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Poll Results: Poker best, Shrek worst of XBLA chopping block titles

by Ross Miller { Jun 6th 2008 at 5:45PM }

Over the last few days, we asked you to pick the best and worst of the Xbox Live Arcade titles that are potentially up for delisting. We've now tallied the votes and the results are in:

Best:

Texas Hold 'Em (12.77%)
Marathon: Durandal (12.48%)
Contra (9.18%)

Worst:

You can view our picks for best and worst here. We want to make a special note regarding the Yaris game, which was not included because it would pass the delist hurdle of over 6% conversion rate (hint: it had no demo and was free; the devil is in the details). We don't know if Microsoft will be that stringent regarding its guidelines, but there is poetic justice in noting that the developer, comprised of former Blizzard North staffers, suspended operations in April.

Frozen Codebase, Vicious Engine liplock over Elements of Destruction

by Jason Dobson { Apr 8th 2008 at 4:30PM }

The bottle no longer spinning, its narrow mouth points squarely at Vicious Cycle as the company's middleware solution is taken in hand by developer Frozen Codebase to the closet for a little lovin'. The Green Bay, Wisconsin-based studio selected Vicious Cycle's increasingly popular (not to mention educational) Vicious Engine to power its upcoming XBLA title Elements of Destruction.

As the title suggests, Elements of Destruction will focus heavily on blowin' stuff up using "spectacularly destructive powers of nature." The game follows last year's Screwjumper and marks the second XBLA release from the studio, which was founded by industry veteran Ben Geisler and is staffed by vets from such companies as Raven Software, Radical Entertainment, and GarageGames. As with Screwjumper, Elements of Destruction will be released by THQ -- as soon as they can get that closet door open.

This Wednesday: Shrek 'n Roll 'n Screwjumper 'ngage XBLA

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Nov 12th 2007 at 1:25PM }

As noted last week, this Wednesday's Xbox Live Arcade release is dodgy freefaller Screwjumper, an action game that has you plummeting down a deep, dark hole whilst avoiding slamming headfirst into harmful substances. For 800 MS Points ($10), it's the closest you'll get to experiencing Britney Spears' current career. The folks at Microsoft are also keen to highlight the fact that Screwjumper is XBLA's 100th release since the download service's inception approximately 2 years ago.

Less likely to be remembered is release #99, Shrek N Roll, which promises to test "your tilting and rolling skills," along with your tolerance of the blockbuster trilogy's cast. This puzzling Shrek tie-in will set you back 800 MS Points ($10).

Shrek-N-Roll and Screwjumper! advance to XBLA

by Dustin Burg { Nov 12th 2007 at 12:30PM }

Arriving in our inbox not a few minutes ago was news that both Shrek-N-Roll and Screwjumper! are headed to the Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday.

First up, we've got Shrek-N-Roll which looks to be a simple puzzle adventure game where for 800 Microsoft points, you'll roll Shrek characters through various mazes and mayhem. But the lack of any online support other than leaderboards makes us raise our brow in disgust. The other XBLA game Screwjumper! will also cost 800 Microsoft points and is all about free-falling, destruction, alien-killing and explosive fun. Screwjumper! also includes Xbox Live functionality (take that Shrek!) and has the distinguished honor of being the 100th Arcade game to release to the XBLA. Sound the trumpets and bring out the cake! We love cake.

Screwjumper smashes XBLA November 14th

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 7th 2007 at 5:15PM }

Hot on the heels of THQ revealing more info about its upcoming Xbox Live Arcade onslaught, it has been revealed that Screwjumper will be hitting the service on November 14. Along with the announcement comes the above trailer, which shows us the first gameplay footage. Developed by Frozen Codebase, the game centers around free falling down a mineshaft, plunging through and destroying as much equipment as possible as you do so. The game employs some sort of chain system, so we're guessing it's best to destroy many things in quick succession. Whatever, we say, as long as we're causing mass destruction, we're cool.

Screwjumper descends onto XBLA Nov. 14

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 7th 2007 at 2:55PM }

Screwjumper, part of THQ's Xbox Live Arcade lineup which caught us off guard a couple weeks ago, is ready to drop onto XBLA November 14. As you can see from the video above, Screwjumper gameplay involves dropping down a giant mineshaft, defusing bombs and racking up bonuses along the way. The single player mode features four different selectable characters and 20 levels. There's also a two-player offline multiplayer mode and support for four players across Xbox Live.

The game was created by Frozen Codebase, an indie studio in lovely Green Bay, Wisconsin, made up of designers and artists from companies you've definitely heard of. Frozen Codebase is currently working on another announced XBLA game called Elements of Destruction, also being published by THQ.

New info rolls in on THQ XBLA games

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 6th 2007 at 5:30PM }

Our friends over at XBLArcade have uncovered quite a bit of info on the upcoming THQ Xbox Live Arcade games that were announced last month. We're perhaps most intrigued by Elements of Destruction, in which players take control over the forces of nature to wreak havoc on the denizens of earth (as a resident of tornado country, we're curious to see how well this goes over around here ...). The graphics look fairly impressive for an XBLA game, and the promise of controlling tornadoes, lightning, and fire is very interesting.

The other games covered include SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam, ScrewJumper, and Rocket Riot. SpongeBob sounds like what you would expect: a side-scrolling platformer with lots of stuff to collect. ScrewJumper has players falling down a mineshaft, attempting to destroy equipment as they go, and finally rocketing back out to safety. Rocket Riot is a shooter with an 8-bit feel to it and the ever popular addition of a main character with a jetpack.

Hit the "read" link for more details and screenshots.

SpongeBob leads THQ Live Arcade lineup

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 24th 2007 at 6:00PM }

THQ has announced that it plans to bring 4 original titles to Xbox Live Arcade. The foremost titles is undoubtedly SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam!, which you may recall was mentioned as part of Microsoft's new family initiative. Three other titles are planned, Screwjumper, Elements of Destruction, and Rocket Riot. Currently, Screwjumper is the only title that has been detailed by THQ. The game is about "destroying mining equipment in a freefall environment," which is apparently what Screwjumpers do. Not only that, but there are enough Screwjumpers that they've formed their own union, the foreman of which is a playable character. Yeah, we're confused as well, but it's got online and local multiplayer, which is always a plus, right?

Screwjumper and SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam! should hit XBLA this November.

[Via Joystiq]