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Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond dated for Jan. 6

by Richard Mitchell { Dec 1st 2009 at 3:00AM }

D3Publisher's Matt Hazard: Blood Bath & Beyond now has a date with both Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network. It will arrive on January 6 and 7 on Microsoft and Sony's platforms, respectively. Playing on the same camp featured in the original retail Matt Hazard game -- which parodied other games and featured an aging video game star -- Blood Bath & Beyond is a 2D shooter in the same vein as many classics like Contra and Bionic Commando.

Alongside the release date, D3 has also revealed Dexter Dare, Matt Hazard's burnt out sidekick with a sordid history -- including a prolonged "Mana abuse problem" that we're probably supposed to find hilarious. Check out some new screens and Dexter Dare character art in the gallery below.

Gallery: Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond (11/30/09)

Reminder: Sonic 2 is Xbox Live Deal of the Week

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 30th 2009 at 1:30PM }

Hey, remember when we reported that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was slated to be the Xbox Live Deal of the Week for the week of November 30? Well, guess what? It is the week of November 30! Sure enough, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 can now be downloaded for a mere 240

; otherwise known as three dollars. That's two bucks off, making It a pretty good deal, especially if you conveniently forget how many times you've purchased the game over the years.

Barring that, you can always shamefully push the purchase button anyway.

Shortcut: Add Sonic the Hedgehog 2 to your 360 download queue

[Via Major Nelson]

This Wednesday: Call of Duty Classic storms Xbox Live

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 30th 2009 at 1:20PM }

According to one AceyBongos -- think of him as Europe's Major Nelson -- this week's Xbox Live Arcade game will be none other than Call of Duty Classic. Those who picked up the Hardened or Prestige editions of Modern Warfare 2 have already had the joy of ignoring their packed-in copy of the game, and now the whole world can ignore it! If, by some bizarre chance, you're just not into all this newfangled, modern warfare, Call of Duty Classic will set you back 1200

($15).

Again though, this message really only applies to the five people that aren't playing Modern Warfare 2.

[Thanks, DarkSynopsis]

Lucidity update adds checkpoints to address difficulty concerns

by Justin McElroy { Nov 27th 2009 at 12:00PM }

Writing in a recent Workshop blog post, LucasArts responded to complaints that its XBLA and PC puzzle-platformer, Lucidity, can be "particularly punishing." A new update, which adds checkpoints in an effort , has been launched on PC and is set to via an update set to arrive on Xbox Live within the coming weeks. "We feel that there is so much great content in Lucidity that we want to open it up and make it more accessible for people to experience."

Listen, LucasArts, we respect what you're doing here, we do. But please, for all our sakes, be careful. Listening to the internet is a slippery slope, one that ends in everyone hurling dung and racial epithets at each other. And if you don't agree with that, you're a Nazi.

Puzzle Quest sequel revealed

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 26th 2009 at 2:00PM }

It appears that GamePro will reveal the first details of Puzzle Quest 2 in its next issue. Beyond a single image, the mag doesn't drop any details on its website. After Infinite Interactive went a tad off course with Galactrix -- meanwhile, developing Puzzle Kingdoms, Puzzle Chronicles and Neopets Puzzle Adventure -- it's good to see the team going back to its roots.

From the image, it seems that Puzzle Quest 2 is being developed for Xbox 360, but if it's anything like its predecessor, the game will eventually release on every console, handheld and electronic device known to man. One can also deduce that purple is now a rune for spells instead of XP. But what purpose do the gloves serve? We're sure to learn more very soon.

X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Madden NFL Arcade

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 25th 2009 at 4:20PM }

It would appear that Microsoft and Electronic Arts are onto our annual turkey-eating, football-watching ritual, as Madden NFL Arcade has landed on Xbox Live Arcade just in time for Thanksgiving. If you've been looking for a faster, simpler game of football, Madden NFL Arcade just might be the thing for you. Assuming you can stomach the 1200

($15) price tag, of course. Watch the latest episode of XBLA in Brief to see what the game is all about.

Download the trial version of Madden NFL Arcade

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The time-lapse evolution of a Castle Crashers boss

by Randy Nelson { Nov 24th 2009 at 8:15PM }

The Behemoth, purveyor of fine classic-style action games with lovely high-res 2D artwork, has posted a nice time-lapse video on its developer blog showcasing the evolution of one of its Castle Crashers boss characters. In it, we get to see The Painter come a long way from his meager palette-sporting beginnings to the giant roller-wielding, toolbox-for-a-head monster we've come to know and despise.

It's not often that we get a glimpse at this aspect of the development process -- perhaps because a time-lapse video of an artist creating the 3D model for, say, the Joker from Batman: Arkham Asylum would be the length of most theatrical releases. The Behemoth's video, after the break, is thankfully only seven-and-a-half minutes long.

Continued →

This Wednesday: XBLA takes Madden NFL Arcade to the end zone

by Justin McElroy { Nov 23rd 2009 at 2:45PM }

Just in case you've taken a few exceptionally hard tackles in the past couple of weeks, we thought we'd remind you that this week's XBLA release is Madden NFL Arcade, a five-on-five, backyard-rules take on EA Sports' darling. You'll be able to pick the game up just in time for your Thanksgiving celebrations for 1200

($15).

Editor's Note: Thank you to reader TuchdwnMan449 for reminding us that it's called the "end zone" and not "the scoring rectangle thing" as our headline originally read. We pledge to improve our understanding of sports before writing future football posts.

