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Marble Blast Ultra flicked onto 360s

Rolling spheres now bashing each other on 360s; Xbox Live Arcade game costs 800 Marketplace points, demo gratis. Annapolis trailer also flying high.

Steady-handed gamers with a penchant for physics got a treat today, as Marble Blast Ultra finally rolled onto the Xbox Live Marketplace. The game, from developer GarageGames, can now be downloaded onto Xbox 360s for 800 Marketplace points ($10), or its demo can be given a test run for free.

In the game, players control a near-friction-free sphere as it rolls through out-of-this-world levels, carefully navigating catwalks or clearing chasms. Multiplayer mode sees gamers competing against each other, using their own marbles as wrecking balls in attempts to knock opponents off platforms and into a deadly freefall.

Also swooping down on Xbox Live is the trailer for Annapolis, says Xbox Live's director of programming, Larry Hryb, aka Major Nelson. The military movie stars James Franco (Freaks and Geeks, Spider-Man) and Tyrese Gibson (MTV Jams, 2 Fast 2 Furious) as recruits at the famous Naval academy. Not everyone will get the chance to see the drama unfold, however. On his blog, the major warns that the trailer may not be available in all regions.

41 Comments

  • Rossdaboss777

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 1:10 pm GMT

    Full Auto is out to now!!

  • Khimarhi

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 12:48 pm GMT

    finally get to try this game out. . . . sweeet

  • Shtinky

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 12:27 pm GMT

    I found it rather boring, monkey bal is more fun.

  • LunarDuality

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 12:26 pm GMT

    Anyone else love the fact that the most difficult level (Level 60) is titled "Schadenfreude"?!?

  • 619Style

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 12:08 pm GMT

    THis is so much fun i bought the full game already

  • HarpuaScorpio

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 12:06 pm GMT

    Downloaded it last night, stayed up WAY too long playing it. It's the ultimate mixture of Super Monkey Ball and Marble Madness, in other words completely awesome!

  • StreetPreacher1

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 11:49 am GMT

    Marble Madness on NES? I remember playing it in 16 colour (EGA) on my old IBM 386! Nice to see people still enjoy this game

  • LordOfMidnight

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 11:38 am GMT

    Reminds me of the old C64 game "Marble Madness" from the 80's!

  • sydbolton

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 11:06 am GMT

    Everybody keeps talking about Marble Madness on the NES--- Marble Madness originated as an arcade game from Atari...the true home version that was a gem was the Amiga version released by Electronic Arts--it was almost a perfect port! The NES version (although fun) was pretty poor compared to some of the others. Did you know that there was a sequel that was never released?

  • Redstorm

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 10:23 am GMT

    I downloaded the demo and played the single player levels and played online for about 30 minutes. I've got to say this game is a lot of fun, both single player and online. I got the hang of the online mode within a few minutes and got second play. Will probably end up buying the full game.

  • Atarii

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 9:23 am GMT

    Free downloads are sweet.... but I'll try the demo and see if I like it before I buy it (obviously).

  • daveg1

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 8:34 am GMT

    that marble blast is great!!

  • terrabreak13

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 8:27 am GMT

    chrisdojo said "market place points? how dumb is that. why don't they just say it costs $10????". If they showed us things with Dollar $$$ signs we wouldn't purchase even if it's $2. It's actually a brilliant idea. It pretty much gives us the illusion that we are not spending money. Who is going to pull out their calculator and convert everything? I'm really waiting for Poker and SFII turbo but I will try the demo.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 6:35 am GMT

    market place points? how dumb is that. why don't they just say it costs $10????

  • Frozone6

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 6:23 am GMT

    'm telling you guys this is the future. In the future you won't have to buy game in the store, wou will just download it on xboxlive arcade( That is if they bring a BIG enough hard disk in the future) Very good strategi move of MS to bring out XBLA

  • Drachman

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 5:59 am GMT

    YAY! I love this game!

  • Donkeljohn

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 5:50 am GMT

    XBOX Live is really turning into a dynomite showcase for games and other media.

  • Kud-Dukan

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 4:22 am GMT

    Poker is going to be a free download for everyone, so looks like, even then, you wouldn't have bought one lol!

  • fatam

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 3:10 am GMT

    I'll buy an arcade game when poker comes out for it.

  • mikekare79

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 2:19 am GMT

    I love it, games on demand. This is the future people.

  • TranMan409

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 12:36 am GMT

    its a blast online with the 7 minute trial. Just bought the game and it was worth it

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 12:14 am GMT

    I don't have a 360 to try it

  • ArchieGates

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 11:50 pm GMT

    Indeed, it's a very fun little game. Another great addition to XBL Arcade.

  • 4esth

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 11:27 pm GMT

    It's actually REALLY addicting to find the little tricks to get high scores. I ranked #2 on the first level, but I was bumped down to #3 in a matter of minutes. I recommend getting the whole game as its so cheap. Full Auto is also a blast, at least the demo is anyway.

  • samekila

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 10:39 pm GMT

    played the demo thought it was very fun but dont ! hate marble madness was fun to me also definitely will buy this game

  • NinjaRK

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 10:32 pm GMT

    This is like Marble Madness (for NES), only Evolved!
    Very addicting and enjoyable gameplay.

    There is both a Trial and an 800-micropoint(?) ($10.00) full version.

  • dru26

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 10:22 pm GMT

    This game is sooo damm badass, I had given up looking for it.

  • dru26

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 9:41 pm GMT

    I was just online and didn't see it. Going back to look again.

  • killa-k

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 9:40 pm GMT

    a classic has come back HOME!!!!

  • coreyb42

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 8:35 pm GMT

    Ok, I'm glad SOMEONE remembers Marble Madness besides me. One of the greatest game on original NES.

  • andrewtyen

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 8:00 pm GMT

    it sounds interesting

  • ryanjtravis

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 7:59 pm GMT

    All I can think of is that NES game "Marble Madness"... if this is anything like that, I will be a happy man! That game ruled.

  • Sagacious_Tien

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 7:49 pm GMT

    Once I get an Xbox360, I'll definately be giving this one a try.

  • Erebus

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 7:26 pm GMT

    Marble Blast is pretty fun.. Still thinking about getting it for multiplayer and all the levels... never know... In other news, Full Auto demo has just been released., to confirm the previous poster's announcement.

  • longhairbilly

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 7:19 pm GMT

    This game is super fun online!!

  • Viquist

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 7:16 pm GMT

    Surprisingly, this sounds really good and fun... will have to continue to look into this

  • LTomlinson21

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 7:02 pm GMT

    itts fun!

  • lakai0rdie

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 6:57 pm GMT

    FULL AUTO DEMO IS NOW OUT ON THE XBOX LIVE MARKET PLACE FOR DOWNLOAD! I hope it lives up to the hype...

  • GameLifter

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 6:56 pm GMT

    I played the trial game and in some parts you had almost no control of your ball.

  • Orasion_Seiz

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 6:50 pm GMT

    i dont know what it is but sounds good for the X360

  • MaximusMushu

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 6:44 pm GMT

    Marble Blast....FINALLY!

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