10 New Xbox Live Arcade Titles Announced

With some brand-new content, modern classics, and old favorites thrown together, Microsoft has announced the details for 10 new Xbox Live Arcade titles. Starting with the first week of February, a series of games will bring some new blood back to Xbox Live Wednesdays. While it's nice to see them announcing new titles like Eets and Band of Bugs, some of these titles have been vaguely expected since the middle of last year. Catan, Alien Hominid, and Worms have been expected for months now, so it's definitely gratifying to see these slated to be released in the near future. Here's hoping the company keeps up this initiative moving forward into 2007.

When's Nocturne in the Moonlight?

[Myria]

Have Microsoft and Konami announced when Nocturne in the Moonlight is coming? I'd rather play it on a PS1 or PS2 but it's interesting that they're rereleasing it.

Re:

[numbski]

Dunno. They've been pointing it out over and over again in recent weeks, but no release date. I just played through the US version for the first time this last few weeks. I'd beaten Nocturn several times in Japanese (got it waaaay before it came out over here) and, as if I'm telling anyone here anything new, it beats any other Castlevania hands down.

Might be neat if they released the Saturn version with some graphical touch-ups. What I *really* would like to do is get the sourcecode to that game, re-dra

what?

[User 956]

some of these titles have been vaguely expected since the middle of last year.

How do you "vaguely expect" something? Expectation is a binary state. You're either expecting something, or you're not.

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[Rude Turnip]

You clearly might be able to "vaguely expect" something. That's possibly obvious to almost everyone!

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[User 956]

You clearly might be able to "vaguely expect" something. That's possibly obvious to almost everyone!

Your explanation is perfectly cromulent. You've embiggened all of us with your knowledge.

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[trdrstv]

You clearly might be able to "vaguely expect" something. That's possibly obvious to almost everyone!

Supurbly worded. How long have you been an analyst?

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[Rude Turnip]

9 years, thank you very much!

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[naoursla]

Expectation is not a binary state. I can have different levels of confidence in my expectation.

Say that I am observing one feature of a physical system (say the level of tank of water that is filling up). I know what my last depth measurement was and I know how much water is entering the tank so I can build an expectation of what my next measurement will be. That expectation will have a confidence that is based on my confidence of my previous readings, the accuracy of my sensor, and the amount of noise in t

Very cool releases

[EvilGoodGuy]

I'm deffinitely excited about Worms. I really feel that downloadable content as such is a great service to the gamer, as well as being what I would deem a great cash cow for the company. I'm a fan of games, not graphics, I'd much prefer geometry wars at a cheap price over some 3d HD version for 50.

Freebies

[im_thatoneguy]

But... Geometry Wars is in HD...

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

[FleaPlus]

The article lists the following as one of the Xbox Live Arcade titles:

"Castlevania: Symphony of the Night" [wikipedia.org] from Konami is a faithful version of this legendary classic updated for Xbox Live Arcade and featuring the game's full soundtrack and memorable side-scrolling vampire-hunting action.

Reading that line was literally the first time I felt any sort of regret for getting a Wii instead of an Xbox 360. ;)

Re:

[numbski]

No need. Playstation emulator and an old disc do nicely. From what I understand, they haven't updated the graphics at all, which is a pity. :(

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[FleaPlus]

No need. Playstation emulator and an old disc do nicely. From what I understand, they haven't updated the graphics at all, which is a pity. :(

I've actually considered that -- I just remembered I have a PS2, so wouldn't even need the emulator. Amazingly, it looks like an "old disc" of C:SotN would end up costing $50+ on eBay.

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[numbski]

If you're willing to use an emulator and ask nicely, I have originals of both Nocturn in the Moonlight and Symphony of the Night here that I wouldn't mind sharing backups of. :)

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[FleaPlus]

If you're willing to use an emulator and ask nicely, I have originals of both Nocturn in the Moonlight and Symphony of the Night here that I wouldn't mind sharing backups of. :)

Thank you very much for the kind offer, but I think I'm going to be a bit of a purist and pass on that. ;)

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night IS Cleaned up.

[trdrstv]

From what I understand, they haven't updated the graphics at all, which is a pity. :(

They have upgraded the graphics, and reworked the levels so they fit widescreen better. They ALSO offer the 'Original mode' or whatever they call it, so if you prefer the new look, run with it. If you like the classic run with it.

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[Osty]

Reading that line was literally the first time I felt any sort of regret for getting a Wii instead of an Xbox 360. ;)

It's not too late! The act of purchasing a Wii does not disqualify one from Xbox 360 ownership as well. In fact, the two go well together [wii60.com].

I love my Wii, but there's just not a whole lot to play on it right now (WarioWare Smooth Moves was excellent but short). For now I'm getting much more mileage out of my 360.

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[FleaPlus]

Coincidentally, from checking out the Wii60.com link in your comment, it looks like Konami may soon be announcing several games [wii60.com] for the Wii. I wonder if they have an exclusive agreement for SotN for the XBox...

