Foundation 9 Entertainment has just announced that they have now released 20 games for XBLA. Not sure how they arrived at that number as I count 23, as of today. Could this bit of PR be in response to PopCap's fightin' words about being the "#1 XBLA Developer"?

Perhaps you do not recognize the name Foundation 9. Most likely that derives from the fact that the company consists of "11 proprietary development studios around the world". However you probably know of Digital Eclipse (their downloadable game brand) or Backbone Entertainment (one of their development studios). Both are integral in the XBLA strategy of Foundation 9.

Whether they have 20 games or 23 games on XBLA in immaterial. Either number brings Foundation 9's contribution to around 25% of all XBLA games. They are a driving force in the retro gaming space and have now begun branching out into new games with Bomberman Live. No doubt their support and successes will continue as XBLA grows.

The full breakdown of their XBLA portfolio after the break.

The latest addition to the ESRB is not in the least bit exciting. Oh, I'm sorry. Were you interested in the Tempest-based psychadelic shoot-a-thon named Space Giraffe? In that case, pop the champagne.

The game garners a rating of E for everyone. Guess Minter did indeed eliminate catchy phrases like these (link filled with naughty words, beware) from the game.

This announcement is likely extra cause for celebration in the house of Minter as the various ratings boards threw them into a bit of a tizzy during certification. But that is all behind them now and Space Giraffe is finally past final cert and hopefully headed our way soon.

In addition to that, the XBLA-speculated Live Free or Die Hard has reemerged at the top of the list. But honestly, that probably means little to nothing.

Here's a rundown of what else is lurking within the bowels of the ESRB after you click the link below and stuff.

A bunch of tidbits have trickled their way to us here at XBLArcade over the course of the weekend (and this morning) so here's a quick and dirty rundown of the latest word in XBLA.

And remember, we here at XBLArcade love tips! Even if it does take us a little while to get around to them. Here we go down the rabbit hole.

The good folks at Xboxic have done me the favor of uncovering the latest ESRB listing. Chiefly, the emphatically named: Screwjumper! Yes, with an exclamation point. Details of what this game is are thin on the ground. I figure it'll be a modern jump man with screws instead of gaps.

A suitably obtuse chain of information links this game to XBLA but (as is typical with ESRB announcements) we'll have to wait for the official announcement.

[via Xboxic]

After a long silence we're proud to announce today contestants on the ESRB show.

In the red corner, weighing in with more rumored name changes than actual game details. It's a good game for the whole family with a rating of E. Once, it was called Tetris Splash...then Tetris Online...but now we're proud to announce the actual definitive title is...Tetris Splash. (Don't you just love a good anti-climax?)

And in the blue corner, weighing in with 33 characters including that pesky colon. It's as simple and addictive as Bejeweled and has nearly as many orcs as World of Warcraft (not really). It garnered a risque rating of E10+ for some seriously suggestive themes. It's...Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords.

It will be a heated open-ended fight to see which game will actually be released in a reasonable amount of time. My money is on both fighters passing out from cert heat exhaustion and taking months to recover. Hopefully I am wrong.

[via the ESRB]

War World and Speedball 2 rated. No fanfare or big surprise there (since we already knew they were coming) but it's good to know nonetheless.

War World garnered what I take to be a 12+ rating and Speedball 2 gets a 6+ rating. (Although, German is not my strong suit.) No word yet on the ESRB.

[via our trusty friend, the USK website]

Worthplaying is reporting on the latest ERSB posting. Namely, an entry for Live Free or Die Hard for the Xbox 360 with a rating of T for Teen. Then the conversation turns to Xbox Live Arcade. Why? Simple.

The developer listed on the ESRB site is Sensory Sweep Studios who are responsible for the XBLA version of Street Fighter II. In addition, their history shows that they work almost exclusively on titles for portables. Put it all together, and one might assume that Live Free or Die Hard would be an XBLA title.

[via Worthplaying, thank xboxarchiv.de]

[Update]: Changed the picture size due to the site being nearly consumed by Bruce's noggin' and added some appropriate categories.

This competition between the ESRB and the USK is finally heating up (sure it may all be in my head, but isn't it more fun to imagine it like a bloody cage match?). Not to be outdone by the regular, small updates at the USK, the ESRB has dropped their megaton. The following games have ratings at the ESRB:

• EXIT
• Sensible World of Soccer
• Hexic 2
• Bomberman Live
• Tetris Online (so, maybe not "Tetris Splash" afterall)

Okay, okay, we've seen most of those at the USK already. But add those to the already massive list of unreleased games that have ESRB ratings and you can't help but smile a little bit. The future seems very bright for XBLA.

The only one we have virtually no info on is Hexic 2. But if it's an improvement on Hexic in any way it will probably lure my attention away from Lumines Live for a while.

[via ESRB, thanks El ViX]

USK Watch: Week 20

Another week, another game leaking out of the USK. Our trusty tipster Wasabi has officially forced me to add a full blown USK category to this site. The ESRB will officially have to share the spotlight now.

As for the tip itself, it's Switchball a PC puzzle game. There's even a nice little video up here to get an idea of the game. (And xbox-archiv has applied the "screenshot or it didn't happen" rule to avoid further Marathon-esque fiascos.)

The PC version of this game was released less than 2 weeks ago. It was developed by Atomic Elbow and uses the Ageia PhysX engine. Some screens of the PC version here.

Looks like Marble Blast Ultra/Rube Goldberg* fusion. Lots of rolling, lots of puzzling, lots of fun?

[Update]: I should note that this is still a rumor as of now. But seeing that Sierra Online is behind it adds credibility since they have been a major supporter of XBLA.

[Update 2]: As noted in the comments, the USK has pulled the listing. Maybe this was also destined for an E3 announcement?

[via xbox-archiv, thank Wasabi]

* Disclaimer: I couldn't resist a link that celebrates two of my favorite things -- Mythbusters and Christmas in July.

ESRB Watch June 2007:

Not to be outdone by the USK, the ESRB has finally given us some information we can use. Undertow, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, and Spyglass Board Games have all received ratings. Undertow comes in at E10+ and the other two come in at E.

In addition, a cursory glance (read: I spent way too much time looking through the site) at the ESRB website also garners the following games that have been rated but have not been released:

Mutant Storm Empire
Tempest
Asteroids/Asteroids Deluxe
Spyglass Board Games
Undertow
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
Tron
Discs of Tron
Super Contra
Track & Field
Wing Commander Arena
Missile Command
StreetTrace: NYC
Lumines Live! Artist Pack: Madonna "Sorry"
Fatal Fury Special
Cyberball 2072

I am so tired right now I cannot process if any of those names are new or even if those have already been released and I missed it. Or maybe they are full retail titles? Anyone like to tell me if that list is valuable in any way? Thanks.

[via the ESRB, thanks, JDUDE11]