This Wednesday: Lode Runner digs XBLA

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 20th 2009 at 4:10PM }

There are two ways to arrive at the fact that Lode Runner will release on Xbox Live Arcade this week. The first way -- and definitely the most fun way -- is by a process of elimination. You see, of the seven titles announced for the Days of Arcade event, Lode Runner is the only one that hasn't been released yet. See, logic is fun!

If you'd rather be boring and have someone just tell you, the game was also confirmed on the latest Major Nelson podcast during an interview with the game's producer and designer, Brett Ballow. The game will include online and offline multiplayer and also a level editor(!). Now that we've gotten everyone nice and excited, the price: 1200

($15).

Tags: lode-runner, this-wednesday, tozai-games, xbla

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

SaltyGary @ Apr 20th 2009 4:20PM

All Set.

Tiptup300 @ Apr 20th 2009 11:22PM

NOOOOOO, when's Banjo Tooie come out?

t3hguitarman @ Apr 20th 2009 4:21PM

I dig it

Ahmedz @ Apr 20th 2009 4:23PM

I'll wait till next week :)

Markez @ Apr 20th 2009 4:26PM

I finally just buckled and made my 3rd XBLA purchase last evening in Peggle. Only others I have are Castle Crashers & Braid.

Dirty @ Apr 20th 2009 4:32PM

I would say the one xbla game that couldn't live without is Geometry wars2. But Ive spent more money on that service that I would like.

Markez @ Apr 20th 2009 4:44PM

Geometry Wars doesn't really do anything for me. Aside from ME & Fable II DLC, those XBLA games, most of the money I've spent on the marketplace was on 3 seasons of Tim & Eric and movie rentals. My girlfriend really liked Eets so maybe I'll even pick that up.

SpaceJock @ Apr 20th 2009 4:27PM

If only it supported five players like the original...

butaneko @ Apr 20th 2009 4:35PM

I played the crap out of Lode Runner on Commodore 64 and Game Boy back in the dizzay. Didn't really have the same magic for me when I played it a couple years ago. 15 bucks? Yowza. Is there a $3 iPhone version?

Fafhrdd @ Apr 21st 2009 8:47AM

Agreed 15 bucks seems too much! I never played it before (it was one of the one's I missed growing up and never played) but for 20 bucks (only 5 bucks more) I can pick up a used copy of a retail game or a plat hit game...

Kael @ Apr 20th 2009 4:38PM

I'm a fan of Lode Runner. Playing it back in... what I guess was the late eighties, is one of my earliest memories. It's still a pretty good game; from the looks of it, this XBLA version will be pretty cool.

nick @ Apr 20th 2009 4:44PM

I'm so glad Lode Runner is finally being released. Seems like I've been following the progress about it for a long time now.

Regarding the 5 player version... the original was actually single player, and it was first released for the Apple II computer in the early 80s. There's been a number of sequels and different versions including a video arcade release, and it's been ported to just about every platform. Multiplayer came along later.

Ryan LN @ Apr 23rd 2009 7:49PM

You're right- I played the shit out of Lode Runner on an Apple IIe back in 1984. I loved that game, and it was my first experience with 1) an illegally copied game, and 2) a level editor that allowed me to make my own ridiculously complicated levels. $15 is a bitter pill to swallow, but I've been drinking the Lode Runner Kool-Aid for so long I'm afraid I'll have to gulp it down.

WiNG [XBL&Steam: WiNGSPANTT] from lifeinagame.com @ Apr 20th 2009 4:44PM

I used to play this on a computer so old I couldn't tell you what OS it was running.

Is Cardboard an OS?

DiddlyKong @ Apr 20th 2009 4:54PM

1200 MS points not cool.

343 Guilty Fart @ Apr 20th 2009 5:20PM

Cool that this is finally being released, not cool that $15 is slowly becoming the new de facto price point. It better be crammed with extras.

Mandingo @ Apr 21st 2009 4:52PM

You gota be f$&%ing kidding me.
$15 for a game that I played on my Apple II Plus, TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO?!!!
Thankfully I already have this on my cell phone. I'm disappointed in you, XBL.

Neuromancer @ Apr 20th 2009 11:40PM

Right because I'm sure it's an exact port of the Apple ][C version.