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[xtracto]

I agree with GP sentiment... I hate that there are no Wii games to play online. I bought a Wii and I like it so far but the web browser, news channel and weather channel does not count as an "online gaming experience" for me... My brother is a Playstation fan and when I tried to "convince" him to buy a wii (instead of the PS3 as he can not afford it) one of the first things he asked was "can you play online?" I just answered "sort of..." because I *suppose* that is going to be the case (I hope...).

The other

Re:M rated & Online games coming to Wii...

[trdrstv]

the first things he asked was "can you play online?" I just answered "sort of..." because I *suppose* that is going to be the case (I hope...).

The anwser is yes. The Wii is an online console, but currently in the US there are no online multiplayer games (Elebits uses Wiiconnect24 but not for multiplayer). Of those announced Pokemon Battle Revolution, Battalion Wars, and Super Mario Strikers, and Animal Crossing were are all announced to have online multiplayer.

... of course I liked the game but after

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[LKM]

Reading that line was literally the first time I felt any sort of regret for getting a Wii instead of an Xbox 360. ;)

True. I think they should remake it for the DS :-)

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[Shrubber]

True. I think they should remake it for the DS :-)

Or just get a PSP and you can play all of your original Playstation games natively!
As excited as I am about having SotN again on my TV I would be even more excited if I weren't playing through it again on my PSP right now.

Of course I'm also one of the lucky ones who actually has a copy of the original.

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[trdrstv]

Or just get a PSP and you can play all of your original Playstation games natively!

Minor nitpick, but C:SotN runs natively on the PS1 and the PS2. It runs through Emulation on the PSP.

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[LKM]

I own a PSP, but I have no idea how I would play that game on it. I have no PS3, and after having to put up with the PSP, I'm sure as hell not going to buy one. Do I need a PS3 to put PS games on the PSP? I would prefer to have it on the DS, because that's where it belongs: The dual screens are perfect for Metroidvania games, and the DS is simply more portable than the PSP.

Also, I can play my DS (fat) while taking a bath. I'm not going to do that with the more expensive PSP.

PS1 games on the PSP...

[trdrstv]

I own a PSP, but I have no idea how I would play that game on it. I have no PS3, and after having to put up with the PSP, I'm sure as hell not going to buy one. Do I need a PS3 to put PS games on the PSP?

As dumb as it sounds, yes. The kicker is that you need the PS3 as a download gateway so your PSP can download it, but once you buy that game through their store, (and download it on your PS3) you can't play that PS1 game on your PS3. This will likely get sorted out as someone pulls their head out of the

Re:

[LKM]

I would gladly buy this game if I didn't have to also buy a 500 bucks console for the privilege, but alas...

I also can't use that PS1 hack since my firmware is too new. I guess I'll just have to go back and finish Portrait of Ruin for the time being :-)

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[trdrstv]

I would gladly buy this game if I didn't have to also buy a 500 bucks console for the privilege, but alas...

Actually it isn't in their store yet either, so it's a moot point. I just figured I'd mention how the store is set up currently (they have a handful of games up Crash being most noteable), and how it fails at life.

I also can't use that PS1 hack since my firmware is too new. I guess I'll just have to go back and finish Portrait of Ruin for the time being :-)

Good Call, Good call. Also if you g

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[LKM]

The funny thing is, I own one of the GBA games, but when I started playing it, I couldn't really get into it. As far as I remember, it had a somewhat confusing cards scheme, not quite sure anymore. I'll go back and try again.

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[KDR_11k]

That's Circle of the Moon. Most people agree that Aria of Sorrow is better (available together with the less great but still very fun Harmony of Dissonance for 20$ these days). Aos and HoD changed the physics somewhat so you don't have to double tap to run at a decent pace anymore.

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[Guppy06]

Personally, with the Turbo Grafx 16 support, I'm waiting for an English version of Rondo of Blood.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

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[timftbf]

IME, everything-other-than-FPSes on XBL has a remarkably low population of arseholes. I can't imagine why teenage twitch-gamers would have the slightest interest in Catan. (Or Alhambra or Carcassonne, when they show up too. I'm waiting...)

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[elrous0]

fucking faggot mexican jew lizard

I saw one of those in a Boston zoo once. Sadly, I hear they're almost extinct in the wild now.

We really should work harder to protect the native habitats of our animals. After all, it's the only Earth we've got!

-Eric

Re: No more Lizards.... :(

[trdrstv]

I saw one of those in a Boston zoo once. Sadly, I hear they're almost extinct in the wild now.

It is a shame, however homosexual animals reproduce at an alarmingly low rate...

Alien Hominid!

[j00r0m4nc3r]

What a great stylish game. Glad to see it's making its way to XBLA.

Re:

[Kazzahdrane]

Dunno if you know but the makers of Alien Hominid are working on a new 4-player co-op game for Xbox Live Arcade called...Castle Crashers (I think). It looks very cool and I expect I'll be picking it up when it hits.

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[si618]

Excellent to hear, I love Alien Hominid, a good challenge to complete and a fun game to boot!