Saturn Bomberman being evaluated for XBL Arcade
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Mar 30th 2006 at 12:25PM }
According to comments
made by a Hudson online marketing manager to 1UP, Saturn Bomberman — considered by many to be the best
version of Bomberman and one of the greatest multiplayer titles of all time — is "under
evaluation" for Xbox Live Arcade. The original Sega Saturn game featured a frantic 10-player Battle mode that
would likely be a huge draw for 360 owners looking for a simple, but addictive multiplayer experience. Let's hope the
evaluation process comes to that same conclusion.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Paul @ Mar 30th 2006 12:30PM
Probably the best multiplayer Bomberman experience, though the Gamecube Bomberman(the first one, not the crappy sequel) came close. I'm alone in this, but my favorite single player Bomberman was the 3D Bomberman 64. I had great fun with that game.
Though thinking about it, how great would a Bomberman DS on Wi-fi be?
LunarDuality @ Mar 30th 2006 12:35PM
I guess that this is all dependent upon the deal that Hudson did with Nintendo to bring TurboGrafix games to the virtual console. I know the game in question is not the original TG game, but could it be that the Bomberman IP will be only shopped out to one of the two companies (MS or Ninty)? We shall see...
Master X 24 @ Mar 30th 2006 12:37PM
there used to be a link to email joystiq news does anyone have it
jaemz @ Mar 30th 2006 12:39PM
http://www.joystiq.com/tips/
Zach @ Mar 30th 2006 12:48PM
I'd pay $50 for Xbox Live Bomberman.
Vi @ Mar 30th 2006 1:01PM
I was going to say the same. I would pay $50 for a good classic bomberman online live game. But the cheaper the better since that would attract more players.
The deal with nintendo is not exclusive. That means saturn/genesis games can come on ps3, 360, and cube.
GOD @ Mar 30th 2006 1:02PM
Heck yeah! I've been in love with bomberman ever since I got my copy of Mega Bomberman for the Sega Genesis. I never got a chance to play the Saturn version, but playing bomberman online sounds SOOOOO fun! Nothing like blowing up your friends.
GunForHire @ Mar 30th 2006 1:18PM
Hells yes! I want some of that action!
evaNERV @ Mar 30th 2006 1:32PM
Oh my! I remember those awesome afternoons playing this game on my buddies Saturn!
Now bring Super Puzzle Fighter on XBLA and I'll be in heaven!
D dogg @ Mar 30th 2006 1:43PM
What kills me most is people don't realize the 360's most differentiating feature at the moment but praise it all the time.
Despite giving me graphics I've been waiting for since... Super Nintendo, the 360's arcade feature is FANTASTIC. The best part about 360's arcade feature... it isn't limited to just specific companies or consoles! We have PC games, arcade games and even different console games coming to the service. Think about it if Bomberman gets added... you can play Street Fighter 2 (Arcade), Zuma (PC), Geometry Wars (Original IP) and Bomberman (Saturn)... all on ONE console with no hacks and VERY reasonable prices.
PS3 is backwards compatible with PS2 and PS1... you think I'm going to pay to download PS1 content if I have the disc already? No one knows about Sony's or Nintendo's online strategy fully but I'll sure as hell say this, Xbox Live's service is kicking ass RIGHT NOW and instead of reading and thinking about things, you can go and play them... RIGHT NOW (assuming you could get your hands on a 360... wheeee!).
soco @ Mar 30th 2006 1:55PM
@LunarDuality
this has nothing to do with who will get the bomberman IP. Bomberman is already for sure coming to the 360 in the form of the "new bomberman" which everyone thinks looks like crap.
this is probably more of an issue of whether they can make enough money off of a separate port to justify the money they put in digging it up and trying to make it work over live.
i'm with everyone else. i'd love bomberman for live. i'm not willing to pay much more than 5$ for most of the games, but this would be one i'd pay more for.
Back_Lit @ Mar 30th 2006 1:56PM
Heck, this game should be on the REV with all of Hudson's support.
