Xbox Live Arcade
Encyclopedia
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace
, Microsoft
's digital distribution
network for the Xbox 360
, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers. Titles range from classic console and arcade video games, to new games designed from the ground up for the service. Games available through the XBLA service range from $5–20 in price, and as of November 30, 2011, there have been 449 Xbox Live Arcade titles released for the Xbox 360.
Prior to the Xbox 360, "Xbox Live Arcade" was the name for an online distribution network on the original Xbox, which was replaced by the Xbox Live Marketplace
.
The Xbox Live Arcade service was officially announced on May 12, 2004, at Microsoft's E3 press conference and launched on December 3, 2004, for the original Xbox
game console. The XBLA software was obtained by ordering it on Microsoft's website. It was sent by mail on a disc that also contained a free version of the Ms. Pac-Man
video game. To generate greater publicity for the service, the disc was also distributed with special issues of the Official Xbox Magazine
and as part of the Forza Motorsport
Xbox console bundle. The service launched with six titles and expanded its library to twelve titles by the end of the year. Once connected to Xbox Live
, customers could purchase additional titles by using a credit card, or download a limited trial version
of a game. Prices for the games range from USD
$4.99 to $14.99.
On November 22, 2005, XBLA was relaunched on the Xbox 360
. The service was integrated into the main Dashboard user interface, and the Xbox 360 hard drives were bundled with a free copy of Hexic HD. Every Arcade title on the Xbox 360 supports leaderboards, has 200 Achievement points, and high-definition 720p
graphics. They also have a trial version
available for free download. These demos are playable and most of them offer only a fraction of the levels, modes, and content of the full game. A full version of the game must be purchased to allow the user to upload scores to the leaderboards, unlock achievements, play online multiplayer (with a few exceptions), and download bonus content. Several new features and enhancements have been added through software updates
including a friends leaderboard, additional sorting options, faster enumeration of games, an auto-download feature for newly released trial games, and "Tell a Friend" messages. The original size limit imposed by Microsoft for Xbox Live Arcade games was 50MB, in order to ensure any downloaded game could fit on a 64MB Xbox memory unit. The limit has since been changed to 150 MB, then 350 MB, and now 2 GB, the latter of which is a technical limitation of the system (rather than an arbitrary limit imposed by Microsoft).
On July 12, 2006, Microsoft launched the "Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays" program, which promised a new Arcade game to be launched every Wednesday for the rest of that Summer. When that summer ended, Microsoft announced that new titles for XBLA would also be released on Wednesdays. In order to promote the service in retail, Microsoft released Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged Volume 1
as a compilation disc of six games. On October 18, 2007, Microsoft announced the Xbox 360 Arcade console SKU which includes full versions of Boom Boom Rocket
, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2
, Pac-Man Championship Edition
, and Uno. On May 22, 2008, Microsoft's general manager of Xbox Live
, Marc Whitten, detailed changes for the service that included increasing the size limit of the games to 350MB
and improving the way digital rights management
is handled. Furthermore, Microsoft created an internal
games studio to create "high quality digital content" for XBLA.
On July 30, 2008, Microsoft announced the XBLA Summer of Arcade. Anyone who downloaded one of the titles released over August, (Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
, Braid
, Bionic Commando Rearmed
, Galaga Legions
and Castle Crashers
) would be entered into a prize draw with a grand prize of 100,000 Microsoft Points
, 12 Month Xbox Live Gold subscription, and an Xbox 360 Elite console. Another Summer of Arcade began the next year on July 22, 2009. Anyone who purchases all the titles released, ('Splosion Man
, Marvel vs. Capcom 2
, TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled
, Trials HD
and Shadow Complex
,) will receive an 800 point reward. The next Summer of Arcade began on July 21, 2010, and features Limbo
, Hydro Thunder Hurricane
, Castlevania: Harmony of Despair
, Monday Night Combat
and Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
. A "Shopping Spree" promotion ended November 1, 2010, in which anyone who spent over 2400 points during October 2010 received an 800 point reward.
being 6–7 titles per user. Original games typically receive 350,000 downloads in the first month. Titles have an average 156% financial return over twelve months with the first two months of sales accounting for just 35% of total volume. Average conversion rate
(from trial download to purchase) across all titles is 18% (a low of 4% and high of 51%). On September 19, 2007, Microsoft announced the top ten Arcade downloads worldwide as Aegis Wing
, Uno, Texas Hold 'em, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
, Bankshot Billiards 2
, Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1989 Classic Arcade
, Worms
, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
, and Contra.
