Xbox Live Arcade Challenge Heats Up the Holidays with Small Arms and Lumines Live!
While the weather outside may be frightful, the gaming inside during this Holiday season is sure to be delightful. Microsoft today announced that registration is now open for the first two events in the highly anticipated Xbox Live Arcade Challenge. Competitors in each event have the opportunity to win prizes ranging from a high definition plasma TV to Xbox hardware and Microsoft Points tokens.
Xbox Live Arcade Challenge is a brand new program featuring fully integrated global tournaments designed specifically for all people playing Xbox Live Arcade games. The program is for all levels of gamers – those who like to compete and win, and those who simply want to play and join in with friends. Gamers can play for points, prizes, and fun.
The first two events feature the recently released Xbox Live Arcade titles “Lumines Live!” and “Small Arms.” The first tournament will use Q Entertainment's "Lumines Live!," the newest edition to the blockbuster franchise created by Tetsuya Mizuguchi. The "Lumines Live!" challenge will will run between December 17 and 23, and will feature competition in the Time Attack Mode. Gamers will be able to prepare for this competition by viewing the instant replays of players who’ve made it to the top of the leaderboard.
The next Xbox Live Arcade Challenge features the recently released brawling game “Small Arms,” and will run from December 24 to 30 in ranked matches. This original title developed by indie developer Gastronaut Studios has rapidly become one of the most popular Xbox Live Arcade releases ever. In fact during the week of November 27, "Small Arms" has been the number one paid download across all of Xbox Live Marketplace and has been the number one most played Xbox Live Arcade title and the third most played Xbox 360 game. So polish your skills and select your favorite weapon-strapped furry creature, as it's going to be fast-paced arcade brawling action this holiday. Prior to the competition, the "Small Arms" leaderboard will be reset to provide a level playing field.
I was listening to the newest Major Nelson Podcast earlier and he had an interview with Naked Sky, the developers of this past week's Xbox Live Arcade title: Roboblitz. Several people were worried when the game was released that they would release the mutliplayer aspect as paid content, much in the way Lumines Live has been rumored to include add-on content that was originally thought to be included in the game.
The developers stated several times that it would be a free download in an expansion pack of sorts, so it looks like there will be much more content than just the multiplayer gameplay addition.
Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays is making some extra noise this week.
The highly anticipated music-puzzle action phenomenon, “Lumines Live!” can be yours starting tomorrow, Wednesday, October 18, from 0800 GMT (1:00am PDT) on Xbox Live Arcade. The newest addition to the blockbuster franchise from Tetsuya Mizuguchi and Q Entertainment comes packed with puzzles, modes, exclusive music videos and full online multiplayer play over Xbox Live. The game even has an exclusive feature that records high score gameplay in the Time Attack Mode which can be downloaded and played back by any other player.
GAME FOCUS:
“Lumines Live!” combines puzzles, music and video entertainment to create an addictively-fun gameplay experience that looks and sounds as good as it plays. Play several different single player modes, battle friends online over Xbox Live, create your own skins playlist in the all-new Skin Edit Mode, and experience new ways to play via exclusive downloadable content to enhance and extend the gameplay experience.
GAME FEATURES:
“Lumines Live!” for Xbox Live Arcade brings exciting new music, new video content, and 12 different skins, for hours of fun. The Xbox Live Arcade game features exclusive Xbox Live online multiplayer play, allowing you to play against your friends in head-to-head battles. For advanced players, gamers can change their music scene and purchase the Advance Pack from Xbox Live Marketplace for 22 new skins.
“Lumines Live!” includes:
- Full online multiplayer play over Xbox Live – battle your friends head-to-head
- Classic Lumines gameplay, including Challenge, Puzzle and vs. CPU modes
- All-new Skin Edit Mode allows you to re-mix the order of your unlocked skins to create a custom Lumines experience
- All-new Mission mode presents player with pre-designed Lumines puzzle scenarios
- Dynamic skins, sound effects and music optimized specifically for Lumines Live! in high-definition graphics and 5.1 channel surround audio
- Extensive downloadable content support over Xbox Live Marketplace – add new skins, puzzles, missions, artist packs and more
- Full suite of online leaderboards
- Achievements and Gamerscore
WHEN CAN I GET IT:
Download “Lumines Live!” tomorrow, Wednesday, October 18, at 1am PST on Xbox Live Arcade (available in participating countries).
