Emptiness fills the Xbox Live Arcade void
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Jan 3rd 2007 at 8:25PM }
Wednesday will soon pass without a new Xbox Live Arcade offering. Perhaps last week's unwelcome reception of New Rally-X soured Microsoft's spirits, prompting a 'then we'll give you nothing' response on this first Wednesday of the New Year.1UP poked fun at the no-show, cleverly announcing the arrival of Jacksquat, an entirely featureless platformer. The site also posted this official explanation from Microsoft:
"It has always been our intention to release new Xbox Live Arcade content on Wednesdays as it is ready, which doesn't necessarily mean we will have new content every single week. The frequency of content will vary as games move from production to certification and are made ready for release. 'Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays' refers to the fact that there is a fixed day and time for all Xbox Live Arcade releases worldwide -- Wednesdays at 8:01 a.m. GMT."
Geez, at least toss us another UNO deck. Anyone else feel like today's snub is would-be punishment for our ungrateful attitudes?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MrAkash @ Jan 3rd 2007 10:17PM
How is Microsoft so incompetent?
BklynKid @ Jan 3rd 2007 8:41PM
That pic made me laugh. Thanks.
KineticOnline @ Jan 3rd 2007 8:42PM
Well with Ms Pacman, and Worms coming fairly soon it wouldnt be at all suprising if they both get released next week.
Also Ms might be trying to keep to the new trend of releasing alot of content during these event so i'd probably expect a bevy of themes, gamer pics and videos too (possibly another boost the films and tvs shows too). Of course im just guessing but it makes sence
Neil @ Jan 3rd 2007 8:42PM
They should have at least added a Stamper brothers theme.
wetsploogie @ Jan 3rd 2007 8:42PM
If its the same cert team that's supposed to be passing the gears patch, then they're on holiday...
tcc3 @ Jan 3rd 2007 8:57PM
"We've got Nada *II* "
Raz 4 life @ Jan 3rd 2007 9:27PM
Haha, I love that ad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xjqBei1Mj0
falth @ Jan 3rd 2007 9:40PM
Since when is capitalism dependant on gratitude?
Mr BoomStick Xl @ Jan 3rd 2007 9:49PM
If anyone wants a GOOD read please take the time to go to the Xbox forums (General Dis. and under Game Dis.) it's titled Another Empty Wednesday from XBLA and post a comment. I wrote it and I think that that statement from MS is a cop-out and I'm tired of it. As a fan who supports a service, you expect them to keep up their end of the bargin. THEY stated that there would be a NEW game EVERY wednesday!! Not me!! Though Nintendo is only releasing old games every monday it's still 3-5 titles a week without fail!! And though the Sony service seems VERY broken we still have Tekken: DR coming in the next week or so. A REAL game that's current.
Maybe MS should seek out some of these companies like Capcom and Konami or even Namco and try and put out title's that WE want to play!! NEW Rally X.......Give me a F*****G BREAK!!!
NotAnElitistPrick @ Jan 3rd 2007 9:53PM
I've been tired of this crap since April. There still isn't anything on the Live Arcade that's equal to Geometry Wars.
What's so incredibly thorough that the cert team has to look at, yet allow completely bugged versions of MK3 and Contra out?
This is BS.
diskoboy @ Jan 3rd 2007 10:11PM
Mr. Broomstick, go shove yourself up your ass.
Adults play video games too.. And personally, I'd rather play Rally-X or Pac-Man over Street Fighter 2 or Contra, any fucking day of the week.
Oh, and maybe you should see Nintendo's VC releases, from monday. Urban Champion and Baseball. Wow... Real winners there Nintendo!!
You are an insult to gamers.
ZenGaijin @ Jan 5th 2007 10:05AM
I would really love Castle Crashers or Alien Hominid next Wednesday. Like the kid that peaks at his christmas presents I was kinda disappointed.
Hopefully something will be there next Wednesday.
Josh @ Jan 4th 2007 7:54AM
Luke Smith FTW. Yes, I'm just as embarrassed as everyone else for using that acronym. Anyway, to piggy back off of Mr Boomstick, I've been playing Tekken DR all day after finding out how to reroute my subscription to Hong Kong. Kudos to whoever found that little exploit. The game is a redo of the PSP title released mid-2006, but that's the only negative I can say given its $15 price point. Nintendo does have a competent VC release campaign, with their 2-5 programs per week. I just can't help but question their ridiculous price points. $8 dollars for Sim City? Really? When juxtaposed to Tekken, the price just doesn't seem reasonable.
nick @ Jan 3rd 2007 10:17PM
I enjoyed Rally X. Easy 200 points to boot.