(MSP). Titles range in price from 200MSP to 1600MSP, with the vast majority selling for 800MSP and under. The games are generally aimed towards more casual gamers, striving for "pick up and play" appeal. Several games were temporarily free, including Texas Hold 'em, Carcassonne
, and Undertow
. Others are permanently free including Aegis Wing
, a game created by three Microsoft interns, TotemBall
, a game that can only be played with the Xbox Live Vision camera, Yaris
(a Toyota-backed advergame), and Dash of Destruction, which was released on December 17, 2008, as a Doritos advergame.
On November 30, 2007, Microsoft introduced "Xbox Live Arcade Hits", where games are permanently reduced in price (a similar concept to their "Platinum Hits" for regular retail Xbox 360 games). As of July 22, 2008, current Arcade Hits include Lumines Live!, Assault Heroes
, Zuma, Doom, Bankshot Billiards 2
, Small Arms
, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
, and Marble Blast Ultra
.
On June 24, 2011 gaming blog 1UP.com
reported that Microsoft was preparing to bring free-to-play
games to Xbox Live and said games will include a microtransaction service.
score below 65 and a conversion rate
below 6%. The objective was to "focus the catalogue more on larger, more immersive games and make it much easier to find the games you are looking for." However, Microsoft has never removed a game using the method. In February 2010, it was announced that nine games from Midway Games
would no longer be available for purchase, "due to publisher evolving rights and permissions", (even though Sony's PlayStation Store never did as such with its own downloadable Midway games) referring to the purchase by Warner Bros.
of some assets of Midway Games, including certain rights related to the nine games. Similar fates befell the XBLA version of Double Dragon
when its publisher went under. Yaris
was an advergame that was pulled from the system after a year due to the timely nature of its contents. Recently, id Software
's Doom has been pulled from the catalogue for unknown reasons. In Summer 2011, Ubisoft
announced that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled
was due to be removed from the Xbox LIVE service on June 30th, 2011 due to an expired license.
Xbox Live Marketplace
The Xbox Live Marketplace is a virtual market designed for Microsoft's Xbox 360 console that allows Xbox Live members to download purchased or promotional content...
, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
's digital distribution
Digital distribution
Online distribution, digital distribution, or electronic software distribution is the practice of delivering content without the use of physical media, typically by downloading via the internet directly to a consumer's device. Online distribution bypasses conventional physical distribution media,...
network for the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers. Titles range from classic console and arcade video games, to new games designed from the ground up for the service. Games available through the XBLA service range from $5–20 in price, and as of November 30, 2011, there have been 449 Xbox Live Arcade titles released for the Xbox 360.
Prior to the Xbox 360, "Xbox Live Arcade" was the name for an online distribution network on the original Xbox, which was replaced by the Xbox Live Marketplace
Xbox Live Marketplace
The Xbox Live Marketplace is a virtual market designed for Microsoft's Xbox 360 console that allows Xbox Live members to download purchased or promotional content...
.
Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
game console. The XBLA software was obtained by ordering it on Microsoft's website. It was sent by mail on a disc that also contained a free version of the Ms. Pac-Man
Ms. Pac-Man
Ms. Pac-Man is an arcade video game produced by Midway as an unauthorized sequel to Pac-Man. It was released in North America in 1981 and became one of the most popular video games of all time, leading to its adoption by Pac-Man licensor Namco as an official title...
video game. To generate greater publicity for the service, the disc was also distributed with special issues of the Official Xbox Magazine
Official Xbox Magazine
Official Xbox Magazine is a monthly video game magazine which started in November 2001 around the launch of the original Xbox. A preview issue was released for E3 2001, with another preview issue for November 2001. The magazine is bundled with a disc that includes game demos, preview videos and...
and as part of the Forza Motorsport
Forza Motorsport
Forza Motorsport's received rave reviews from such media outlets as 1UP.com, IGN, Eurogamer and more.The game was also featured in the June 2004 issue of Popular Science.- External links :*...
