Xbox Live Arcade available now

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Service brings classic and original content to Xbox Live users via download.

Microsoft launched its Xbox Live Arcade service today. The service brings retro and original games to Xbox Live users sans discs and packaging. Subscribers can download a select group of titles over Xbox Live and have the charge billed directly to their Xbox Live account. The titles will range from $9.99 for basic games to $19.99 for "fully features titles." Gamers looking to use the service will need to get their hands on a launch CD, available from Microsoft for a $4.99 shipping and handling fee.

News source: GameSpot

Cont...

Asphalt Urban GT flies onto the Nintendo DS on four very fast wheels, combining the virtues of both simulation and arcade racing. Players will hit the streets in a wide range of licensed high-performance cars, including Lamborghini, Jaguar, Hummer and more, on tracks from around the world.

Sprung creates an entirely new genre for portable gaming by putting players in the middle of an engaging, risqué and daring adventure with sexy singles at a hip ski resort. The dating simulation, or “stimulation,” title features gender-specific adventures, entertaining dating missions and a hilarious script written by North Shore (FOX) writer Colleen McGuiness.

Rayman®, one of the most recognizable videogame characters around the world, arrives for the first time in full 3D glory on a handheld as he battles to defeat the pirate terror that has enslaved his world. Rayman DS is poised to repeat the successful performance of its predecessor, Rayman® Advance, which was among the top-ten selling launch titles for the Game Boy® Advance system in 2001.

For more information on each of these titles, please visit www.ubi.com.

(3 replies) #1 NimrodUK on 08 Nov 2004 - 16:26

Surely if they wanted to promote this and get people buying games from it, they would make it free to get hold of it? Heck, why do they need to give you a disc for it? They could push it as a xbox live update.

Seems illogical

#1.1 Spyder on 08 Nov 2004 - 18:07

it is free. you're just paying shipping and handling

#1.2 NinjaMonkey82 on 08 Nov 2004 - 18:58

It is still a ripoff that you have to pay for the CD, why can't you just download it through Live. Or maybe they could give it away through XBox magazine.

It just doesn't make sense that you need a CD at all.

#1.3 lsliql on 08 Nov 2004 - 19:33

Even if the CD was completely free its still a rip-off, who's going to pay $10 a game for games like galaga and pac man, when they can spend $15-20 on compilation games from Midway, Intellivision, or Namco that have up to 20 games on them.

#2 zachman123 on 08 Nov 2004 - 22:04

I have the compilations (they're sweet!), complete with galaga and dig-dug so I've satisfied my retro needs.

#3 net-cruizer on 08 Nov 2004 - 23:50

I was expecting the games to be free, seeing as that we already pay for the XBOX Live subscription.
It would be a different story if the Arcade games were full high quality games, not just arcade games. For example... I could see paying money for an actual XBOX game that we could download.
Also, it sure doesn't make sence having to install the Live Arcade from a disk, when obviousely the people with XBOX Live accounts have Broadband, lol.

(1 reply) #4 angrybrit on 09 Nov 2004 - 12:28

Where's the link to the MS page to order the Disk?

#4.1 lsliql on 09 Nov 2004 - 18:19

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/livearcade/fulfillment.htm

#5 jpcahn on 10 Nov 2004 - 02:38

Wow this pricing strategy is the work of a complete idiot. Noone in their right mind would pay these prices. As has already been said buying Namco Museum along with the two excellent Midway titles would beat this deal anytime. If anything this should cost LESS money then buying the greatest hits titles because the downloads are going to be very small and they won't include all the special features on the Dvds. Good job releasing this along with Halo 2 maybe nobody will notice what a bonehead idea this whole thing is.

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