Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Marble Blast Ultra rolls right off of XBLA]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/marble-blast-ultra-rolls-right-off-of-xbla/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/marble-blast-ultra-rolls-right-off-of-xbla/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/marble-blast-ultra-rolls-right-off-of-xbla/#comments Marble Blast Ultra, one of the earliest Xbox Live Arcade games, has been removed from the service. The game is no longer listed on the Xbox Live Marketplace, though its DLC packs are still currently available. The delisting, according to XBLA Fans, is the result of developer GarageGames' recent and rocky history.

Between the closure of GarageGames' InstantAction service in 2010 and the company's revival earlier this year, it seems the IP rights to Marble Blast Ultra have been lost in the shuffle. GarageGames, now a subsidiary of Graham Software Development, only owns the rights to the Torque game engine, which powers Marble Blast Ultra. Rights to its games are still property of InstantAction Holdings. As such, GarageGames stopped offering its old titles after its transition to new ownership in February.

In a February forum post, GarageGames CEO Eric Preisz said that it was "unlikely" that the studio would reacquire the rights to its games.

JoystiqMarble Blast Ultra rolls right off of XBLA originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>delistinggarage-gamesgaragegamesmarble-blast-ultramicrosoftxblaxblmxboxWed, 13 Apr 2011 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free XBLA game ... if you follow the rules ]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/23/free-xbla-game-if-you-follow-the-rules/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/23/free-xbla-game-if-you-follow-the-rules/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/23/free-xbla-game-if-you-follow-the-rules/#commentsFiled under:

Itching for a gratis Xbox Live Arcade game? Microsoft is offering one of five titles for free, but you have to follow these four steps:
  1. Live in the UK.
  2. Sign up for 12 months of Xbox Live Gold between now and January 5. It must be done directly through Xbox Live, meaning you can't use that prepaid card your mom or significant other bought you as a gift.
  3. Decide what game you want free: Zuma, Marble Blast, Sonic the Hedgehog, Assault Heroes or 3D Ultra Minigolf. Do this step in your head.
  4. Download a gamer pic or theme related to the game. Only the first one counts, so make sure you didn't skip Step 3 before downloading a picture of a putter when you're hoping to nab Sonic.
See, folks? Even with digital distribution, TINSTAAFL applies: There is no such thing as a free lunch. Of course, if you were needing to upgrade or renew your subscription anyways, you might as well get something extra out of it.

Update: Sorry, one more caveat folks -- it's UK only.

[Thanks, Richard]

JoystiqFree XBLA game ... if you follow the rules originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d-ultra-minigolfassault-heroesmarble-blast-ultraXbox-360zumaTue, 23 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Marble Blast receives Marble Fu expansion]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/03/marble-blast-receives-marble-fu-expansion/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/03/marble-blast-receives-marble-fu-expansion/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/03/marble-blast-receives-marble-fu-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , ,


For a moderately hefty 200 Microsoft points, you can download the new "Marble Fu" Marble Blast Ultra downloadable content. The new package-o-content includes five fresh multiplayer maps and brings one new "Map Pack Dominator" achievement worth 20 additional Gamerscore.

We're not sure how much value there is in a 200 Microsoft points expansion seeing the game now retails for 400 points, but we're sure hardcore Marble Blasters will download no questions asked.

JoystiqMarble Blast receives Marble Fu expansion originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>garage-gamesmarble-blast-ultraxblaxblmWed, 03 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free Marble Blast Ultra DLC coming this Wednesday]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/27/free-marble-blast-ultra-dlc-coming-this-wednesday/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/27/free-marble-blast-ultra-dlc-coming-this-wednesday/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/27/free-marble-blast-ultra-dlc-coming-this-wednesday/#commentsFiled under: ,


In case you missed the announcement conveniently combined with next week's amazing XBLA release on Major Nelson's blog, here's a news tip that is sure to send classic Arcade fans in a frenzy. On Wednesday Marble Blast Ultra will receive free downloadable content. Weeks ago we were tipped to three new achievements that pointed at a MBU map pack and, while not confirmed as of yet, this content may be related. At least we'll be downloading something this Wednesday, amirite?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

JoystiqFree Marble Blast Ultra DLC coming this Wednesday originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcdownloadable-contentmarble-blast-ultraxblaxbox-live-arcadeMon, 27 Oct 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New achievements point to Marble Blast Ultra DLC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/new-achievements-point-to-marble-blast-ultra-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/new-achievements-point-to-marble-blast-ultra-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/new-achievements-point-to-marble-blast-ultra-dlc/#commentsFiled under:

If a recent update to the achievement list - discovered by Xbox 360 Achievements - for Marble Blast Ultra is to be believed, new content is heading to the popular XBLA title. One of the original Xbox Live Arcade titles to be released, Marble Blast Ultra is the high-definition remake of the popular marble rolling PC puzzler.

The information provided in the three added achievements, which toss another 50 possible gamerscore points int the game, point to new multiplayer maps. Marble Blast Ultra sits on our personal favorite XBLA titles ever and is currently listed as one of the few Arcade Hits and asks 400MS points.

JoystiqNew achievements point to Marble Blast Ultra DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementsmarble-blast-ultraxblaxbox-live-arcadeTue, 30 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not so special edition of Viva Pinata [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/21/not-so-special-edition-of-viva-pi-ata/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/21/not-so-special-edition-of-viva-pi-ata/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/21/not-so-special-edition-of-viva-pi-ata/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Not content with brainwashing our children with simple "standard" editions of the kid friendly Viva Piñata, Microsoft has made known their intentions to release a "special" edition of the title. What makes it special, you ask. You see beyond just the game, buyers of the special edition will receive playable demos of Lego Star Wars II, Frogger, Cloning Clyde, Time Pilot, and Marble Blast Ultra. That's right, they're bundling in demos that can be had for free on Xbox Live (with the exception of LSWII). Also included is a full length episode of the TV show (any drug dealer will tell you that the first taste is free).

No doubt, MS is including these easily obtainable extras for the benefit of kids and parents who have yet to grasp the complexities of Xbox Live and its Marketplace. For gamers like us that understand our console, the extras hardly seem like a value add. Still, we're sure that this will force many parents to learn how to use Live properly. There may be no better educational incentive than the pleading scream of a child: "It says I need Xbox Live! Make it work!" Even though the value of the demos is questionable, you can't argue with the $49.99 price tag. Hell, that would be a deal if it came with nothing.

Update: Fixed grammatical error -- two in one day. Jeez.

JoystiqNot so special edition of Viva Pinata [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloning clydeCloning-ClydeDemofroggerLego-Star-Wars-2Marble-Blast-UltraMarbleBlastUltraNinjaBeePlatformerTime-PilotViva-PinataWahoo-StudiosXBLAThu, 21 Sep 2006 18:00:00 EST