Xbox console bundle. The service launched with six titles and expanded its library to twelve titles by the end of the year. Once connected to Xbox Live
Xbox Live
Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation. It is currently the only online gaming service on consoles that charges users a fee to play multiplayer gaming. It was first made available to the Xbox system in 2002...
, customers could purchase additional titles by using a credit card, or download a limited trial version
Game demo
A game demo is a freely distributed demonstration or preview of an upcoming or recently released video game. Demos are typically released by the game's publisher to help consumers get a feel of the game before deciding whether to buy the full version....
of a game. Prices for the games range from USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
$4.99 to $14.99.
| List of Xbox Live Arcade games released on original Xbox (27 games) Compared to Current XBLA |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Gauntlet (arcade game) Gauntlet is a fantasy-themed hack and slash 1985 arcade game by Atari Games. It is noted as the first class-based multiplayer game. Released during the emergence of popularity of other role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, the game was a sensation, being one of the first true dungeon crawl... Guardian (video game) Guardian is a 3D shoot 'em up video game. It was originally released in 1994 for the Commodore Amiga CD32 game console, and later converted to the Amiga 1200 on floppy disk... Marble Blast Gold Marble Blast Gold is a 3D platformer game. It was pre-installed on some Apple Inc. computers like the iMac and iBook. It is also available for Windows operating systems as well as various Linux distributions... Ms. Pac-Man Ms. Pac-Man is an arcade video game produced by Midway as an unauthorized sequel to Pac-Man. It was released in North America in 1981 and became one of the most popular video games of all time, leading to its adoption by Pac-Man licensor Namco as an official title... |
Namco is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of... Vintage (Pole Position, Dig Dug Dig Dug is an arcade game developed and published by Namco in Japan in 1982 for Namco Galaga hardware. It was later published outside of Japan by Atari. A popular game based on a simple concept, it was also released as a video game on many consoles.-Objective:... , & Galaga Galaga is a fixed shooter arcade game developed and published by Namco in Japan and published by Midway in North America in 1981. It is the sequel to Galaxian, released in 1979. The gameplay of Galaga puts the player in control of a space ship which is situated on the bottom of the screen... ) Ricochet Lost Worlds Ricochet Lost Worlds was developed by Reflexive Entertainment and is the sequel to Ricochet Xtreme. It features several new bricks, power-ups and background art. It also has the new "ring" feature, where you try to collect all the rings on each level. If you collect all five rings on every level,... Robotron: 2084 Robotron: 2084 is an arcade video game developed by Vid Kidz and released by Williams Electronics in 1982. It is a shooting game that features two-dimensional graphics. The game is set in the year 2084, in a fictional world where robots have turned against humans... Smash TV Smash TV is a 1990 arcade game created by Eugene Jarvis and Mark Turmell for Williams. Home versions were developed for various platforms and most were published by Acclaim Entertainment.-Description:... ThinkTanks ThinkTanks, also called TT, is an online multiplayer third-person shooter available for Microsoft Windows, Mac, and Linux. It was developed by BraveTree Productions and marketed by GarageGames and Shockwave.com.-Gameplay:... |
Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. The service was integrated into the main Dashboard user interface, and the Xbox 360 hard drives were bundled with a free copy of Hexic HD. Every Arcade title on the Xbox 360 supports leaderboards, has 200 Achievement points, and high-definition 720p
720p
720p is the shorthand name for 1280x720, a category of High-definition television video modes having a resolution of 1080 or 720p and a progressive scan...
graphics. They also have a trial version
Game demo
A game demo is a freely distributed demonstration or preview of an upcoming or recently released video game. Demos are typically released by the game's publisher to help consumers get a feel of the game before deciding whether to buy the full version....
available for free download. These demos are playable and most of them offer only a fraction of the levels, modes, and content of the full game. A full version of the game must be purchased to allow the user to upload scores to the leaderboards, unlock achievements, play online multiplayer (with a few exceptions), and download bonus content. Several new features and enhancements have been added through software updates
Xbox 360 System Software
Xbox 360 system software , is the updatable software and operating system for the Xbox 360. It resides on a 16 MB file system and has access to a maximum of 32 MB of the system's memory. While the System Software updates may sometimes provide updates to the system's firmware, it is unlikely that...