“Lumines Live!” (Q Entertainment): 1200 Microsoft Points
“Lumines Live!” Advance Pack (sold separately): 600 Microsoft Points
Microsoft’s X06 Xbox 360 and Games for Windows lineup showcases award-winning, exclusive next-generation titles, blockbuster franchises and the most anticipated games.
BARCELONA, Spain — Sept. 28, 2006 — In the city that helped influence the works of artists including Gaudi, Miró and Picasso, Microsoft Corp. delivered the fine art of gaming at X06 showcasing an extensive, groundbreaking collection of games for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system, Games for Windows® and Xbox Live® Arcade for Xbox 360. For the holiday season and beyond, Microsoft offers amazing experiences for all types of gamers — ranging from the hard-core gamer with the award-winning “Gears of War®” to the gamer interested in a variety of genres with the broad reach title “Viva Piñata™.”
Xbox 360 games arriving for the holidays include these:
· “Gears of War” (Epic Games Inc.). 2006 E3 Best Console Game winner “Gears of War” thrusts gamers into humankind’s horrifying epic battle for survival against the Locust Horde. This third-person tactical action/horror title lets gamers play in several modes (single, cooperative and customizable Xbox Live multiplayer gameplay) that unite next-generation technology and graphics with classic storytelling and a revolutionary tactical combat system.
· “Viva Piñata” (Rare Ltd.). The “Viva Piñata” world is an evolving paradise where players of all ages create a fantastical island to attract and care for the more than 60 species of wild-roaming Piñata animals. In the United States, the animated TV series “Viva Piñata” debuted Sept. 9 on 4Kids TV and licensed merchandise will be available in 2007.
· “Call of Duty® 3” (Activision). The follow up to the No. 1 next-generation title delivers gamers right to the frontlines, closer than ever to the fury of combat. “Call of Duty 3” also offers intense multiplayer action for up to 24 players to team up online.
Talking at an interview conducted by Gamasutra during the 2006 Tokyo Game Show, Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade head Greg Canessa explained the future of the successful Xbox 360 digital download service, including the concept of an 'Imports' area on XBLA to highlight the best foreign-territory titles, and upcoming improvements to the service.
Japan And Xbox Live Arcade
Since the meeting was taking place at TGS, a natural starting point was a discussion of Japanese support for Xbox Live Arcade. Canessa commented that Microsoft was in the process of developing "deeper and broader support" from Japanese developers and publishers, pointing to deals with companies such as SNK, which is to debut Fatal Fury Special as an Asia-exclusive title for the service, joining another Asian-specific XBLA title, Konami's Yie Ar Kung Fu.
Canessa also referenced the Q Entertainment agreement for Lumines Live, as well as Namco and Konami's continuing deals for worldwide distributed games including Gyruss, Rush 'N Attack, Super Contra, and Track 'N Field. (As an aside, when asked about Metal Slug's possible appearance on Xbox Live Arcade in the near future, hinted at by an SNK brochure distributed at Tokyo Game Show, Canessa simply commented: "We haven't finalized or announced [titles with SNK] apart from Fatal Fury Special.")
Microsoft have detailed the titles due for release via Xbox Live in the forthcoming weeks, revealing in the process, the drop date of the much anticipated Lumines Live!
Xbox Live Wednesdays are set to continue into August and September, with Pac-Man and ther previously announced Texas Hold 'Em poker leading the way.
Lesser known titles, Time Pilot and Scramble are soon to follow with Lumines kicking off September in fine fashion. The highly addictive Lumines Live! puts a next-gen twist on the familiar puzzle title with its in-game 'skins' - acting as background to the block busting action, the 360 version will offer popular music videos as the backdrop to your play. With an initial number included on purchase and more to follow, again over Xbox Live, in the Artist Pack.
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