Bizarre just sent word that the Geometry Wars Retro Evolved 2 leaderboards are now live over on the official GeoWars website allowing you (or anyone else) to search for where a Gamertag's score ranks in the grand scheme of leaderboard life.
All six gametype leaderboards are searchable where you can also browse the all-time highest ranking scorers in the world. Viewing the record setting scores (1.6 billion in Pacifism, jeebuz!) is, of course, an extremely sobering realization that you really aren't that talented at Geometry Wars. That's why we've posted the record setting high scores after the break. Seeing such crazy high scores is sad, sort of depressing really. But we'll cover up our hurt and lack of confidence by playing the "at least I have a life" card.
When potential prices leaked from the official Xbox Japan blog, gamers feared the possibility of paying over $20 for Castle Crashers on the XBLA. While Microsoft strongly denied the controversial pricing of both Braid and Castle Crashers the former ended up releasing for the leaked price of 1200MS Points. Today, Xbox owners waiting for the sky to cave in on them when Castle Crashers was officially priced are breathing a sigh of relief.
On its official blog developer The Behemoth has confirmedthat Castle Crashers will ask 1200MS Points when it releases on Wednesday, August 27 -- rather than the rumored 1800MS Points. Arguably the most anticipated Arcade release this summer, Castle Crashers promises a classic single player and co-op beat-em-up experience wrapped in The Behemoth's classic art style. We're excited and for 1200MS Points we think the game has the potential to set the XBLA world on fire.
Note: Obviously, the time shown in the image of this post is off.
After reading yesterday's news regarding Flock developer Proper Games and what they think about the Xbox Live Arcade's current state, we've been on the look out for new sheepy Flock media. And wouldn't you know, some newish Flock gameplay was recently(ish) released. How odd! Watch the embedded video for XBLA game Flock and be in awe of its chain reaction-like physics, pretty water and fluffy fluffed sheep launching game mechanics. Knock those sheep around!
Coming straight from (SEGA) Saturn's rings and landing on the Xbox Live Arcade will be a remake of the old-school 2D tank shooter Death Tank. That is, if we can trust German's USK ratings board. A listing for the relatively simplistic Death Tank and its Worms-like gameplay recently popped up on the USK ratings website, listing Microsoft as its publisher and the XBLA as its platform of choice. So, technically, an official announcement has yet to be made by anyone, but we trust our German friends. After all, they did give the world sauerkraut. You gotta love 'em for that.
Update 2: All codes should be now working. Pub Games here, we come! Update:Major Nelson just informed us that the "codes should be working later today" and sends "apologies for the delays." Apology accepted ... this time.
Numerous reports from across the internets - including forums posts on Xbox.com, comments on Major Nelson's website and comments here on X3F - are telling us that the Fable 2 Pub Games free download promo codes aren't working like they should. We're hearing that the Pub Games redemption codes, which are obtained with a Fable 2 pre-order at participating retailers, are returning an "Invalid Code" error response when entered on Xbox Live. Sit tight, don't trash your promo codes just yet and be patient. We'll give you a Pub Games update when we learn more.
Continuing the sizzling HOT Summer of Arcade lineup, today sees the release of the fan favorite Bionic Commando: Rearmed and gambling addicts favorite Fable 2 Pub Games. We're sure you heard all about each game, so we'll spare you the fluffy details. But you should know each XBLA purchase will set you back 800 Microsoft points, unless you already pre-ordered Fable 2 at participating retailers, then you received the Pub Games for free. What are these participating retailers? Good question, and thanks to the NeoGAF forums, we've posted a list of Pub Games promotion retailers after the break. Now go and enjoy your Rearmed ... you crazy, crazy XBLA kids.
Anyone that has been gaming for a while knows that Mega Man is a tough series. Many of the original 8-bit entries in the series remain some of the toughest games around. Capcom looks to be honoring that legacy via the achievements in the upcoming XBLA release Mega Man 9, because these achievements are tough. At least they sound like they are. Among the achievements are feats such as completing the game five times in one day (Gamer's Day), clearing the game without dying (Invincible) and defeating every boss using only Mega Man's default weapon (Trusty Sidearm). Yow. Anyone out there who can land all twelve achievments gets our respect.
Proper Games, the team behind the upcoming sheep herding XBLA game Flock!, is none to happy about the Xbox Live Arcade's categorization or how it's organized. And even though they're in favor of delisting under-performing XBLA titles, they don't think it's the only answer to the problem.
"Flat-out delisting perhaps isn't the solution" Proper Games CEO Paddy Sinclair told Gamesindustry.biz, adding that "I'd also like to see a way of properly categorising games - what's the most-downloaded game at the moment? What's been most bought?" Sinclair then echoed their and many other developers' fears of being lost in the XBLA mix, admitting that Flock! "could just get lost in the morass of arcade conversions" with how the current system is setup. Hopefully, the massive Fall update and a newly re-structured XBLA will solve Proper Games' and our own problems we have with the XBLA. Do it for the sheep, Microsoft, do it for the sheep.