including a friends leaderboard, additional sorting options, faster enumeration of games, an auto-download feature for newly released trial games, and "Tell a Friend" messages. The original size limit imposed by Microsoft for Xbox Live Arcade games was 50MB, in order to ensure any downloaded game could fit on a 64MB Xbox memory unit. The limit has since been changed to 150 MB, then 350 MB, and now 2 GB, the latter of which is a technical limitation of the system (rather than an arbitrary limit imposed by Microsoft).
On July 12, 2006, Microsoft launched the "Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays" program, which promised a new Arcade game to be launched every Wednesday for the rest of that Summer. When that summer ended, Microsoft announced that new titles for XBLA would also be released on Wednesdays. In order to promote the service in retail, Microsoft released Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged Volume 1
Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged
Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged is a series of Xbox 360 Games released which allow the play of Xbox Live Arcade games without requiring a purchase Xbox Live.-Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged Vol. 1:...
as a compilation disc of six games. On October 18, 2007, Microsoft announced the Xbox 360 Arcade console SKU which includes full versions of Boom Boom Rocket
Boom Boom Rocket
Boom Boom Rocket is a downloadable video game for Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade service. Boom Boom Rocket marks the first rhythm game for the Live Arcade service and was developed by Geometry Wars creators Bizarre Creations and published by the Pogo division of Electronic Arts...
, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2
Luxor 2
Luxor 2 is an action-oriented casual puzzle game developed by MumboJumbo. First released in 2006, it is the sequel to the original Luxor, which was released in 2005...
, Pac-Man Championship Edition
Pac-Man Championship Edition
is a 2007 video game in the Pac-Man series, developed by Namco Bandai Games. The game was designed by Tōru Iwatani, the creator of the classic original 1980 arcade game Pac-Man, and it was Iwatani's final game before his retirement...
, and Uno. On May 22, 2008, Microsoft's general manager of Xbox Live
Xbox Live
Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation. It is currently the only online gaming service on consoles that charges users a fee to play multiplayer gaming. It was first made available to the Xbox system in 2002...
, Marc Whitten, detailed changes for the service that included increasing the size limit of the games to 350MB
Megabyte
The megabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage or transmission with two different values depending on context: bytes generally for computer memory; and one million bytes generally for computer storage. The IEEE Standards Board has decided that "Mega will mean 1 000...
and improving the way digital rights management
Digital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
is handled. Furthermore, Microsoft created an internal
First-party developer
A video game development party can be one of two parties: a first-party or third-party developer.- First-party developer :In the video game industry, a first-party developer is a developer that is part of a company that manufactures a video game console, and develops exclusively for it...
games studio to create "high quality digital content" for XBLA.
On July 30, 2008, Microsoft announced the XBLA Summer of Arcade. Anyone who downloaded one of the titles released over August, (Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved² is a multidirectional shooter video game created by Bizarre Creations, released on Xbox Live Arcade on July 30, 2008 as a sequel to Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved....
, Braid
Braid (video game)
Braid is a platform and puzzle video game developed by independent software developer Jonathan Blow. The game was released on August 6, 2008 for the Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade service. A Microsoft Windows version was released on April 10, 2009. Hothead Games ported and released the game to Mac OS...
, Bionic Commando Rearmed
Bionic Commando Rearmed
Bionic Commando Rearmed is an enhanced remake of the 1988 Nintendo Entertainment System version of Bionic Commando. It was developed by GRIN and published by Capcom for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live Arcade and was released on August 13, 2008...
, Galaga Legions
Galaga Legions
Galaga Legions is an Xbox Live Arcade exclusive video game created by Namco Bandai. The title was developed by the same team who created Pac-Man Championship Edition. This game is also included in the Namco Museum Virtual Arcade collection, and in Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions for Nintendo 3DS...
and Castle Crashers
Castle Crashers
Castle Crashers is a beat 'em up console video game independently developed by The Behemoth and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It features music created by members of Newgrounds. The Xbox 360 version was released on August 27, 2008 via Xbox Live Arcade as part of the Xbox Live Summer of Arcade...
