There were no separate dates posted, this was posted as part of the Dashboard Updates... so it may start December 4th or shortly after.

Definitely going to pick up Zuma. Too many people have talked about how great it is.

It's a lot of fun to play, but it isn't a $10 game, IMO. $5 makes it a must buy, and that was the price point I bit at. DL the demo; it gives you a really good feel for the game.

Is it available for $5 now?

Not yet, afaik. The XBLA Hits program and the Xbox Originals both start with the Dashboard update tomorrow, I believe.

Sounds good. I'll grab it then.

Wow...I just realized this thread existed. I'm in for Zuma and Marble Blast Ultra--I loved the demos of both games and $5 is well worth it. A+ for Microsoft.

Yeah, I think I'll grab Marble Blast for $5.

I don't get why Zuma is so acclaimed. Does it get much better after the levels in the demo?

Zuma is better suited on the DS (as Magnetica).

Magnetica is awesome, especially with the stylus, but my love still goes to Zuma. Magnetica is hard for the sake of being hard. Zuma is hard but gives you a strong since of accomplishment as you progress. Luxor 2 is a joke compared to those two.

It's been two years since I played the demo, but the level designs are spectacular. The love of the game comes from the challenge and the feeling of accomplishment when you finally pass that level that's had you stumped. There is something very satisfying about gap shooting and nabbing coins. It is a very satisfying experience that only gets better the further you make it in the game.

For reference, Luxor 2 is on the opposite end of the spectrum. Run of the mill, and super easy. They shower you with bonuses and points so you never get that feeling of satisfaction for accomplishing something. Plus there are no gap bonuses, which after playing Zuma becomes an issue because they are so fun and challenging. Level designs are a snoozefest and limiting the marble shooter to the bottom of the screen really limits the fun and challenge.

Upcoming games for December and January (no specific dates given).

Arkadian Warriors
Brain Challenge
GripShift
N+
Omega Five
Poker Smash
Rez HD
Sensible World of Soccer

Anybody up for a game tonight?

Mutant Storm Empire Co-Op?
Marble Blast Ultra?
Carcassonne? (Chiwotweiler not invited)
Bomberman Live?
Jet Pac Refueled?

Fuck, I'll settle for TMNT *shudder*.

I downloaded the free Carcassone and haven't booted it up yet. I don't have a clue how to play.

I have heard of SWoS and Rez... are the others remakes or actually new games?


Live Arcade has sucked so badly lately. I really wish it would get some actual new IPs and not straight ports of classic games.

Hell, even something like the recreation of Pac-Man for Pac-Man: CE would be great.

edit: Carcassonne btw is a great game and pretty easy to pickup. It is one of the board games i use to convert non-gamers into digging board gaming.

There's a tutorial that should take you a few minuets to play through that gives you the gist of things, it's pretty simple.

mmmm Rez. That might be the only XBLA title to break my current puzzle quest addiction. Also, does anyone still play playing puzzle fighter? I tried to play online last night and got no matches. made me sad.

I haven't kept up, but other than Asteroids last week weren't the past few weeks all new offerings? Undertow? Screwjumper?

haven't tried screwjumper yet but undertow did not like. It was simple enough but the problem was I couldn't really see what was going on. My little man was just too tiny on the screen. I guess now I have a reason to get that 60 plasma I wanted.

Arkadian Warriors - New game, Diablo style hack and slash.

Brain Challenge - No clue, but I'll take a wild guess..

GripShift - Port of a supposedly shitty PSP game.

N+ - Port of a physics based platform game.

Omega Five - New game, Side-Arms style shooter.

Poker Smash - New game (?), Poker crossed with a falling blocks puzzle game.

Rez HD - Port of Space Harrier style shooter.

Sensible World of Soccer - Port (Remake?) of a popular Amiga Soccer game.

Whether you like them or not is another discussion. Miyu complained about a lack of new IPs vs. ports/classics. New IPs are there. Quality is another issue.

I like Undertow. Think underwater 2-D side-scrolling setting, Geometry Wars-style movement & shooting and Star Wars Battlefront gameplay with changeable classes with every respawn and control points. It's a hard single player game and there isn't a lot of multiplayer matches going on, but it's a very solid title and a heck of a lot of content for an 800 pt arcade game.

Now Screwjumper on the other hand-- that is one of the most miserable crappy games I've played in years. You've played R&C Future? Think of an entire game made of the mini game where you fall downward, except without the motion sensing controls. Total garbage. At least Yaris was free!

edit: oops, sorry Michael. I also misunderstood your post. Yeah, there are new offerings (as well as a surprising number of PSP ports lately). I've been pretty happy with the XBLA content out lately. BTW, you didn't mention Switchball, which seemed pretty cool based on the demo. I'm down to my last 800 points now and I have a hard time accepting that I'' have to pay full price for more. A game's really going to have to blow me away to spend that last chunk of point...

Do you have Streets of Rage 2 or Double Dragon? I have been looking for someone to co-op with them.

Carcassonne is one of those games that I have done the tutorial, played a bunch of games and even won a few games...and still feel like I don't know exactly what is going on.

i was a little confused after doing the tutorial and winning/losing some games. my friend explained it to me and we played a game and it all came together. he pretty much said the same thing that the tutorial did, but it just clicked. now it's just one of my favorite games to passing time (until i get the 5000 point achievement)

I'm willing to play a helper game with anybody to give them a vocal explanation of the rules if that would help.