XBLA Yaris drives into the sunset

by Justin McElroy { Nov 5th 2008 at 9:30AM }

Well, apparently the Xbox Live Arcade delisting initiative hasn't been completely abandoned, because promogame Yaris has apparently vanished. Not just like "you can't find it for download" gone, either. No, it's more like "the game page has completely vanished, D.B. Sweeney in Fire In The Sky-style" gone.

We're trying to get an answer from Microsoft on what exactly happened, but we have to ask: If a driving game once referred to as "a festering turd" by X360 Magazine isn't safe from being deleted, who among us is? [Update: As much as we'd like to think Yaris was deleted for turdiness, apparently "the title was removed since the program is now over" according to Xbox Live's Major Nelson – meaning the advergaming tie-in period had lapsed. Bet you wish you downloaded it while you still could!]

[Thanks, James]

Tags: xbla, yaris

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

tmmoore_nc @ Nov 5th 2008 9:34AM

Wasn't it originally announced that it'd only be out a year?

offday @ Nov 5th 2008 9:36AM

byeee.

Jakka @ Nov 5th 2008 9:39AM

What? I liked Yaris!

FAT MAN @ Nov 5th 2008 10:45AM

Time to start a cult following.....

"WE WANT YARIS 2 DAGNABIT!, IT WAS SO UNDER APPRECIATED!"

Poisoned Al @ Nov 5th 2008 8:16PM

I also liked Yaris. Almost as much as I do cutting myself.

joeybeast @ Nov 5th 2008 9:39AM

To think those come after us will never have the joy of driving a shoe box brings tear to my eyes.

xGeneral DEATHx (Mr ESC Resurrection Force) @ Nov 5th 2008 10:23AM

I always envisioned it as more of a clown shoe or a rollerskate.

Wubbytoes @ Nov 5th 2008 9:41AM

Yaris really is one of the worst games I've ever played. Toyota should sue the developer for damaging the reputation of their car with that shitty game.

bise @ Nov 5th 2008 10:26AM

damaging the reputation?
i was almost gonna buy a yaris 'cause i thought i would be able to shoot at fat bike-riding luchadores from the mechanical tentacle of my car!

Tiptup300 @ Nov 5th 2008 12:33PM

I was going to buy a Yaris because it gave you acid.

Wubbytoes @ Nov 5th 2008 7:04PM

That's what I'm talking about bise! I bought one thinking it could do that, and was extremely disappointed. I ended up writing several very strongly worded letters to Toyota because of this issue.

pwnetheus @ Nov 5th 2008 9:42AM

Gonna miss those free achievement points.

pwnetheus @ Nov 5th 2008 9:42AM

Naaahhhhht

FAT MAN @ Nov 5th 2008 10:48AM

Those were some of the hardest achievements i've ever seen for a shitty game. Or maybe its because they actually wanted me to play it for more then 5 minutes, which was too unbearable.

Erluti @ Nov 5th 2008 9:43AM

Maybe it's because Yaris quit paying the bill and Microsoft doesn't condone free advertising.

dark_inchworm @ Nov 5th 2008 9:46AM

It's kinda fun, in a "holy shit this is so bad but I gotta have those achievements" kind of way.

MC Double Def DP @ Nov 5th 2008 9:49AM

I want to know who was looking for it to notice it was gone?!

Jakka @ Nov 5th 2008 9:57AM

Cheevo whores?

xFenixKnightx @ Nov 5th 2008 9:54AM

Smell ya later...

Patrick @ Nov 5th 2008 9:57AM

It's been taking up my (20GB) hard drive space since I bought my 360 (March '07), and I've never played it. Guess I might as well see if it's worth playing.

Neuromancer @ Nov 5th 2008 11:56AM

Protip: It's not.

Poisoned Al @ Nov 5th 2008 9:57AM

Nothing of value was lost.

Fernando Rocker @ Nov 5th 2008 9:58AM

I never finished the game... I can't play with normal controls.

I would have finished the game and get some achievements if only the game had inverted controls.

DBoyFlex @ Nov 5th 2008 10:04AM

Inverted FTW! I hate it when games don't give the option. Poll idea: normal or inverted? That would be interesting, don't ya say?

xFenixKnightx @ Nov 5th 2008 10:06AM

Inverted?! o_O

INSANITY!!!!!

xFenixKnightx @ Nov 5th 2008 10:12AM

BTW, Banjo: NaB demo is killing me with its inverted underwater controls. It just doesnt make sense to have normal above water, then inverted under. >:(

Especially since I found this glitch :) Once you get it its pretty sweet to be able to explore Showdown Town more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGFgJw7Gsrg

Fernando Rocker @ Nov 5th 2008 10:13AM

Inverted with analog sticks... It feels more natural.

And normal with keyboard and mouse.

Jakka @ Nov 5th 2008 10:16AM

MADNESS!!1!

xGeneral DEATHx (Mr ESC Resurrection Force) @ Nov 5th 2008 10:26AM

Madness?

THIS...IS...** whoa, almost went for it. Yeah, I don't feel the inversion is natural, but it would make an interesting poll/study. Some of my friends just won't play without inversion.

Jakka @ Nov 5th 2008 10:46AM

GeneralDeath, you do realise MR.ESC came back ages ago?

dark_inchworm @ Nov 5th 2008 10:47AM

I'm on board Fernando's boat here. Normal controls with a mouse and keyboard, inverted with a controller. That Yaris never had the inverted option was sheer stupidity. How much effort would it have really taken to patch that in?

...oh wait, the developer collapsed upon release. Right.

DiggyStyle @ Nov 5th 2008 10:58AM

Inverted all the way for shooters! I played a lot of flying games early in my video gaming career so for shooters its like flying my head!

I am worthless without inverted controls all staring at the ground and spinning!

xFenixKnightx @ Nov 5th 2008 11:13AM

No, no, no, no NO!! If I want to look up I want to push UP on the thumbstick!! Up is up and down is down DAMNIT!
Thats why 99.9% of shooters come with NORMAL controls as default!

Damn wierdos!

:P

Neuromancer @ Nov 5th 2008 11:58AM

I agree with Fenix. Shooter's aren't flight simulators. People who use inverted controls have something deeply wrong with them, they are rotten to the core like a bad tooth.

xGeneral DEATHx (Mr ESC Resurrection Force) @ Nov 5th 2008 12:48PM

Jakka:

You DO realize that only recently (through certain changes I made to our web filter at work) I had returned to viewing/posting on Joystiq? No? You don't keep up with my every move in real time? Funny, I don't keep up with Mr. ESC's, either. Thanks for the info.