Mandingo Chief @ Apr 21st 2009 5:02PM

Updated graphics and sprite animations do not honestly change what is effectively the "Apple ][C version", as you put it. If you feel so strongly about it, then I'll gladly provide you a PayPal account for you to send me $15. Lemme know. ;)

umm....hello??? @ Apr 20th 2009 5:35PM

I was all excited for this...but $15? fuck that. I'll wait until next year when it's on sale for $5

Altairio @ Apr 20th 2009 5:44PM

1200 pts? F. That. Noise.

AwesomeTown @ Apr 20th 2009 6:04PM

I probably won't jump on this at $15. Like lode runner, but maybe not that much.

Double J @ Apr 20th 2009 6:16PM

I only have my Gameboy version still. I think I'll save my 15 dollars and just play the game I never beat, then create my own crappy levels that can't actually be beaten.

tifosiotaku @ Apr 20th 2009 6:23PM

I have 1200 points in my account, but those points will be spent on Virtual On when it comes out... hopefully next week...

ChooChooCharlie @ Apr 20th 2009 9:46PM

Next week is probably Banjo Tooie. Sorry.

Also, it will most likely be $15 as well.

iamjonvaillant @ Apr 20th 2009 9:52PM

If you have little big planet you can get the Lode Runner remake that somebody made.

myabsolution @ Apr 20th 2009 7:24PM

Microsoft need to allow Canadian/US Microsoft points to be region free.

I cannot afford points for arcade games anymore because most of the new stuff is always 1200MSP (But they are good quality so ya kno...)

2800 MSP Card at retail runs me 44 dollars after taxes. Not acceptable.

Premature ejaculation man @ Apr 20th 2009 8:00PM

Its $30 for 1500 here =S Sometimes its 'cheap' at $25

Manly Mcbeefigan (Mr. ESC) @ Apr 20th 2009 9:39PM

Wow and I thought MS screw us here.23$ get 1500 points (Of course I bought some MSpoints in discount and I got 4,500 for 50$ ready for Banjo Tooie)

Foxtail @ Apr 20th 2009 8:00PM

Hey, they wouldn't be releasing games at 1200 Points if everyone didn't make Braid and Castle Crashers, the poster-boys for 1200 Points, the highest selling games on the service. Don't buy expensive games then complain when others want in on the goldmine too.

Premature ejaculation man @ Apr 20th 2009 8:16PM

I don't love loderunner enough for that cost. I think I'll find a Flash version or something.

Manly Mcbeefigan (Mr. ESC) @ Apr 20th 2009 9:36PM

I'm still waiting for Banjo Tooie.

Tony @ Apr 20th 2009 11:20PM

Who cares when the original version of this game was made. The original Super Mario Bros is over 20 years old, but people still bought New Super Mario Bros for $30. They're different games, get over it.

Neuromancer @ Apr 20th 2009 11:41PM

1200 points is the new 800 points, I don't like it any more than you guys do but that's just the stark reality.

Diskoboy7 @ Apr 21st 2009 2:13AM

Mega-points for the level editor (and hopefully sharing over XBL).

But the 1200 point price kills an otherwise done deal. I'll consider when it drops to 800 (or less).

Microsoft is going a bit overboard on the 1200 point releases, lately. Most not worth even 800.

mikelo @ Apr 21st 2009 9:33AM

i just listened to the major nelson podcast, i had to laugh when the developer said he considered it to be a box game, but i lost it when he said it has a ton of gameplay! 4 hours! what the fuck

axemduff656 @ Apr 21st 2009 6:41PM

Honestly, I think I'd rather play The Legend Returns or Mad Monk's Revenge on my PC. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the gameplay will be much different for the XBLA version, in which case $15 seems pretty unreasonable for a visual style I like less than the versions I mentioned above. Those two also have level editors, and hell, you can download them for free from the lead programmer's website:

http://www.daggert.net/Folio/Programming/Presage/LodeRunner/Loderunner1.htm

gameniac85 @ Apr 21st 2009 8:56PM

Lol, those games bring back memories. I first played Lode Runner back when I was 3 or 4 when it was on the NES. Then in like '95 my father bought The Legend Returns and I totally loved that game. It was one of those iconic, childhood games I always remember for some reason. I used to spend hours creating levels with that level editor.

I thought about getting the XBLA one, but like others have said, $15 is pretty steep for a game that has pretty much done before many times over.