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Midway hits Arcade again

Five more titles en route to Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade; Xbox 360 titles include Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Paperboy.

LOS ANGELES--The success of Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade has been a surprise to gamers, publishers, and developers alike. In addition to new games specific for the service, such as Geometry Wars Retro Evolved and remakes of PC games such as Zuma, Crystal Quest, and Bejeweled 2, classic arcade games are getting a second shot at life in the homes of Xbox 360 owners.

The largest contributor of old-school quarter-drainers to Xbox Live Arcade is Midway Games. The publisher has released four games for the service: Joust, Gauntlet, Smash TV, and Robotron: 2084. That quartet is getting joined by a quintet of games this year, Midway revealed at its press event in Los Angeles yesterday.

Defender, the futuristic side-scrolling shooter and one of the most recognizable games from the arcades, will make its debut on next-gen consoles more than 25 years after it first appeared in arcades. Also out on a new route is the 1984 hit Paperboy, the surprisingly challenging game that puts players in the seemingly mundane role of an everyday newspaper delivery boy.

Gamers will then be able to go from slinging papers to slinging drinks by downloading Root Beer Tapper. Doing their best Sam Malone impression, gamers are tasked with delivering sarsaparilla and other libations to needy, parched customers.

Fighting fans familiar with Midway can thank the publisher for one of the genre's most recognizable catchphrases--"Finish him!"--by downloading Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. Though Mortal Kombat creative director Ed Boon clearly implied that the franchise will one day appear on next-gen systems, gamers can get a head start on the spine-pulling, head-popping action of the franchise with UMK3.

Gamers who think that the next-gen player models in Madden NFL 06 look stiff and robotic haven't seen anything yet. Cyberball, the futuristic football game featuring machines in lieu of humans, will also be headed to Xbox Live Arcade.

"We've been generally surprised by the response rate...the paid downloads are more than we expected," Midway CEO David Zucker told GameSpot. "It's not going to change our economic success overnight, but it's a nice little business on the side, and we're glad that people are happy with the product." Midway's chief executive also expressed interest in doing similar projects with the PlayStation 3 and Revolution, should they provide that functionality.

Though all five of the upcoming Midway Xbox Live Arcade games are expected this year, the company has not released specific release dates or prices.

63 Comments

  • zappa2001

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 7:08 am GMT

    5 dollars per game is still too much. You pay 20 dollars per 20 games in some of Midway's compilations it just released in the last 4 years. The initial fun of downloading these games is dwindling due to MS making sure they release them as slow as possible and costing 5-10 dollars for games 20 years old. Street Fighter was absolutely not worth it in the slightest. I've seen some suggest here they'd easily pay upwards of 15 dollars for some of their hard to get 20 year old titles. Trust me we all do not share that sentiment. These games are old and useless within 2 weeks of downloading them making us question what were we so excited about in the beginning? I suggest lower prices. I suggest upgraded graphics which can be turned on or off. I suggest releasing bundles of games together. I suggest releasing 3 to infinity titles per week. (People aren't only looking at the new titles of the week, so you can stop that practice dead right now.)

  • comthitnuong

    Posted May 30, 2006 4:02 pm GMT

    PAPER BOI

  • Dvaquero1916

    Posted May 13, 2006 9:02 pm GMT

    why has it taken so long to release Ultimate in all its glory, after the butchered version that was realesed on the psp i lost hope. It must have been the first reversion of the game glitches and all. I hope for the best

  • treelog187

    Posted May 11, 2006 1:43 am GMT

    I'll be top ten thats for sure if they have online mode that is! See you guys on the leaderboards!

  • nights_team2k7

    Posted Mar 27, 2006 8:21 am GMT

    Ultimate MK3? I'm going to make life a living hell for someone on XBL. I better start refining my skill, haven't played this in a while

  • StumpyTrash

    Posted Mar 20, 2006 7:38 pm GMT

    This is exciting! Hopefully they will be able to keep the cost down although there is probably some level of work to be done in order to port the games to the 360 and then add achievements (as others have said). It'll be great for nostalgia, but what about the price? Spending $20 just to play ONE of these old games (as GameSpot had mentioned in previous articles about Midway classics) is a little much. Smash TV was a blast and it only cost $5!

  • GS_darkplayer

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 7:15 pm GMT

    Wow just wow. I can't believe that it coming out for XBLA. And i will get UMK 3 for my XBOX 360. And i will play it hard. Don't get any funny ideal of the word hard.

  • skitzocyko

    Posted Mar 6, 2006 6:55 am GMT

    THANK YOU!!

  • johnathan111

    Posted Mar 4, 2006 5:57 pm GMT

    Man I know Midway is the best, since i was a small boy i always liked midway games, the Mk series and the rampage series. Thanks midway for putting the MK series on XBLA

  • Temjin5

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 11:57 pm GMT

    ultimate mortal kombat was the best because it appeared on Sega Nomad

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 5:06 pm GMT

    awesome!

  • justnotme92

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 1:15 pm GMT

    When we get a gradius game, I WILL play my long waited 48 hour long rush. I WILL

  • skyvader

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 11:42 am GMT

    Why can't these games be made for live arcade in general? why do they have to be only playable with a 360? I like live arcade and I am sure the original X can play them just as good as the 360. The installed user base is pretty small for 360 as compaired to the original. They need to think about everyone else who has a live account.

  • Fallen_Zen

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 10:18 am GMT

    First Street Fighter II Hyper-Fighting now Paperboy and UMK3! XBLA rocks!!

  • tenorio_rotc

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 9:54 am GMT

    If Sony plans an online gaming service, they are going to have a lot of catching up to do. Not to mention that it wont be as good as XBL since a Hard Drive wont be included, or will it?

