BioWare’s Mass Effect franchise has largely been considered one of the best video game franchises to be introduced within recent memory. Currently on its second iteration, Mass Effect 2 offers gamers top notch gameplay mixed with beautiful visuals that has garnered virtually positive reception across the board. However, seeing how Mass Effect 2 has been out for quite some time, chances are you if you’re a diehard fan you’ve already played through it and are thirsty for more.
Well, lucky for you BioWare has just come forth today to announce that they will be releasing the ‘Arrival’ DLC pack on March 29th for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC for $6.99 or 560 Microsoft Points depending on which platform you’re making the purchase for.
Included in the pack is new gamplay that focuses on the Commander Shepard with Admiral Hackett said to be making a major appearance.
Torchlight has been around for quite some time generating positive reviews thanks to its emergence on the PC. However, it’s been known for a bit that the smash hit would be making its way to the Xbox 360 in the form of an Xbox Live Arcade title. For those of you highly anticipating this game, you will be happy to hear that a whole slew of different screenshots showing off the game’s unique are style have hit the scene included above and in the below gallery.
For those of you PS3 owners wondering when you’re going to be able to get your hands on Torchlight, don’t hold your breath. There have been no official word of a PS3 release with the game actually being published by Microsoft themselves. Bummer.
However, those of you with an Xbox 360 can expect to see Torchlight drop sometime in March or April. We’ll keep you posted.
EA is no stranger to smash hits but many of their biggest titles haven’t exactly been the smallest games. Luckily, now that cheap independent games are all the rage EA is putting more consideration into platforms like Xbox Live Arcade, the PlayStation Network and the various mobile platforms. Thanks to this consideration, we now have MicroBot to feast on which has players commanding a tiny ship in an effort to zap and destroy malicious bots found within the bloodstream of an unlucky individual’s body. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Check out the above teaser.
Anyways, currently available on Xbox Live Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points, it was madde known today that the same game will be making the jump to the PlayStation Network on January 4th for $10.
Microsoft’s Xbox Live Points system is arguably deceptive, where a $10 item will cost 800 points, where most people think that it translates to $8, which it doesn’t, and Microsoft have now been sued over another “points” issue, which deals with the “leftover points” that members buy. For instance, buying 1600 points, spending 1500 of them on DLC, and then you’re stuck with 100 points which you can’t really buy anything for, and the points are not redeemable. You’re essentially forced to buy more points if you want to spend those last 100 points. Most people never do, and Microsoft basically profits the leftover points.
The class-action lawsuit was filed by Samuel Lassoff, a Philadelphia-based attorney who claims that Microsoft engages in a “scheme to unjustly enrich itself through their fraudulent handling” of his Xbox Live Account, and claims that hundreds of Xbox Live members aren’t getting what they’re paid for, saying, “Microsoft breached that contract by collecting revenues for digital goods and services which were not provided.”.
Microsoft has yet for file a response for the case. The company has been dealing with criticism of the points system for a while, and has said that they might even scrap the whole system and switch to cash purchases. However, there’s no indication that this will happen anytime soon.
Correction: we previously stated that $10 equaled 1200 MS Points, which was false, $10 equals 800 points.
Developer Introversion has announced that the popular RTS Darwinia+ (“+” meaning that the game includes both Darwinia and Multiwinia (the multiplayer portion of the game)), will be available on Xbox Live on February 10, and will cost $15.
We may be seeing much more feature extensive titles hitting the Xbox Live Arcade as it was recently announced that the file size limit for titles offered on the service will now be capped at 2GB.
News comes to us from Microsoft‘s Scott Austin who took center stage at TGS ’09 to say the following:
In order to continue fostering the creation of great titles on the platform, Microsoft has increased the file size limit of XBLA titles to 2 GB. We pride ourselves in being the premier destination for downloadable games, and the new file size limit allows developers to push their creative boundaries.
With this new file size increase the line between an Xbox Live Arcade title and a full fledged title will be drawn even thinner.
Earlier this year developer Twisted Pixel released The Maw on XBLA to mixed reviews and success, but fear not, they’re back, this time with Splosion Man, an XBLA title that’ll certainly blow you away — pun definitely intended.
In Splosion Man, you play as a scientist after an accident has rendered you inhuman — where “inhuman” means that you can explode at will and destroy everything around you. It’s a platform game that requires lots of jumping around, lots of puzzle solving, and most importantly, lots of explosions. You have basically one skill besides running: exploding. When you explode, you propel into the air, which means you’ll be exploding a lot and it also means you can preform some sick triple jumps as well. However, your explosions are limited to three at a time. Afterwords, you need to cool down a bit before the wrecking continues. READ ON »
SEGA has announced that their Genesis classic Sonic & Knuckles will be heading to the Xbox Live Arcade on September 9th. Owners of previous Sonic classics will be happy to learn that the game will allow players to access the “Blue Sphere,” the Chaos Emerald level from Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Knuckles will also be a playable character in the first two of the series.
No word on pricing yet, but we’ll keep you updated.
Konami and Cartoon Network will be releasing a downloadable Metalocalypse for the Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. The game, cleverly titled Metalocalypse: Dethgame, will be developed by Frozen Codebase.
Brendan Small, the man responsible for both writing and performing the music for the show, as well as creating it, had a few words on the process of creating a premise for the game. “The first idea was we make the band merciless and murderous but that doesn’t work on the show,” says Small. “Our show is really about five narcissistic super-celebrities who can’t open the door by themselves.”
The heavy metal styling of Dethklok will be played throughout the game, so I’m sold on that aspect alone. More details about the game will be released at this year’s Comic-Con.
It was recently made known that Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao will be released on the XBLA and PSN in August for 1200 Microsoft Points and $15, respectively.
For those of you not familiar with the Blitz Arcade developed/Namco Bandai published Invincible Tiger, it is a sidescroller that will feature beam em up’ gameplay found in classic titles such as Streets of Rage.
Furthermore, players will be able to progress through the Invincible Tiger‘s campaign in other single player mode or online/local co-op. However, if you get bored of that, you can play the game’s timed Endurance Mode which will pit players against a neverending onslaught of enemies.
Microsoft’s Xbox Live Points system is arguably deceptive, where a $10 item will cost 800 points, where most people think that it translates to $8, which it doesn’t, and Microsoft have now been sued over another “points” issue, which deals with the “leftover points” that members buy. For instance, buying 1600 points, spending 1500 of them on DLC, and then you’re stuck with 100 points which you can’t really buy anything for, and the points are not redeemable. You’re essentially forced to buy more points if you want to spend those last 100 points. Most people never do, and Microsoft basically profits the leftover points. 
Earlier this year developer Twisted Pixel released The Maw on XBLA to mixed reviews and success, but fear not, they’re back, this time with Splosion Man, an XBLA title that’ll certainly blow you away — pun definitely intended.
