This week on Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays we offer a full-featured update to one of the most popular titles on the service – Texas Hold ‘em.
We’ve listened to our community and as a result, a host of features and improvements have been added to Texas Hold ‘em to speed up game-play, eliminate cheating and ensure proper competition. As a result, the online multi-player leaderboards will be reset to eliminate the inflated scores that currently appear. In a future update in early 2007, we’ll be adding Xbox Live Vision Camera support as well.
The update will be available for download on Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360 beginning Wednesday, November 29, after 0800 GMT (1:00 a.m. PST).
Below is a full list of the new features and changes in the Texas Hold ’em update:
Features:
- Game-play has been sped up:
- Post the blind and play right away! – Players can now, if they wish, start playing immediately when joining a table by posting the big blind, rather than having to wait for the blind to come to them.
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New ‘Away’ mode – Players can now set their status to ‘Away’. Hands will be auto-folded and blinds auto-posted until the player returns.
- New ‘Auto-boot’ mode – Players who continuously let the timer expire (more than three times in a game) will be booted from the table
- Faster overall pacing – Timers and messaging durations have been adjusted to speed up game-play among experienced players, but still allow novice players plenty of time to play.
- Improved blind structure – Initial blinds, as well as blind increases, are now more proportional to table stakes, ensuring more meaningful increases during game-play.
- Matchmaking improvements – Players are no longer matched into games they cannot afford
- Improved interface controls – Improvements to controls, such as increasing/decreasing stake amounts
- Leaderboard display – A player’s full winnings and rank are now properly displayed
- Art and text improvements – Game art and spelling issues have been addressed
- Online exploits addressed – Certain known exploits that enabled cheating have been addressed. As a result, the online multi-player leaderboards will be reset to eliminate inflated scores as a result of these exploits.
Networking with friends reaps new rewards with this highly anticipated Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday release. The frantic multiplayer brawling game “Small Arms” will be available for download on Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360 beginning Wednesday, November 22, after 0800 GMT (1:00 a.m. PST).
Social gaming innovation in “Small Arms,” which begins with the four developers at Gastronaut Studios, will pass to Xbox Live Arcade gamers from around the world. “Small Arms” includes a unique social networking Achievement called “Six Degrees of Small Arms” that can only be earned by playing with someone who already has it – and which only the game’s creators will possess at launch!
In “Small Arms,” up to four players can join in the battles across many dynamic and richly detailed levels. Gamers can choose from a cast of outrageous fighters like the cyborg tabby cat, assassin truffle pig and mutant chimney sweep. While jumping from platform to platform shooting with 360° aim, gamers of all skill levels will be able to pick up and play this innovative side-scrolling action title.
“Small Arms” is available worldwide for 800 Microsoft Points.
GAME FEATURES:
- 12 characters, each with their own weapon
- 8 unique levels
- 12 Achievements, including the innovative “Six Degrees of Small Arms” viral achievement
- Up to 4-player multiplayer offline and on Xbox Live
- Local Multiplayer / Xbox Live Swap – allows players to swap out a local friend with a friendover Live without leaving the game!
- Three single player game modes (Story, Challenge, and Shooting Range)
- Colorful 3D graphics with classic side-scrolling run and gun action
- Expect premium downloadable content for this title in the future – providing new game play elements and unique challenges for Small Arms fans
WHERE CAN I GET IT:
Download “Small Arms” beginning on Wednesday, November 22, at 1 a.m. PST on Xbox Live Arcade.
“Small Arms”: 800 Microsoft Points, Rated E10+, Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence
For more information, please visit http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/livearcade.
Prior to their original release date of the 19th of November, it seems the Burger King games have already been released. Just take a trip down to your local Burger King, order a value meal or three and you can get the games. Plus, we know someone who has played them.
It seems that LinkinPrime, a regular poster and submitter of news in the ICGamers realm, has gotten all three of the games, since they appear on his gamer card. Lucky him, who can now earn up to 600 more Gamerscore points from these games.
Xbox Live members now have the opportunity to save the world from invading aliens in “Defender”, the classic coin-op space-shooter from Midway. “Defender” will be available this evening (November 15) on Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360.
It’s the future, and the galaxy has been invaded by hostile alien forces. Attacking in countless swarms, the aliens decimate all planets they encounter. Those who survive the initial invasions are harvested to serve the alien invaders. Mankind's only hope lies in the “Defender.” Blast away at alien ships while ensuring the safety of all abducted humans by safely depositing them on the planet’s surface.