) would be entered into a prize draw with a grand prize of 100,000 Microsoft Points
Microsoft Points
Microsoft Points are the currency of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Games for Windows - Live Marketplace, Windows Live Gallery, and Zune online stores. The points allow users to purchase content without a credit card and to reduce the number of small credit card transaction fees, which Microsoft would...
, 12 Month Xbox Live Gold subscription, and an Xbox 360 Elite console. Another Summer of Arcade began the next year on July 22, 2009. Anyone who purchases all the titles released, ('Splosion Man
'Splosion Man
'Splosion Man is a 2.5D action platform video game developed by Twisted Pixel Games for the Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade digital download service. It was released on July 22, 2009 as part of the 2009 Xbox Live Summer of Arcade...
, Marvel vs. Capcom 2
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
is a fighting game, developed and published by Capcom. It is the fourth game in the Marvel vs. Capcom series. With the fourth installment of this series, Capcom simplified the controls to make the gameplay more accessible for casual players. The button configuration was trimmed down to 4 main...
, TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, released as Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: Turtles in Time in Europe, is an arcade video game produced by Konami. A sequel to the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game, it is a scrolling beat 'em up based mainly on the 1987 TMNT animated...
, Trials HD
Trials HD
Trials HD is an Xbox Live Arcade game developed by RedLynx and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was released on August 12, 2009 as part of the second annual Xbox Live Summer of Arcade and was later re-released in a retail pack alongside Limbo and Splosion Man in April 2011. It is a 2.5D...
and Shadow Complex
Shadow Complex
Shadow Complex is a platform-adventure video game developed by Chair Entertainment in association with Epic Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios for Xbox Live Arcade, and is powered by Unreal Engine 3...
,) will receive an 800 point reward. The next Summer of Arcade began on July 21, 2010, and features Limbo
Limbo (video game)
Limbo is a puzzle-platform video game and the premiere title of independent Danish game developer Playdead. The game was released in July 2010 as a platform exclusive title on Xbox Live Arcade, and was later re-released as part of a retail game pack along with Trials HD and Splosion Man in April...
, Hydro Thunder Hurricane
Hydro Thunder Hurricane
Hydro Thunder Hurricane is a boat racing video game developed by Vector Unit and published by Microsoft Game Studios for Xbox Live Arcade. The game was released on July 28, 2010 as part of Microsoft's Xbox Live Summer of Arcade promotion...
, Castlevania: Harmony of Despair
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, known in Japan as , is a 2D action-adventure game. The game features a new map system that allows players to see the current quest map's entire setup, as well as up to six players at once over Xbox Live. The game was first leaked as an OFLCA Rating on May 27, 2010,...
, Monday Night Combat
Monday Night Combat
Monday Night Combat is a downloadable third-person shooter video game developed by Uber Entertainment. It was published by Microsoft Game Studios on the Xbox 360 and by Uber Entertainment and Valve Software for Microsoft Windows...
and Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a fixed-camera 3D platform viewpoint action video game developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Square Enix for the PC, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade and the iOS as part of the Tomb Raider series for digital download...
. A "Shopping Spree" promotion ended November 1, 2010, in which anyone who spent over 2400 points during October 2010 received an 800 point reward.
Sales milestones
By March 10, 2006, three million downloads had been made. By January 30, 2007, that number had grown to 20 million. The service reached 25 million downloads on March 6, 2007 with 45 million downloads projected by the end of 2007. On March 27, 2007, Microsoft declared Uno to be the first Xbox Live Arcade game to exceed one million downloads. Nearly 70 percent of Xbox 360 owners connected to Xbox Live have downloaded an Arcade title with the attach rateAttach rate
The attach rate of a product represents how many complementary goods are sold for each primary product. For example, the average number of DVD-Video discs purchased for each DVD player sold, or the number of console-specific video games purchased for each console sold.The attach rate is one...
being 6–7 titles per user. Original games typically receive 350,000 downloads in the first month. Titles have an average 156% financial return over twelve months with the first two months of sales accounting for just 35% of total volume. Average conversion rate
Conversion rate
In internet marketing, conversion rate is the ratio of visitors who convert casual content views or website visits into desired actions based on subtle or direct requests from marketers, advertisers, and content creators...
