Summer of Arcade games top XBLA sales

Were I a publisher it would not just be about taking advantage of the Summer of Arcade offerings but the "gaming drought" that occurs during summer-time each year. And many gamers are also students who have more leisure time (not the same as free time) in the afternoon during this time of year. Be it because they are working to save for the next semester, they are remaining at home enjoying a vacation or what have you. The thing is even though this extra leisure time is present the will to spend is suppressed (due to saving, or being strapped for money due to less work/more free time). It is the PERFECT time to release a quality budget or low-priced title.

The only other time it would be viable is during the end of Spring or in January after Christmas (as many people get MS Points/cash for gifts). Though as a publisher I would not want to release during Christmas. Not because of competition with retail must-have titles but due to the fact that Microsoft has a huge annual Arcade blowout-style sale. Who wants to compete with a proven title offered for 200-600 MS Points when the typical new title costs 800-1200.

The Summer of Arcade promotion is just icing on the cake.

*Shrugs* I've been waiting for From Dust and Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet for a while. Even if they WEREN'T summer of arcade games I was still stupid excited for them..

Given the success of Summer of Arcade, we probably shouldn't be too surprised if Winter of Arcade drops this year or next right?

I was playing Island of Wakfu the other night for the first time and realized it is as good or better than all of the Summer games but no one talked about it because it got 0 promotion.

Its hard to sell a game with no marketing budget.

Still a great game though.

I've been super happy with the first 3 so far.

I bought from dust, bastion and the first splosion man but all I want now is street fighter 3 :-)

the 1st 3 are great games.... every year they seem to have really good games but only one problem with these games are........ THEY ARE TOO SHORT!!!!!.... BUT the first 3 Summer of Arcade games are Very Good...

Meh I've been semi-interested in Bastion,from dust, and itsp, but I'll wait for them to go on sale. I got Ms. Splosion man though since I loved the first and the second is just as awesome if not more awesome. I rarely but the 1200 point games since that only leaves me with 400 points. I've gotten good games like Castle Crashers and Shadow Complex day one though! just not feeling these new summer games that much until they hit the sweet spot of 800 points so I can get 2 of them with 1 space bucks card.

i want more from dust . i just got a 200/200 on this game. i hope from dust made enough money to become a full release so from dust 2 can have a 1000/1000

Yeah, most of these XBLA games are short, and they seem to be getting shorter. I hope they aren't doing it on purpose, as if the $15 price has to mean that we can't get 20 hours or more of enjoyment.

In other news, Gatling Gears dropped to $10, and that game can be replayed a ton. I have as much time into it already as Bastion and ITSP combined (both finished), and I'm going back in for more.