak Games has announced that it will be publishing Things On Wheels for Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®. Things On Wheels is an accessible, pure arcade racing title placing players at the helm of radio-controlled vehicles as they compete on tracks set within a gigantic house. Developed by experienced Xbox LIVE Arcade alumni Load Inc., Things On Wheels promises to deliver plenty of radio-controlled racing fun when released in summer 2008.

A key innovation for Things On Wheels is its non-linear track design. Moving from room to room within an expansive virtual house, courses are constructed from routes that incorporate everyday items as hazards and obstacles. It's entirely possible that a championship could be won by taking the right path around a set of table legs, or cruelly lost by failing to avoid the searing heat of an electric heater. With huge scope for a variety of wildly entertaining courses, developers Load Inc. are promising to infuse Things On Wheels with as much radio-controlled racing mayhem as possible.

"We've been looking to move into Xbox LIVE Arcade titles and Load Inc. wanted to do something brand new with the racing genre. This really appealed to us," said Melanie Mroz, CEO of SouthPeak Games. "Competing with real life remote control cars is great fun, so why not do it in a videogame? Things on Wheels will deliver the same reckless thrill and as such, is a perfect candidate for us to announce as our first Xbox LIVE Arcade game."

Things On Wheels will be released for Xbox LIVE Arcade in summer 2008

SWOS on XBLA: 19th December *CONFIRMED* [Codemasters Community Forums via CVG]

Chair's Undertow Gets Launch Date On XBLA [Gamasutra]

Hudson Entertainment Reveals New Character & Assets for Omega Five on XBLA

Meet Ruby, Omega Five's lithe heroine

Hudson Entertainment today unveiled details and new screen shots of Ruby, a well-rounded warrior who's both nimble and deadly—if just a bit under-dressed. With a stockpile of awesome weapons and dangerous attacks, Ruby is a formidable foe.

Weapon Type A: Vulcan Laser Cannon -

Ruby's initial weapon blasts enemies with rapid-fire laser beams. As the weapon is upgraded, the rate of fire increases, allowing her to unleash a non-stop barrage of laser fire.

Weapon Type B: Reflecting Laser Beam -

Ruby's second weapon is a continuous laser beam that allows her to cut a swath of destruction through lesser enemies. Upgrades increase the power of the beam, splitting it in two, which also reflect off of certain surfaces. This lets Ruby attack enemies from around corners.

Weapon Type C: Lightning Gun -

Her final main weapon is a high-intensity lightning gun that roasts enemies. Upgrades increase the power, letting Ruby slice through enemies at will, as well as adding secondary lightning bolts that shoot out from the main beam at nearby enemies, doing incremental damage.

Alternate Attack -

Ruby has one alternate attack, which sends out a satellite that can instantly destroy lesser enemies or anchor onto stronger enemies. After the satellite latches onto an enemy, it deals damage and Ruby's weapon auto-aims to that spot, giving her near-perfect accuracy until the enemy dies or the satellite detaches. Additionally, while the satellite is floating around Ruby, it can block enemy fire.

Temporal Dodge -

All characters can quickly teleport to another dimension for a brief time, allowing them to avoid enemy attacks, though at the expense of a small amount of life.

Ultimate Burst -

All characters can unleash an enormously destructive nuke-like attack, after having collected at least 100 p-chips (the pink triangles that appear after defeating enemies) to fill one p-jail (the golden triangles at the bottom left of the screen).

"We're excited to add one of our hottest properties to the Xbox LIVE Arcade line up of games," said Steve Youngwood, executive vice president of digital media, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. "SpongeBob has been a top kids' video game franchise worldwide, making it the perfect property for Nickelodeon and THQ to bring to this downloadable platform."

THQ Announces SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam!TM, Along With Additional New Titles

New SpongeBob Game Will Mark THQ and Nickelodeon's Debut on Xbox LIVE Arcade

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. - October 24, 2007 - THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced that SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam!™ will be one of the first titles in the company's portfolio of games developed specifically for Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and is expected to release in November. SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam!, based on Nickelodeon's hit animated series, will mark the network's debut on the Xbox LIVE Arcade. In November, THQ also expects to launch Screwjumper™, a new original title, in the company's portfolio of Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 games. These titles will be followed by new original titles Elements of Destruction™ and Rocket Riot™. The games will all be available for download via the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

"We view Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 as a natural fit for many of our established casual brands, as well as an opportunity to serve up new gaming content," said Bob Aniello, senior vice president of worldwide marketing, THQ. "With more than 20 million units of SpongeBob video games shipped worldwide to-date, we're so excited to bring casual gamers SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam! on the Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360, and we look forward to rolling out more titles with a slate of games that offer a variety of options via the popular Arcade network."

For more information about SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam! and the rest of THQ's Xbox LIVE Arcade portfolio, please visit www.thq.com.