(from trial download to purchase) across all titles is 18% (a low of 4% and high of 51%). On September 19, 2007, Microsoft announced the top ten Arcade downloads worldwide as Aegis Wing
Aegis Wing
Aegis Wing is an Xbox Live Arcade game developed by three Microsoft interns and Carbonated Games. It was released on May 16, 2007. The title is available free to all Xbox Live members in North America.-Plot:...
, Uno, Texas Hold 'em, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
Geometry Wars
Geometry Wars is a minigame created by Bizarre Creations as part of Project Gotham Racing 2 for the Xbox, accessible through the in-game garage. An updated version of the game, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, is available for download on the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade. It can also be played in...
, Bankshot Billiards 2
Bankshot Billiards 2
Bankshot Billiards 2 is a Sports simulation video game developed by PixelStorm, as a sequel to Bankshot Billiards. It was released on November 22, 2005 to the Xbox Live Arcade, for 1200 Microsoft Points...
, Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1989 Classic Arcade
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (arcade game)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, released as Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles in Europe, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Super Kame Ninja in Japan, is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up released by Konami as a coin-operated video game in...
, Worms
Worms (2007 video game)
Worms is a turn-based, artillery game developed by Team17. It is available on, Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and iPhone OS platforms and is one of the many installments of the Worms series created by Team17...
, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, known in Japan as , is an action-adventure game developed and published by Konami in 1997. It is the 14th installment of the Castlevania series, the first installment released for the PlayStation, and a direct sequel to Castlevania: Rondo of Blood.Symphony of the...
, and Contra.
Pricing and releases
Xbox Live Arcade games are purchased using Microsoft PointsMicrosoft Points
Microsoft Points are the currency of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Games for Windows - Live Marketplace, Windows Live Gallery, and Zune online stores. The points allow users to purchase content without a credit card and to reduce the number of small credit card transaction fees, which Microsoft would...
(MSP). Titles range in price from 200MSP to 1600MSP, with the vast majority selling for 800MSP and under. The games are generally aimed towards more casual gamers, striving for "pick up and play" appeal. Several games were temporarily free, including Texas Hold 'em, Carcassonne
Carcassonne (video game)
Carcassonne is the Xbox Live Arcade version of the popular board game of the same name designed by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede for the Xbox 360, and developed by Sierra Studios. The game was released on June 27, 2007, and is the second designer board game to be released on Arcade, the first being Catan. It...
, and Undertow
Undertow (video game)
Undertow is an original video game developed by Chair Entertainment for the Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade service.-Gameplay:Undertow features a 15 level campaign for single-player or co-op and two multiplayer modes for up to 16 players. Players select their race and unit type and are then launched...
. Others are permanently free including Aegis Wing
Aegis Wing
Aegis Wing is an Xbox Live Arcade game developed by three Microsoft interns and Carbonated Games. It was released on May 16, 2007. The title is available free to all Xbox Live members in North America.-Plot:...
, a game created by three Microsoft interns, TotemBall
TotemBall
Totemball is an Xbox Live Arcade musical action game developed by Freeverse Software/Strange Flavour and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It takes advantage of the Xbox Live Vision Camera with the camera tracking the players hand movements. It was released on October 4, 2006 as a free download...
, a game that can only be played with the Xbox Live Vision camera, Yaris
Yaris (video game)
Yaris is a Toyota-licensed racing advergame based on the line of Yaris subcompact cars. It was developed for the Xbox 360 and distributed for free on Xbox Live Arcade. The game was released on October 10, 2007, but was later delisted from the Xbox Live Marketplace in November 2008...
(a Toyota-backed advergame), and Dash of Destruction, which was released on December 17, 2008, as a Doritos advergame.
On November 30, 2007, Microsoft introduced "Xbox Live Arcade Hits", where games are permanently reduced in price (a similar concept to their "Platinum Hits" for regular retail Xbox 360 games). As of July 22, 2008, current Arcade Hits include Lumines Live!, Assault Heroes
Assault Heroes
Assault Heroes is an arcade-style, top-down shooter video game developed by Wanako Studios. The game has the player driving 4x4 vehicles, piloting speedboats, or proceeding on foot against enemy hordes...
