Kotaku: Xbox Originals

And Your Next Xbox Original Is...

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:30:00 MST

...Zapper. Do try and remain calm, will you? Blitz's cricket platformer, first released in 2002, will be ready for download on your 360 on November 17, for the customary price of 1200 MS Points. Really, Microsoft. Zapper? It's the lead-up to Christmas, and you release Zapper? An average (and that's being kind) last-gen platformer that wasn't even an Xbox exclusive? You could have at least given us Blinx. Least that'd be good for a laugh or two.

San Andreas Rolls Onto Xbox Originals

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Microsoft are yet to officially announce it, but a listing has appeared on Xbox.com for the digital re-release of 2004's Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. We'll take that as announcement enough. It'll be the standard 1200 points, and will go on sale next Monday, October 20. For those left wanting by GTAIV's flat final stages, now's as good a time as any to go back to the days GTA games could get away with alien abduction sub-plots and jetpacks.

Xbox Originals: Destroy All Humans And Intellivision Reborn

Mike Fahey — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:20:00 MDT

This month sees the largest addition to the Xbox Originals program for the Xbox 360 ever, with a more than 61 games hitting the service on September 15th. Of course all but one of those games is part of Crave's Intellivision Reborn compilation - which incidentally failed to spark a rebirth of the Intellivision - but if we're going to get technical about things than none of those even count, having not originally appeared on the Xbox. So, a whole slew of Intellivision Games of dubious quality, and one excellent alien invasion title in THQ's Destroy All Humans, a game that received the coveted Fahey award for Best Use Of Zim in a Non-Zim role.

Thanks to Mustapha for pointing out the new additions.

Jade Empire Is Your Next Xbox Original

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:00:00 MDT

Microsoft have just announced that the next original Xbox game to be granted a second lease of life will be BioWare's Jade Empire. For a BioWare game it's nowhere near as fondly recalled as some of their other, more laser gun-oriented titles, but it's still an excellent game, especially its take on RPG combat. It'll be made available on July 21, for the usual 1200 MS Points.

Jade Empire Coming to Xbox Originals [Gamerscore]

New Xbox Originals: Stubbs And Gauntlet

Mike Fahey — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:40:00 MDT

I'd be quite interested to see the process involved with choosing what games become Xbox Live Arcade Xbox Originals. I am beginning to think a hat is involved. While some of the picks so far have been no-brainers, others are a bit more questionable.

Stubbs The Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse is one of those original Xbox titles I can see on the service, as it was a quality game that 360 newcomers shouldn't miss out on. Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows, on the other hand, was a nicely rendered hunk of crap that no one should bother spending 1200 Microsoft points on. There are seriously more than seven sorrows involved there.

If you want Gauntlet, download the Live Arcade version and enjoy yourself. If you want Stubbs, save up your points and get ready for the game's re-release on May 19th.

Xbox Originals: Stubbs the Zombie and Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows [Xbox Live's Major Nelson]

Splinter Cell, Metal Arms Join Xbox Originals Lineup

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:30:00 MDT

MIcrosoft have announced that two further games are to be added to their lineup of Xbox Originals. First one's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, which if you haven't played is worth it for the multiplayer alone. Other one's Metal Arms: Glitch in the System, Swingin' Ape's (ie the Starcraft Ghost guys) murderously underrated robot platformer. Both games will be available everywhere except Korea and Japan, and both games will set you back the standard 1200 points when released on April 21.
Coming to Xbox Originals: Splinter Cell:CT and Metal Arms [Microsoft]

Dreamfall Journeys To Xbox Originals Library Next Week

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:20:00 MDT

The line-up of Xbox Originals for Xbox 360 will add one more next Monday, when Dreamfall: The Longest Journey hits Live Marketplace. Funcom's adventure game sequel to The Longest Journey divided critics, but won some praise, apparently warranting its "Game of the Year" distinction. Of course, that may just be marketing. If you're into it, 1200 Microsoft Points will make it yours. If you're not sold, there's plenty of information at the official Xbox site.

Dreamfall: The Longest Journey [Xbox.com]

Xbox Originals Adds Pirates, Ninjas Next Week

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:40:00 MST

A trio of new oldies will make their way to the Xbox Live Marketplace next week, as Microsoft plans to add Sid Meier's Pirates!, Black and Ninja Gaiden Black to the Xbox Originals line-up. All three will arrive on February 11 for 1200 Microsoft Points—$15 in genuine US dollars. If scurvy, explosions and decapitations are your thing, clear some space on your hard drive for next Monday.

Xbox Originals [Xbox.com]

Xbox Originals Arrive, Bring Free Themes

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:20:00 MST

Hey, those Xbox Originals (aka old Xbox games) have arrived on Xbox Live Marketplace as of today, bringing a handful of extras with them. While the more mundane but practical stuff includes PDF instruction manuals and online controller mappings for games like Psychonauts, Halo and Indigo Propechy, there are some fun freebies, too. Picture packs and themes for each of the Xbox Originals are available for download by going to Marketplace > Game Store > Xbox Originals. Gussy up your Xbox 360 blades with free Fable stuff, if you want. Huzzah!

Xbox Originals Manuals and Controller layouts (and free themes and picture packs) [Microsoft]

Xbox Originals Are Achievement Free

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:20:17 MST

Microsoft blogger Larry Hryb takes no delight in crushing fan dreams today with an update on the recently announced plan to release original Xbox games via Xbox Live Marketplace. Apparently, some were speculating that the company would go the extra mile for the 1200 MS Point releases, adding Achievements and Gamer Score to games like Halo, Fable, Psychonauts and Crimson Skies. Sadly, Mr. Hryb writes that adding such a feature would be technically impossible for the older titles, even adding a little frowning emoticon to illustrate the seriousness of the matter.

I'm sure that Microsoft—and many third parties—would love to add these options to older Xbox re-releases. The cash revenue from achievement whores could make even Psychonauts finally turn a healthy profit.

Will Xbox Originals have Achievements? [Microsoft]