This Week on XBLA: Awards And Apologies [Update]
This week, XBLA will be celebrating the highs and making up for the lows of 2007 which they have experienced alongside us, their customers.
On the high side, Microsoft will be honoring the top XBLA Games of 2007 later this year. And you can help! Log on to xbox.com's XBLA awards page and begin voting (starting Jan. 22 @ 2AM PST) for your favorites. Categories open for public voting include the following:
- Best Overall Arcade Game
- Best Classic Game
- Best Original Game
- Best Family Friendly Game
- Best Competitive Multiplayer Game
- Best Cooperative Multiplayer Game
On the low side, (as we well know) Microsoft will making Undertow free for download this week in order to thank us all for our patience during a spotty Live performance over the holidays. Personally, I must say, free games are great and Undertow is a worthy choice. I look forward to having more people to play with very soon.
So, what were your highs and lows of XBLA's 2007? Hit up the comments and let us know.
Check out more info on the XBLA awards and getting your Undertow on this week, after the break.
[via Press Release]
[Update] I chopped the Press Release and missed the fact that there will be new DLC for Mutant Storm Empire this week.
Xbox LIVE Arcade Awards - 2007
As a way to recognize the teams of talented developers who have together created over 112 games for Xbox LIVE Arcade, Microsoft will announce awards for the top XBLA games of 2007 later this year, with several award categories decided by the community. Fans of Xbox LIVE Arcade are invited to cast their votes for the first-ever Xbox LIVE Arcade Awards – 2007 by voting at http://www.xbox.com/xblaawards. Voting begins Tuesday, January 22 at 2:00 a.m. PST (10:00 GMT) and runs through Wednesday, January 30 at 11:59 p.m. PST (07:59 GMT).
The finalists in each award category were selected by a panel of consumer and video game industry journalists, and the winners will be determined by popular vote. Microsoft will announce the winners of the inaugural Xbox LIVE Arcade Awards – 2007 at the Game Developer Conference in February.
Below is the list of award categories that will be open for public voting:
- Best Overall Arcade Game
- Best Classic Game
- Best Original Game
- Best Family Friendly Game
- Best Competitive Multiplayer Game
- Best Cooperative Multiplayer Game
Other award categories include the following:
- Best selling game
- Most played game
- Highest rated game
- Staff choice
"Undertow" Free of Charge Download on XBLA this Week
This Xbox LIVE Arcade Wednesday, Xbox LIVE members around the world will be able to download the award-winning "Undertow" free of charge for a limited time. Beginning at 2:00 a.m. PST (10:00 GMT) Wednesday, January 23 and continuing through 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, January 27 (07:59 GMT on Monday, January 28), "Undertow" will be available free of charge on Xbox LIVE Arcade.
Developed by Chair Entertainment Group, Undertow redefines aquatic based shooters through a mix of high-definition graphics, intuitive controls and multiple modes of game play action. The game features a full story driven-single player campaign, on and offline co-op, and multiplayer for 2-16 players over Xbox LIVE for Gold subscribers. Players battle for control of the oceans as one of three selectable races, each with four unique, upgradeable units. "Undertow" is available worldwide (normally 800 Microsoft Points) and is rated E10+.
In support of the giveaway, Chair Entertainment Group is offering gamers the opportunity to play alongside the Undertow development team on Thursday, January 24 at 7:00 p.m. PST (03:00 GMT on Friday, January 25). The team will host player matches, provide game play tips and the opportunity for gamers to pick-up Undertow achievements.
- For more details on "Undertow," please visit:
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/u/undertowxboxlivearcade/
Finally, don't forget to check out this week's new downloadable content for "Mutant Storm Empire." For more details, please visit www.xbox.com/livearcade.
Yes, the option for
Yes, the option for write-ins is great. Also, I needed to click on the link to the list for ALL 2007 games just to remember what came out this year. A ton of games...but there wasn't one game that I could say was a clear winner for me above all others. Tough to decide some of those.
Press Release
Is this the press release HERE?
If so does anyone know what the Mutant Storm Empire DLC is?
No idea what the DLC will be
No idea what the DLC will be but sorry for accidentally chopping the Press Release off. Oops. Updated.
Is Mutant Storm Empire a
Is Mutant Storm Empire a worthy purchase? Any news on what the XBLA release will be this week? I got 1600 points and wondering what I should pick up
No new game this week? :(
No new game this week? :(
"Is Mutant Storm Empire a worthy purchase?" Yes it is, but Reloaded is better.
Anyway, my picks:
Write in campaign...
I encourage everyone to write in "YARIS" for every award option.
lol @ Yaris cleaning up at
lol @ Yaris cleaning up at the awards!!!
Am I the only one who's disappointed in the seemingly lack of care given to this survey? I mean couldn't they spend the time to make the layout a little better, maybe add some screenshots in, stuff like that?
Maybe I'm expecting too much from the people who recently buried the arcade games in the dashboard.
I voted, but I don't agree
I voted, but I don't agree with some of their choice for the base genre answers. Thankfully there is an "other" box if you want to choose another game.