After a bit of a coding rest it's time for me to get the ball rolling on the next big project. This project encompasses tweaking the games database so that downloadable games can be added to the database. It seems as though digital distribution is going to be the future, and we want to continue to be the classic and modern video games database. In that sense, onward ho!
So, while we know that this is going to be the next project, we want your input regarding how you think we should actually do it. We want to do this tweak right, and I want to make sure that the tweaks are things that you all agree with. To accomplish this, I have created a forum thread regarding crafting the architecture for this project. We need your help! With your input, we can ensure that this project turns out great.
Downloadable Games Architecture
 Starting on Decmember 4th with the fall update, you will be able to purchase and download games from the original Xbox from the Xbox Live Marketplace. Among the first games offered for download are Fable, Indigo Prophecy (the best of the initial offerings, in my honest opinion), Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex, Burnout 3, and some other TOTALLY OBVIOUS game which need not be mentioned here. These six games will run you 1200 MS Points (that's $15 in real money), and obviously will not work on the Core/Arcade model unless you have a hard drive added in.
I think that while it's nice that they are adding downloadable games from the original Xbox, I think that $15 is too much to pay for them, especially when you can go to Gamestop or the local pawn shop and get those games for a much lower price than $15. Seems kind of a waste if you can get the game cheaper and can get the physical media and manual as an added bonus. In addition, these games will probably be up to 7GB in size, which means you won't be able to store very many on a 20GB system. So that means you'll have to take the Nintendo-recommended approach and delete games from your hard drive that you aren't using.
It should also be noted that all of the games up for download are currently backwards compatible with the 360. Why sell them for $15 then? Probably so MS can try and capture some money from the sale of secondhand games is my guess. However, I am happy they are doing this because it will be nice to have a catalog of the original Xbox games up for download when they become harder to find.
Source: EuroGamer
 According to 1up, it was revealed at Microsoft's XNA GameFest 2007 that the company plans to bring Xbox Live Arcade to Windows as part of its Games For Windows Live initiative. That's right, now you'll be able to play Uno on your PC...or wait a minute...you already can. Or, what about Geometry Wars on Windows? Well, there's Grid Wars (I'm not linking to a download site because MS did a cease and desist on the creators. If you want it, Google it), or you can get the real Geometry Wars on Steam.
Despite all my sarcasm in the last paragraph, I think this is a good idea for Microsoft, if they actually do it right. By that I mean Microsoft should allow you to play games on your PC that you have already bought on your Xbox and vice versa so that you aren't stuck buying the same game twice. That would be a great move for current Live subscribers. However, I do think XBLA on Windows may not be a good idea because people who don't have an Xbox Live subscription because there's already a great service that does what XBLA would do, GameTap. But still, props to Microsoft for not forgetting the PC gaming market.
This is the first installment in a new series here at RF Generation informing you of the latest downloadable games for Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3, and Xbox 360. I will post these every Sunday or Monday. For the first edition of this article, I'm just going to post North American releases. If you would like to see this expanded, let me know
NINTENDO WII VIRTUAL CONSOLE
  
PLAYSTATION STORE
  
XBOX LIVE ARCADE
 
My pick of the week is Band of Bugs for XBLA. Know why? Simple. Turn based strategy involving bugs. Sounds really fun. It's been well received so far. It scored an 8 out of 10 in the Official Xbox Magazine, and was a finalist in the 2007 Independent Games Festival. I do not have a 360, so I cannot play it.
Until next time, happy downloading!
UPDATE: There was some stuff released for the Playstation Store this week! It's been added to this article.
|
|