  • Myromarvelous

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 9:50 am GMT

    Paperboy!!!!!!!!

    w00tage to the maximum!

  • neoand12

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 8:24 am GMT

    yes UMK

  • jonnyjd

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 7:27 am GMT

    What a great concept. I don't own a XBox or a 360 but am very impressed with this service. Maybe I should think about a 360 and the Live network.

  • Fatality4u

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 6:53 am GMT

    Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, deer lord this arcade just gets better and better.

  • ReyWing

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 6:17 am GMT

    Has anyone seen that banned comercial for Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance w/ the boss of the corporation telling his associates to "FIGHT!"? I almost committed "harakiri" on myself from all my laughter. MK FOREVER, sonz!

  • ufopuller

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 5:52 am GMT

    Great

  • Autolycus

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 5:49 am GMT

    marble madness(imo). Nicely done Midway. Just don't leave BIG N out to dry

  • iammai

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 3:45 am GMT

    another great work for midway.
    hope for better.

  • Seiki_sands

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 3:33 am GMT

    I downloaded three outta four Midway titles so far, and I liked many of these far more back in the day. That said, while Live Online and HD makes them clearer and funner than ever, they really should only be costing two hundred points a piece except maybe Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. There should be some distinction made between a hit in the early 90's and a hit in the early 80's.

  • Orasion_Seiz

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 2:58 am GMT

    no thanx i'll skip on this one.

  • OPOLO

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 2:57 am GMT

    I'm looking forward to Defender - can't wait

  • petejennings

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 2:13 am GMT

    Lets just hope the other developers dont see it as a way to cash-in!
    More stuff should be FREE on XB Live - especially REALLY OLD stuff.

  • mikekare79

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 2:11 am GMT

    Awesome! I'm gonna have to download some of that!

  • KiLLer_ba

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 12:26 am GMT

    UMK, Defender, Paper boy and Rootbeer tapper man Xbox Live arcade is getting better!

  • kryptin

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 11:52 pm GMT

    The Ikari Warriors series was done by SNK. Not sure who got the rights after SNK went bankrupt.

    As for why these games aren't here already is because these games weren't created to function with Live or do other things like give achievements. The developers have to revisit the game and almost recreate it with the new features. This can take a longer amount of time than you might think. Once they finish they also got to play test to try and squash any bugs that turn up.

  • Phortwenty

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 10:21 pm GMT

    man........this should be here now. Way too easy to do.

  • Optimusv2

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 10:02 pm GMT

    PLEASE stop it microsoft you guys going to make me go broke with all this new stuff that keeps getting added I can't keep up!

    Great news I can't wait midway jumps at the opportunity to profit can't let streetfighter get all the attention

  • Sathan

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 9:31 pm GMT

    Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 was the game I wanted on the Xbox Live Arcade the most! This is the greatest news I've heard in a long time!

  • BlackdogGT

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 8:22 pm GMT

    March. Next up on Marketplace, the return of Jeebus..

  • Thornorway

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 7:50 pm GMT

    Great news that some developers take the classic arcade machines onto xbla... can we hope that more companies would follow in Midways footsteps. Would love to play some of the old capcom classics on 360 or namcos famous pacman series.

  • Gmex

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 7:34 pm GMT

    nice i loved playing paperboy....

  • Flame_of_Nova

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 7:17 pm GMT

    sick! can't wait!

  • Ryze

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 7:02 pm GMT

    Both SFII Turbo and UMK3 - ONLINE ENABLED?????

    The golden years are back again - roll on 2006!!!!

    Now, all we need are some X360s actually in the shops so I can buy one!!!

    Next - Daytona USA Virtua Fighter, the Sonic games, Micro machines, etc. All online enabled please - Thanks guys.

    Bill Gates is really trying to give us something to be proud of him by. First the Africa donations and now this!

  • spidey008

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 6:43 pm GMT

    Mortal Kombat!!! I will be buying this game. I hope that it has Xbox Live features. I used to play at the arcades every weekend. This is great news!

  • gamecube120

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 6:34 pm GMT

    Finally, something I can be proud of Microsoft for. Paperboy, defender, cyberball and a beer...now that's a meal!

  • mattbyrnes

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 6:28 pm GMT

    Buck_Hotep

    You couldn't have picked a better old school game. It has to have Live co-op though. That game was so great. I mentioned this in other places and most people never heard of it. It would be a huge hit.

  • beast0117

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 6:10 pm GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • kryptin

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 6:09 pm GMT

    Great, we now get both SF2 and UMK3 on XBLA. I'm in old school 2d fighter heaven.

  • wokisan

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 6:08 pm GMT

    Defender AND Paperboy......Oh yeah. Wow, I feel like a kid again!

  • Buck_Hotep

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 5:54 pm GMT

    Whoever owns the rights to Ikari Warriors need to make it available on XBLA.

  • juvinwo1

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 5:48 pm GMT

    MK Ultimate?? sign me up!! Root Beer Tapper?? I love Root Beer!!!

  • skipper2003

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 5:30 pm GMT

    MK and RootBeer Tapper > all

  • jer_1

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 5:24 pm GMT

    Cyberball! Damn, that one brings back some memories... I WILL be making that purchase!

  • monkeyman

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 5:13 pm GMT

    Ultimate MK3??? My cup runneth over!

  • rapt00r

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 5:02 pm GMT

    I agree with davahsa and icemancell; bring Marble Madness and Mortal Kombat / Mortal Kombat II to Xbox Live Arcade. Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 is one of the worst games in the series in my opinion.

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