The Xbox Live Arcade game includes two versions of Defender. For arcade purists, the classic game remains in its original, untouched form and a graphically enhanced version of the game is also available in the download package.
“Defender” is available worldwide for 400 Microsoft Points.
GAME FEATURES:
- Classic and enhanced modes: Choose between playing this arcade classic in its original form or with a visual facelift.
- Multiplayer mayhem: Gamers pit their skills against rivals or team up with friends.
- Local 2-player versus mode: Each player takes turns to play and compete.
- Xbox Live 2-player versus mode: Gamers play their own game, but compete against a friend and are updated on the progress of the other player.
- 2 player co-operative mode (local and Xbox Live): Both players control their own game and work together for a combined score.
- Full Xbox Live leaderboards: Single-Player, Versus, Co-op, and Weekly
- 12 Achievements worth a total of 200 Gamerscore points
WHERE CAN I GET IT:
Download “Defender” on Wednesday, November 15 on Xbox Live Arcade.
“Defender”: 400 Microsoft Points, Rated E for Everyone
Contra on Xbox Live® Arcade for Xbox 360™ Nov 8, 2006
Relive the fight to stop the destruction of humanity in Konami’s classic side-scrolling shoot ‘em up, “Contra”, available on Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360 for download beginning Wednesday, November 8, after 0800 GMT (1:00 a.m. PST).
Use veteran Special Ops soldiers Bill Rizer or Lance Bean to battle the alien menace Red Falcon and all of its minions. Fight through the jungle, frozen tundra and steel fortresses in 8 challenging game levels. Gamers depend on high-tech weapons including the Mini Laser, the Fireball and the Spread Gun in their fight to protect the world.
“Contra” for Xbox Live Arcade includes enhanced graphics and sound and also features new multiplayer cooperative gameplay, allowing you and a buddy to work together from either the same console or through Xbox Live.
“Contra” is available worldwide for 400 Microsoft Points.
GAME FEATURES:
- Players can opt to play the original arcade game or play in the enhanced mode with improved graphics and sounds
- Xbox Live Multiplayer: Battle all 8 levels together over Xbox Live, or locally on the same console
- Xbox Live features: Players can see how they rank against their friends with worldwide leaderboards and achievements
- 12 achievements: “Contra” offers achievements which range from straightforward to challenging for players of all skill levels
- New visuals: Enjoy enhanced artwork including rendered new bullet effects and explosions
WHERE CAN I GET IT:
Download “Contra” beginning on Wednesday, November 8, at 1:00 a.m. PST on Xbox Live Arcade.
“Contra”: 400 Microsoft Points, Rated E10 (Everyone 10+)
News just in is that Microsoft and Atari are going to be releasing a whole host of classic Atari games for Xbox Live Arcade.
Starting January 2007 you can expect to see such classics as these:
Centipede®/Millipede®: defend your village against an onslaught of centipedes, spiders, army ants and more. In addition to the classic mode, the evolution mode offers high definition graphics and special effects like motion blur, trails and particle-based explosions to make the experience as enjoyable today as it was decades ago.
Battlezone®: the original tank vs. tank action classic has received an Xbox Live overhaul, adding in exciting new multiplayer modes including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag. This updated version is truly a must-have for any fan of the original, which is also included. Additionally, players can use the Xbox Live Vision camera to watch live video of their opponents. Combine these features with new special effects for weapon firing, impacts and explosions and you have one killer classic as you’ve never experienced it before.
Asteroids®/Asteroids Deluxe™: rotate, thrust, flip, fire and jump to hyperspace as you blast oncoming asteroids to smithereens just like in the 1979 original, but in updated, beautifully rendered, high definition graphics that complement the classic original.
Missile Command™: protecting your city from alien missile attacks has never looked better now that this classic has been overhauled with updated graphics and 3D rendered vistas. Choose from the evolved mode or the timeless original gameplay.
Tempest™: clear a web of enemies before time runs out and advance to the next stage, using an arsenal of weapons at your disposal. This evolved version features a graphics overhaul while maintaining the same addictive gameplay of the original.
Warlords®: a multiplayer classic that resurrects the competitive spirit of arcade games from years gone by. Knock out the other kings in their castles while keeping yourself protected at the same time. Up to four players can join the action with the game taking control of any vacant castles allowing for a variety of single- or multiplayer experiences. Gamers can also import their own pictures to their castles for an extra personalization.
Not only will you get the classic versions of these games but you will also get the Evolved versions too. So hopefully good value for money.
Also on the way are this holiday season are several independent game releases as follows:
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