Is XBLA Microsoft’s Saviour In 2011?

On the horizon are some stunning looking titles for LIVE, and TheSixthAxis takes a look at the ones that have caught their eye.

[MariaHelFutura]

LOL.

That`s just funny, from alot of perspectives.

[deadreckoning666]

What exactly is XBLA saving Microsoft from? And how would downloadable Xbox Arcade games "save" Microsoft, which is a corporation?

@thebudgetgamer- Yeah, like the "saving" I need from the 8 eyed white dinosaur monster under my bed lol.

[thebudgetgamer]

even if it does not exist.

[Ducky]

^ Nothing saves better than a memmory card.

[nycredude]

Maybe MS needs Martin Brodeur..

[PS3 Supremacy]

^^

Marty Brodeur? With the horrid year him, Koval$uck, and the Devils are having? HA!

[DualConsoleOwner]

wont save them from lack of exclusives

[AAACE5]

MS has been slowly easing us into the idea of download only games! Retail games are coming out on Games on Demand a lot sooner than they used to and will continue until they are released at the same time as retail versions. The quality of XBLA games has come a long way in the past several years and will only get better as time goes on.

As sneaky as MS are, I wouldn't doubt them to try something like releasing a download only version of FFXIII Versus in an effort to prevent gamers from complaining about quality loss. Yeah, it would take forever to download, but it would be the full game. If MS announces a 500 Gb HDD, expect a lot of their big games like Forza 4 to be released as a download.

The more I think about it, I wouldn't mind downloading high quality games on either console. But the average games should get a retail copy so you can sell it once you're done with it!

One Arcade game I am still looking forward to is Breach! Looks like it has lots of potential!

[ManGastaS]

One thing I learned in this generation, games are not enough to save one console from another, if this were the case the Wii would be dead a long time!

One thing I am seeing happen in this generation is that Xbox 360 is going to a place where the Wii and PS3 are not going to go that thanks to Kinect.

Will not be long until people understand only the 360 can offer experience that other consoles can not and that is what Microsoft wants more. People like things they do not understand.
Microsoft already released the Xbox 720 Beta without their opponents realizing that!!!

[DualConsoleOwner]

except that Final Fantasy 13 versus is PS3 exclusive....

@Mangansta

open YOUR eyes. fanboy. a lot of gamers own gaming console for games.

only fanboys like you care about sales which is useless without games.

btw, according to you, Xbox is new wii.. full of shovel ware and lacking hardcore games.

[Kon]

I failed to see how this is funny.

[MAG_SVER]

You know what is even more funnier, you FA!L at EVERYTHING...lol

[Kon]

@MAG_SVER Congratulations.

[darthv72]

still one of THE BEST shmups of the 20th century.

[Gen0ne]

That's messed up, I was just talking to my friend moments ago about that game. But, Einhander, takes the crown methinks.

[Godmars290]

Even when talking about XBLA, they have to mention multiplatform titles.

What irks though are Bang-O and Silvergun which should also be on the PS3 as well, since they're older games, yet MS went to the effort to secure them as exclusives.

[darthv72]

super stardust is not a new game and yet it is a ps3 exclusive.

Just to keep it fair, you cant complain about one without complaining about the other.

[Godmars290]

Super Stardust *HD* is several computer generations removed from its Amiga parent. With Sony publishing it whereas Bang-O and Silver are still owned by Treasure. Their graphics not really changed and only upscaled where demanded.

Besides, no one was looking for Stardust when it came to the PS3 where its remade its name. The opposite is true of Radiant Silvergun, which almost costs as much as a 360 on ebay.

[Convas]

Well, one thing is for sure, MS has been doing a superb job with XBLA. I will give them that.

As a matter of fact ... I would say that it seems that they've figured that they don't have much First Party Studios, so they decided to throw themselves all the way behind XBLA.

Hmmm ...

[Deathstroke]

More like "Can XBLA save the 360?"

Obvious answer being "No".

[BrutallyBlunt]

@Deathstroke
"This is the closest that 360/Kinect owners will get to touching a girl."

That was a recent comment of yours. Normally i would say something in return but after giving it some thought is it really worth it?

I think the media is much to blame for the conduct in forums. Just look at the head title "Microsoft's Saviour in 2011". It's an obvious attempt at getting ones attention and it does.