After nearing completion for over three months now, development on Isopod Labs' Vigilante 8 Arcade is now finished as they just confirmed the final game submission has been sent to Microsoft. Though, if the Microsoft certification crew finds issues, V8 will have to be submitted again. But we have faith the process will go smooth. Like butta!
Sadly, we still do not have a V8 Arcade release date, but we do know it will cost 800 Microsoft points, utilize DLC and come with PS1 vehicle unlocks. High fives all around for PS1 vehicle unlocks and all thirteen polygons each vehicle is comprised of.
Posted Aug 12th 2008 12:00PM by Dustin Burg Filed under: News
Curious to know exactly how all your gold gambling that begins this Wednesday, with the release of the Fable 2 Pub Games will reward your hero when Fable 2 releases? Good! Because Lionhead explained the entire process to Eurogamer and your inquisitive nature also shows us your commitment to both knowledge and the gambling craft. Okay, here's the Pub Games gold explanation:
When playing the Pub Games, you first choose a gambler. Proceed to gamble your heart out. Then, when you buy Fable 2come October, create a hero and wander about until you find a "Gamemaster" at a local tavern or out and about. Accept the Gamemaster's invite to play a game where you'll then be given the chance to merge your Fable 2 hero with your Pub Games gambler. POOF! Your hero will now have access to the gold your Pub Games' gambler accrued. You can even merge many gamblers (and their bank accounts) together into one gambler which can be merged with your Fable 2 hero. But be warned. Once a hero and a gambler have merged, there is no undo option or any going back. Commitment, nice!
Chatting with MTV Multiplayer, developers Stephen Cakebread and Craig Howard from Bizarre Creations discussed everything Geometry Wars Retro Evolved 2, from their design decisions all the way through the little 3D debug view that was left in the game. But most interesting is Bizarre's commitment to Geometry Wars in the future, telling MTV Multiplayer that "Geometry Wars is definitely a franchise," and that "we have enough game ideas to do Geometry Wars for probably about 10 games. It depends on what will work." Currently, there's a small team at Bizarre actively working on future Geometry iterations, but specifics regarding what games and on which platforms is very hush-hush. We say, crank out the GeoWars! We want at least ten more games. All exclusive to the 360.
Crunchtime Games has informed us that their upcoming space shooter Shred Nebula will hit Xbox Live Arcade on September 3. Shred Nebula ditches the now ubiquitous twin-stick shooter design in favor of more traditional flight combat controls. Utilizing thrust-based flying and aiming akin to Asteroids and the classic PC title SubSpace, we're hoping for some epic dogfights. With two single player modes and eight person multiplayer matches that CrunchTime head James Goddard equated with character match-ups in the Street Fighterseries, Shred Nebula at least represents something different. On XBLA that's definitely not a bad thing.
After only a few days on the market, the time bending platform puzzler Braid has been tearing up the critical charts. According to the official Braid blog, the game is now the highest rated Xbox Live Arcade game yet released. It currently holds a 92 average on Metacritic and 93 on Game Rankings. According to Metacritic, Braid is in fact the tenth highest rated Xbox 360 game. The game edges out Mass Effect and is currently tied with Guitar Hero II and Rock Band. With one more percentage point Braid would become the eight highest rated 360 title.
Additionally, the official Braid blog reports that the VGChartz estimate that the game has sold about 28.5 thousand units "seems to be in the right neighborhood" but adds that "a lot more" will be needed before the game becomes profitable.
Mr. James Silva updated his The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai developer blog a bit ago (yeah, it has been a week, sue us!) and has revealed all the game modes that are going to be included in the game. Confirmed for inclusion in Dishwasher are game modes Dish Challenge (a wave after wave, kill, kill, kill type mode), Story Mode and Arcade. And Arcade is rather interesting, featuring various challenges comprised of different modes including Insta Kill, Vampire and the slow motion Bullet Time. Make your way over to the dev blog to read all the game mode details.
Also, for whatever reason, we didn't actually acknowledge the fact that The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai is confirmed to sport three player online story mode co-op! Huzzah! That's like, one more player than we expected. Thanks for that Silva.
Available for 800 Microsoft points, Bionic Commando: Rearmed is a remake of the 80's classic 2D side-scroller Bionic Commando, but now with updated graphics, Live multiplayer support, co-op play and fifty different swinging levels. Rearmed will also sports cross-game unlocks, where achievements earned in Rearmed will unlock goodies in the retail version of Bionic Commando. The other XBLA treat we're receiving this week are the three Fable 2 Pub Games that can be obtained for free as part of the Fable 2 pre-order promotion or can be purchased separately for 800 MS points. Comprised of Keystone, Fortune's Tower and Spinner Box, these gambling games will let you earn gold that can be used in Fable 2. Happy gaming!
Continuing the sizzling HOT 