, Zuma, Doom, Bankshot Billiards 2
Bankshot Billiards 2
Bankshot Billiards 2 is a Sports simulation video game developed by PixelStorm, as a sequel to Bankshot Billiards. It was released on November 22, 2005 to the Xbox Live Arcade, for 1200 Microsoft Points...
, Small Arms
Small Arms (video game)
Small Arms is an action Xbox Live Arcade video game, developed by Gastronaut Studios, and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was released for the Xbox 360 video game console on November 22, 2006 for 800 Microsoft Points , since then the price has halved to 400 Microsoft Points as a part of the...
, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is a game developed by Australian company Infinite Interactive and published by D3 Publisher. The game combines role-playing with strategy and puzzle elements...
, and Marble Blast Ultra
Marble Blast Ultra
Marble Blast Ultra is a 3D puzzle/action game involving a marble developed by GarageGames. It was released on January 25, 2006 for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade. It is the sequel to Marble Blast Gold. It features 60 brand new levels, enhanced graphics, 2 new power-ups and a multiplayer mode...
.
On June 24, 2011 gaming blog 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
reported that Microsoft was preparing to bring free-to-play
Free-to-play
Free-to-play refers to any video game that has the option of allowing its players to play without paying. The model was first popularly used in early massively multiplayer online games targeted towards casual gamers, before finding wider adoption among games released by major video game...
games to Xbox Live and said games will include a microtransaction service.
Removal of games from the service
In May 2008, Microsoft announced that games older than 6 months would become eligible for delisting from the service if they had a MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
score below 65 and a conversion rate
Conversion rate
In internet marketing, conversion rate is the ratio of visitors who convert casual content views or website visits into desired actions based on subtle or direct requests from marketers, advertisers, and content creators...
below 6%. The objective was to "focus the catalogue more on larger, more immersive games and make it much easier to find the games you are looking for." However, Microsoft has never removed a game using the method. In February 2010, it was announced that nine games from Midway Games
Midway Games
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
would no longer be available for purchase, "due to publisher evolving rights and permissions", (even though Sony's PlayStation Store never did as such with its own downloadable Midway games) referring to the purchase by Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
of some assets of Midway Games, including certain rights related to the nine games. Similar fates befell the XBLA version of Double Dragon
Double Dragon
is a classic beat 'em up video game series initially developed by Technos Japan Corporation, who also developed the Kunio-kun series ....
when its publisher went under. Yaris
Yaris (video game)
Yaris is a Toyota-licensed racing advergame based on the line of Yaris subcompact cars. It was developed for the Xbox 360 and distributed for free on Xbox Live Arcade. The game was released on October 10, 2007, but was later delisted from the Xbox Live Marketplace in November 2008...
was an advergame that was pulled from the system after a year due to the timely nature of its contents. Recently, id Software
Id Software
Id Software is an American video game development company with its headquarters in Richardson, Texas. The company was founded in 1991 by four members of the computer company Softdisk: programmers John Carmack and John Romero, game designer Tom Hall, and artist Adrian Carmack...
's Doom has been pulled from the catalogue for unknown reasons. In Summer 2011, Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
announced that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled is an enhanced remake of the arcade game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, which itself is a sequel to the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game. Both of the original arcade games were produced by Konami...
was due to be removed from the Xbox LIVE service on June 30th, 2011 due to an expired license.
See also
- Xbox Live MarketplaceXbox Live MarketplaceThe Xbox Live Marketplace is a virtual market designed for Microsoft's Xbox 360 console that allows Xbox Live members to download purchased or promotional content...
- List of Xbox 360 games
- List of Xbox Originals
- List of Xbox Live Arcade games
- Virtual ConsoleVirtual consoleA virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
- PlayStation Network
- Xbox Live Indie GamesXbox Live Indie GamesXbox Live Indie Games are user created video games released on Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace for the Xbox 360. The games are developed using Microsoft XNA, and developed by one or more independent developers that are registered with App Hub...