BklynKid @ Jan 3rd 2007 10:32PM
Wow. I can't believe some of the shit thats being spewed here by you fuckin mouth breathers. MS owes you a game every week? Please, I double dare you to find the quote where they state that a game would be released every week. You'll probably find the press release from last summer where they did promise one game per week... FOR THE DURATION OF THE SUMMER! So please find me something concrete, please! You should be glad they've managed to keep it up for as long as they have. Sure they'd probably love to sell you another game right now, but don't get it twisted, they don't owe you shit.
MrAkash @ Jan 4th 2007 12:03AM
You'll have to excuse BrklynKid, you'd be testy too if Major Nelson's dick was perpetually in your ass.
Miles @ Jan 4th 2007 12:32AM
Bklynkid is right. That was only for the summer. And the notion that Microsoft is in anyway doing the fans a disservice with their Marketplace is straight fanboy crap. Have fun playing your VC SFII with no online while you say the MS marketplace is busted. And Sony giving us Tekken:DR is great (its still not here), but it'll be great when I go out and play it on my PSP. I wonder how great those same old PS games will be when you realize there is zero bonus to it besides playing it on your PS3 which is backward compatible to begin with. Once again, Microsoft's Marketplace is the only one that makes those old school games worth a damn with the Live integration, leaderboards and achievements.
Diggler @ Jan 4th 2007 12:34AM
BklynKid must have missed the Nelson podcast with the XBLA manager who said they want to release a game every week until the end of time. If one week is missed, then they will have two releases the next.
You've got some listen' to do.
NotAnElitistPrick @ Jan 4th 2007 12:52AM
Miles:
Oh right, I forgot, there's no way we should be expecting a service that's been out for over a year already to be at least capable of putting out a game a week.
Excuse my fanboyosity there.
Imadogg @ Jan 4th 2007 12:44AM
I was pissed since I was looking forward to a good new game after NEW Rally X came out last week
MrAkash @ Jan 4th 2007 1:11AM
Uh, aren't the fanboys the ones defending Microsoft? There are MAYBE 5 games really worth owning on XBLA. Way to waste a year guys...
DeadPlasmaCell @ Jan 4th 2007 1:38AM
People are going to bitch regardless.. Had they released nothing but an Uno deck or something like that you still would have bitched about it "Wtf? JUST an UNO deck! fuck that, Lets start a class action lawsuit and an Online Petition guys!"
Sean @ Jan 4th 2007 2:36AM
MS doesn't exactly have 20 years of back catalog to put out. To expect a new game every week is unreasonable. But hey, the dev tools are free, so why don't you start making your own XBLA game?
hyperactive @ Jan 5th 2007 3:02AM
@ Sean
Nice one!
Josh @ Jan 4th 2007 7:57AM
Ok, now I'm the proud owner of a 360 because compared to the competition it offers more of what I'm looking for.. and I've been a reader here at Joystiq for over a year. But guys, come on
--"Anyone else feel like today's snub is would-be punishment for our ungrateful attitudes?"--
Are you seriously suggesting we should be more grateful for shitty releases (seriously except for those who own EVERY SINGLE arcade game who actually BOUGHT Rally X)? The users brought this *alleged* travesty on themselves by not worshipping hard enough? Microsoft never said anything like that, and I've certainly not read anything that implies that. You guys came to that conclusion all by your lonesome. I know that was probably meant as a joke, still, it had the ring of someone trying to make a point but laughing it off as a joke when they realized how crazy they sound.
I'm not sure if this is common knowledge and I'm just a bit slow, but you guys really are MS fanboys all the way.
Drew @ Jan 4th 2007 1:17PM
I look forward to Wednesdays for a reason. Microsoft blew it this week. I'd rather see some crappy game I won't buy over nothing. They better hit us with some castle crashers next week.
joe smith @ Jan 8th 2007 10:00PM
Hardly a snub. More likely a last minute bug that stopped release of whatever they had planned. Big studios release a game every three years and no one complains. Arcade is trying to do 52 a year -- it would be great if people cut them a little slack.
You guys act like this is some sort of entitlement. You pay nothing for Arcade unless you buy a game. Every game has a trial mode so you can check it out before you pay. Show me how a game not shipping every Wednesday hurts you in any conceivable way.
LaughingMan @ Jan 4th 2007 5:13PM
I never get tired of the "MS LIED TO US" (always in caps) posts. In these uncertain times, it's good to know I can always count on fat 13 year olds :)
But to be fair, it is kind of frustrating for things to get backed up yet another week. There's so much out there to look forward to like Alien Hominid, Castle Crashers, Castlevaina:SOTN and Double Dragon to name a few. So between the delays and the weeks where the game is a ho hum selection like Time Pilot or Rally-X, you start to wonder just how long you're gonna have to wait to see some of your most anticpated selections come out. XBLA is really a viction of it's own success.