Gallery: Madden NFL Arcade

Reminder: Fable II DLC, Peggle, Death Tank on the cheap this week

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 23rd 2009 at 1:15PM }

Here's a little reminder that there are three, count 'em three, Xbox Live Deals of the Week this week, just in time for Thanksgiving. Up for grabs are the Fable II "See the Future" DLC, Peggle and Death Tank. Peggle is now half price at 400

, "See the Future" drops from 560

($7) to 400

($5), while Death Tank takes a precipitous tumble from 1200

($15) to 800

($10).

We'll also take this time to remind everyone that this week is the perfect time to snag both Peggle and the recently released Peggle Nights expansion all for 800

($10). Trust us, Peggle is the perfect thing to calm the inevitable family arguments over the holidays. Just don't let grandma anywhere near it, because she will not give it back.

Add See the Future to your 360 download queue
Add Death Tank to your 360 download queue
Add Peggle to your 360 download queue

Worms 2 gets patched up on XBLA

by Ben Gilbert { Nov 20th 2009 at 3:45PM }

We've all felt the pain of pressing the jump button a second time just barely too late in a game of Worms 2, sending a brave worm soldier free falling off the side of a mountain or, worse yet, into the watery depths below. Recognizing that the game might have some issues – and rather than simply calling us "newbs" like most people do – Worms 2 developers Team17 have just released a patch aimed at ailing all that is wrong with the adorable multiplayer strategy games.

Listing everything from "Back flip input slowed down to stop incorrect jumps harming the player" to "Fixed bug which made crates in Forts matches only land on the right hand side," as well as a slurry of other fixes, Team17 seems to have given the nearly five-month-old release a full overhaul. An overhaul that'll perhaps feel all the more worthwhile when the developers make good on next year's DLC for the game. In the meantime, we'll be over here waiting for you with a Buffalo of Lies.

[Via CVG]

Microsoft lists more jobs for Project Natal, 343 Industries; hiring Shadow Complex, Gears of War franchises lead

by David Hinkle { Nov 19th 2009 at 5:20PM }

With Shadow Complex setting very specific week-one sales records on XBLA, Epic and Chair would be kind of nuts to not consider a sequel. One job listing out of a recent crop on Microsoft's employment boards seems to out that likely scenario, implying that Shadow Complex is a bona fide franchise for Microsoft Game Studios and Epic. Said listing specifically calls for a Lead Producer to "lead the publishing side of games made by Epic: Gears of War and Shadow Complex."

Additionally, Microsoft appears to be looking for more able bodies to join its growing pool of Project Natal and 343 Industries employees. Existing job listings call for everything from designers to engineers to even a few artists. Sadly, the company isn't looking for MJOLNIR armor models yet, but just in case, Microsoft, you know how to reach us.

[Via Develop]

Sonic 2 soon to be Xbox Live Deal of the Week

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 19th 2009 at 3:45PM }

According to Sega, the XBLA version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will soon become an Xbox Live Deal of the Week. The deal is scheduled to begin November 30 -- just in time for the holidays -- and will see the game's price drop from 400

($5) to just 240

($3). That's an absolute pittance for one of the best Sonic games out there, and with Project Needlemouse still a long way out, you'd be hard-pressed to do much better (seriously).

X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Diner Dash, Gyromancer

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 18th 2009 at 6:45PM }

This week brings two casual games to Xbox Live Arcade. For puzzle fans, we have Gyromancer (1200

, $15), an RPG take on PopCap's Bejeweled Twist. For those who prefer something a little more manic, there's Diner Dash (800

, $10), which tasks players with running a restaurant and keeping customers happy. If you've ever dealt with real customers before, you'll know that keeping them happy is harder than it sounds.

See both games in the latest episode of XBLA in Brief.

Download the trial version of Diner Dash
Download the trial version of Gyromancer

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Xbox Live Top 10: People apparently played CoD4, World at War

by David Hinkle { Nov 18th 2009 at 10:30AM }

Seriously, guys? Everyone on the planet runs out and buys Modern Warfare 2 and you're still playing Call of Duty 4 and World at War? We can understand you folks who chose to play Halo 3 -- the whole Modern Warfare 2 experience may not be your idea of a good time -- but Major Nelson's Xbox Live activity chart for the week of November 9 simply vexes us.

In less puzzling news, the XBLA activity is along the lines of something we're used to seeing. Trials HD remains atop the list, followed by Castle Crashers and South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play. Konami's Zombie Apocalypse also managed to survive the gauntlet and make its way onto the list and, combined with the recent release of Left 4 Dead 2, we feel mankind is finally starting to reach acceptable levels of preparation for the inevitable future of a world plagued by the undead.

Modern Warfare 2 headshots XBLA activity

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 17th 2009 at 12:45PM }

Okay, so headshot might be too strong a word here, but Modern Warfare 2 has certainly wounded Xbox Live Arcade activity, as GamerBytes reports that top Arcade titles have seen a massive reduction in leaderboard activity since the release of Infinity Ward's latest blockbuster. Specifically, Trials HD -- long the reigning XBLA champion -- saw its leaderboard numbers drop from 14,890 players on the week of November 2 to 8,942 the week of November 9, about a 40 percent loss. Meanwhile, other titles including South Park, Zombie Apocalypse and Tower Bloxx Deluxe saw their leaderboards almost halved. Castle Crashers, curiously, only saw its numbers drop from 8,395 players to 6,034, a reduction of only 28 percent.

Still, it's pretty clear that Modern Warfare 2 has pulled a lot of gamers away from the more casual fare on XBLA. Either that, or lots of hardcore Call of Duty fans unceremoniously yanked the controllers from their more casually-oriented significant others.