When you look at stories and the responses to each story you start to see a defining pattern. Look at how many responded to the 2nd Little Big Planet getting a 7.5 from Destructoid. The same would happen with Halo Reach. In fact I bet more so than if the next Zelda got a 7.5. Why? It is because the media has emphasized this console war between the XBOX360 and the PS3. They are so similar in markets and game libraries that any differences between the two get magnified.

Which means if it is a light year for 'core' games on the XBOX360 it is much more noticeable than the lackluster line-up on the Wii for example. Plus with Kinect getting so much attention it seems like nobody wants to hear about it or cares about it. So those games become exempt and i'm sure the XBOX360 haters will want to downplay the importance of Kinect any chance they get as well.

It's a vicious circle with the most important thing being lost along the way of why we even play video games, having fun.

http://forums.n4g.com/defau...

Plus you add the fact N4G supports more Playstation 3 owners within the forums and you get a good sense of how unbalanced things soon become. I am a Playstation 3 owner but i am appalled at the nature of some members comments. But as i say, i don't really blame them, i blame articles like these.

The XBOX360 is over 5 years old now. Microsoft has come a long ways yet some act like they haven't improved and wish they would just go away. Why? Why has the anonymity of fellow members given such bravery with a keyboard? Oh that's right, the media creates the spark and we turn to flames.

Update
I notice i already have 2 disagrees but no comments that follow. This just goes to show the nature of the beast i so explained. Anonymity is like Kryponite to some. So stay green with envy, that's ok.

[punkpop101]

It can't.Since the 360 doesn't need saving.

[ChronoJoe]

It's funny because

a) half these games are crap
b) half these games are niche
c) half these games are multiplatform
d) most these games are produced in pursuit of a market they can't possibly acquire (Japan)

I love XBLA, it's great. Better than PSN by a long shot, but I don't think that'll be making a difference to consumers. I actually still don't think the majority give much thought about DD games when they purchase consoles.

[thebudgetgamer]

i've bought more arcade games than disk games.

[dgroundwater]

So many interesting titles that never get put to discs anymore. This list alone proves that. And when they go on sale you feel even better.

Indie games can be hit and miss. But if you check reviews of whats good/popular the XBLA indie market can be worth months of quality gaming.

[thebudgetgamer]

my favorite indy game has to be i made a game with zombies in it.

edit: i downloaded a demo of that game were you photo models walking around and i find it very addicting for some perverted reason.

[Shok]

You're gonna need more than downloadable games M$.......sorry.

Get some retail games please.

[KeiserSosay4788]

^^you're an idiot Shok, don't be tarded. It's not very hard.

[Convas]

What, how? What's wrong with asking for more retail games? Games like Gears of War 3, Forza Motorsports 4, or Codename: Kingdoms.

Excuse us for wanting more from the Xbox 360.

[nycredude]

Care to elaborate on your totally mature response?

Nothing like N4G... SOmeone calling someone else an idiot with an idiotic comment of their own. Xbox in 2011. Kinect and Xbox live games is the future of gaming!

[BlackBusterCritic]

Poor Microsoft. They have so much money flowing into their corporation but so little games flowing out of it. I have literally seen 360 fanboys claim that XBox360 won 2010...and list shit tons of downloadable games that are multiplatform and fucking DLC. Its desperation at its finest. Microsoft, give your gamers some REAL exclusive retail titles, instead of hyping up the same games(Gears, COD, Halo) each year.
But alas, Kinect is where all of the 360's exclusive titles will be at, so buy your Kinect sensors!

[Kon]

MS must have done something very bad with your family, looks like you hate them to death. Just look at your comment history!

[BlackBusterCritic]

Uhhhh, HELL YEAH they've done very bad things to my family. They released Windows ME and Vista didn't they? XD But what's worse, they sold me a product scheduled to fail, and are abandoning their core audience.

[poopface1]

I loved the first one.

[Boody-Bandit]

I don't purchase a lot of XBLA games but Shadow Complex was one of my favorites that I did. That was money well spent.

[Create]

Are you guys so stupid that none of you realized savior was spelled wrong?

Im not a grammer natzi but i mean fucking come on.

[gcolley]

Unless you are not from the US then it is correct. we also spell realised with an S.

AND we spell NAZI without a T

when you pick on spelling you had better spell check your own post. well done there

[EliteDave93]

Kinect is whats going to save the 360 in 2011.

[prettyboy1]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!OH WAIT......UR SERIOUS?