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.

The latest tip is in from Germany. The USK has released a rating for 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures Expansion. I had not heard of any possible add-ons for the game but my money is on this being some sort of upcoming DLC.

Well keep you posted if we discover more.

[via xbox-archiv.de, thanks Wasabi]

If you start up Assault Heroes, you'll be teased with an option to update the title. XBLArcade has learned that the update contains code to solve some of the connection issues that people have been experiencing with online play. I know of at least a few people who have been waiting (some more patiently than others) for this fix since the title was release. Hopefully the update will reinvigorate the scene.

Sounds great doesn't it? Unfortunately, it seems due to a snag on Microsoft's end, the update cannot be downloaded. While they are certainly working on it as we speak, it seems we'll have to wait just a little bit longer.

[UPDATE] It seems that the update is now available, so those of you who had connectivity issues with the game, go check it out and let us know how it goes.

[Thanks DaKing240]

 

Well, many wanted it last week but we had to "settle" for Band of Bugs. Fortunately for all you European board game lovers out there Carcassonne is coming this week (I hacked that link just for our readers here). Luckily it won't take generations of slave labor to get your castles, towns, and roads built in this game so the only guilt you might be feeling while playing will be of the pleasure variety.

As for key features, my eyes fall squarely on the up to 5 players over Live and 4 players locally (sounds like developers are finally getting the message about local play). With options like that, you're bound to get it. Resistance is feudal. (The person responsible for the previous joke has just been sacked.)

Press Release after the break.

[via Press Release]

Carcasonne had already received a wonderfully specific launch date of "June". Now, we are starting to flesh out what that release will contain.

IGN releases some details about how the game is shaping up, including:

• Support for the Xbox Live Vision camera
• Inclusion of the Rivers I & II expansions with the initial game download
• More expansions on the way as DLC
• Two-player games under 20 minutes and Five-player games under 10
• Anticipated 800 MS Point price (not confirmed)

Hopefully, this will balance out the longer gameplay experiences of Catan. Either way though, digital board games rule -- no more lost pieces.

[Update]: Worthplaying has a preview up as well with some purdy pictures.

1up has a new preview complete with screenshosts of Carcassonne from Sierra. Carcassonne is one of the European-style board games that will be hitting Xbox Live Arcade this year along with Catan and Alhambra. The game looks nice in with it's full 3D glory.

Xbox 360 Fanboy has [url=http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2007/02/20/ross-erickson-leaves-ms-for-sierra-online/]found out that Xbox Live Arcade Worldwide Games Portfolio Manager, Ross Erickson, has left Microsoft for a position at Sierra Online[/url]. His new position at Sierra Online will be the VP of Content Aquisition. It is sad to see Ross go as he was a long-time supporter of the XBLA community as a whole knocking down rumors when possible, but it's good to see that like Greg Canessa he will continue to shape Xbox Live Arcade at his new position. Ross with Lode Runner (hopefully) fanclub card in hand left Xbox 360 Fanboy a final statement...[quote]remember, I've yet to play my most favorite game of all on XBLA ...[/quote]

In even more pre-press conference news, Gamespot has posted some pretty good looking shots of two games that Sierra will be releasing on XBLA "sometime this winter".

Assault Heroes look like it could well be shaping up to be a fun action title, through in online co-op and it certainly has jumped up a couple notches on my own to-get list.

3D Ultra Mini Golf on the other hand will deliver 36 holes of Mini Golf over a variety of crazy environments, that have to be seen to be believed.

You can check out the Assault Heroes screens here

And the 3D Ultra Mini Golf ones here