Sense @ Mar 30th 2006 1:59PM
Dear sweet Mary, Mother of Blood,
This is the best damned thing I have ever heard, ever. Saturn Bomberman is the only game all of my friends (gamers and non-gamers alike) have ever agreed on. Everyone likes it. This would be the best news ever.
Somebody has to make this happen.
Gonzo @ Mar 30th 2006 2:08PM
The multiplayer was the only good part about the DS version.
I too wish that one was wifiable.
murph @ Mar 30th 2006 2:10PM
Chu-Chu Rocket would be a great XBLA game.
Z-Unit @ Mar 30th 2006 2:22PM
OMG, this would rock! I still have my Saturn version along with 6 controllers and my friend's keep nagging me to hook it up again (it's tough with 2 little ones running around to play even a 1-player game with a corded controller)
will @ Mar 30th 2006 2:33PM
OMG, hell yes!
Nick @ Mar 30th 2006 2:41PM
This is awesome news and much more desireable than a DS Wi-Fi version of Bomberman.
Am I alone in thinking that Nintendo's Wi-Fi set up is weak? This "searching" for players crap has GOT to stop. Allow me to create a room and search for a list of created rooms, please. And no, not just for people on my friends list which I build and maintain by entering wild strings of numbers for each of my friends that differs from title to title, thanks.
Rob Stevens @ Mar 30th 2006 2:56PM
We used to play Saturn Bomberman every night as a break when I was at the (now defunct) Boss Game Studios. I have a lot of fond memories of that game.
epobirs @ Mar 30th 2006 3:17PM
There is no reason to expect Bomberman not be available on many machines as always. Unless Nintendo is demanding exclusivity, which I doubt. Even then Hudson would likely only accept for a limited time and for those particular versions appearing on Nintendo's service.
I'd expect the only real exclusives on Nintendo's download service to be those they already own and original new products. Microsoft is definitely not making such demands or Midway would never have stuff on XBLA, nor would Capcom. Likewise, Sega already puts Genesis emulators on many platforms for their collections. It's possible Hudson gave Nintendo an exclusive license on PC Engine/TurboGrafx emulation but I doubt either they or Nintendo considered it worth the trouble.
To make this service work takes more than an emulator for the particular host/target combo and a bunch of ROM files. There will be plenty of ways for the companies to distinguish their offering without locking down old IP. Doing so gets into financial obligations before a single download has occurred and the popularity of the service known.
anzo @ Mar 30th 2006 3:19PM
coool i love this game
it's so great
but why they put it on XBOX 360 >__<
how about REV or PS3 :P
i mean SEGA even released a Saturn controller for PS2
ahhhh
Mike @ Mar 31st 2006 12:00AM
Saturn Bomberman is perfect for Live Arcade. Ditto for Death Tank Zwei and 2D Worms.
On April 8th in Cincinnati there is a free gaming event (CinciClassic) where you can play stuff like 10-player Bomberman. If you are in the area, check it out.
Sloopydrew @ Mar 31st 2006 1:00AM
What's there to evaluate? The game is crazy fun! If they gave Feeding Frenzy the go, at 800 points no less, it seems like they'd jump at the chance to get this one.
Gareth @ Mar 31st 2006 3:29AM
OMG Death Tank - the memories! It's worth hooking up my Saturn again just to play that game. It would be a bit tricky getting it for Live though as it was developed in the spare time of one of Lobotomy Software's coders - a company that sadly no longer exists. :(
Anonymous @ Apr 6th 2006 7:02PM
Saturn bomberman was a GREAT game, i still get together with some people and play it. It would be great to see on XBLA. It'd make me want to buy one just for that. I have a DS myself and i liked playing bomberman, but it didnt have Wi-Fi. The game itself was O.K. but not great. I dont like how nintendo has their Wi-Fi set up, the waiting for friends thing IS rediculous. They need a list of created rooms, like Nick said, then wi-fi would be very nice. Going back to XBLA. Having Saturn Bomberman (NOT a edited version!!) on XBLA would be awesome, and even if they DID charge like 20$, theyd still get alot of cash. The game would be great, ive always loved it, and playing it online would give many good players chalenges. I think it would just be a great idea.