Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged detailed

Geometry Wars to headline Microsoft's first retail compilation of downloadable 360 games.

Last month, a product listing for an Xbox 360 game called Arcade Unplugged showed up on the Web site of retailer EBgames. The page didn't give any details about the game, but it did list Microsoft Game Studios as the title's publisher. It was a short leap of faith to conclude this was a retail collection of Xbox Live Arcade games so that those without Internet connections could enjoy the service's offerings.

Xbox Live Arcarde Unplugged...live!

That appears to be exactly the case, as box art for the game has surfaced on a distributor Web site from which retailers pull art for upcoming games. A tagline proclaims that the package "includes the hit game Geometry Wars and a one-month subscription to Xbox Live Gold." A number of screenshots on the cover indicate that the compilation also includes Bejeweled 2 Deluxe, Wik: Fable of Souls, Hardwood Backgammon, Outpost Kaloki X, and the as-yet unreleased Texas Hold 'Em Poker.

It should be noted that the lineup of games could change, as this cover art isn't final. There is a ratings tag on it saying the games included run from E for Everyone to T for Teen, which is the North American system utilized by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. However, the format designation in the top corner lists it as a PAL game. In PAL territories, games are either rated with the Pan European Game Information system, or the British Board of Film Classification system.

84 Comments

  • JSharpe_187

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 3:57 pm PT

    "There is a ratings tag on it saying the games included run from E for Everyone to T for Teen, which is the North American system utilized by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. However, the format designation in the top corner lists it as a PAL game. In PAL territories, games are either rated with the Pan European Game Information system, or the British Board of Film Classification system." from the article

    The plot thickens...

  • Kaintae1134

    Posted Oct 26, 2006 7:05 pm PT

    Yeah it's cool and all. But I don't feel comfortable with having them on the disc and in to play, when I could leave in whatever game I'm playing and get it from the harddrive.

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 10:08 am PT

    yeah its another article

  • DarkMalediction

    Posted Aug 17, 2006 9:28 pm PT

    It's going to cost $39.99.

  • Sagacious_Tien

    Posted Aug 12, 2006 5:56 am PT

    Wendon5391:

    It's not a rip-off, as you concur, when you have been able to play the games for many months. This is the LIVE Arcade version of going platinum. It also would help those on the fence about such titles to go ahead and get them. I would expect nothing less from M$ - who have been really pushing the idea of LIVE Arcade. This is just another incentive, and also helps create awareness for these titles.

  • worldfinest

    Posted Aug 6, 2006 7:52 pm PT

    I guess it is pointless for me to waste my money on buying Arcade games if these are going to be available for cheaper.

  • Wendon5391

    Posted Jul 31, 2006 8:37 pm PT

    wow, if they sell this for $20, that's a rip-off for us Gold members who bought games from the arcade, which i bought 4 of them , which could easily equal, $20

  • Vulpis

    Posted Jul 1, 2006 1:27 pm PT

    Not an Xbox-er myself, but I'm seeing a couple of very good reasons for this collection--one is for the people who for whatever reason don't have broadband (and, true, for them the Xbox Gold thing is pointless). The other is for the avid retro/retro-oid players who have filled up their HD with these, as well as whatever's required for their Xbox games. Remember that unlike, say, a PC with an emulator and ROMs, you can't just burn the ROMS off onto a CD/DVD and get them off your drive. I'd presume that this doesn't copy the games off of the media at *all* (other than maybe small score-table and similar persistant files), requiring the disc to be in when playing the games (that's how I'd do it, anyway). As for the price--I'm not that surprised, between Bejeweled being on there along with the trial Gold membership--keep in mind that PopCap charges $20 for the full PC version of Bejeweled by itself, last I checked...

    Also, not being an Xbox-er myself, I don't know how long it takes to select and download these games--simply being able to slap in a disc, make a menu selection, and immediately start playing may be a time-saver for some.

  • Ghost_Warrior

    Posted Jul 1, 2006 11:37 am PT

    Sweet?

  • i_love_my_ds

    Posted Jun 30, 2006 5:52 pm PT

    why would they give away a one month suscription to XBL? if theyre buying this game then they probably dont have internet!

  • AtomicEdge

    Posted Jun 28, 2006 6:31 am PT

    There are people without XBL?

  • BigDawg22088

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 4:17 pm PT

    why the american rating on the box and PAL region code on the box?

  • jdbthexboxgamr

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 10:06 am PT

    YES!,I do not have Live so this is some of the best news I have heard yet!

  • skitzocyko

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 9:45 am PT

    ok

  • rokkuman09

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 9:44 am PT

    i have kaloki x and geo wars but i still might get it depending on price

  • jraziel1019

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 9:35 am PT

    I own a 360, and I'm happy with my Silver Live status. I have no intention of playing against people online, and that's all that's different between Silver and Gold anyway. All I use Live for is downloads anyway, so no reason for me to upgrade.

  • juvinwo1

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 9:19 am PT

    good idea for people who dont have XBL, but I think that if you own a 360, you should really have a gold membership, if not you are REALLY missing out.

  • Rumstocker

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 8:10 am PT

    its going to be 40 bucks

  • iwannamilkbone

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 7:52 am PT

    People woule be better off just getting XBL and dowloading all the games they want. Im perfectly fine with just playing the DEMOS!

  • shibbay41

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 5:35 am PT

    For ppl w/out Live this is a great idea, but for others it's just stupid not to download these games

  • princeofgames90

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 4:17 am PT

    i aint bying it i wont play it even if its free

  • SnuffDaddyNZ

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 2:32 am PT

    YAY, confirmation that Texas Hold Em is still coming to LIVE, but I hope that I dont have to buy this comp just to access it... that would make me a little mad considering it's supposed to be the first fully sponsored game.

    If you can boot the games off the disc then that is a good idea as I have already fill the 20Gb HDD that came with the 360.

  • konedima

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 12:27 am PT

    I haven't read the comments but I think this correction deserves merit - us Australians use PAL games too, and we have our own rating system. So that makes three different rating systems it should be, none of them ESRB

  • Phantsy16

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 11:49 pm PT

    Nice

  • beast0117

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 11:42 pm PT

    A good idea, but will the games come with their additional content (e.g., Outpost Kalokei X, etc.)?

  • Supersonic2000

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 9:49 pm PT

    Finally now I too can play Geometry Wars.

  • NinjaFoot

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 8:53 pm PT

    If you think that its going to retail for only $10 you are smoking bad crack. Most of those games listed sell for $4-5 on XBLA.

  • jcloverboy

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 8:49 pm PT

    Good idea for those who aren't on live yet. I've had no issue with just downloading them off the marketplace.

  • wobbyld

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 8:26 pm PT

    It would be worth it if they compiled EVERY arcade game for a little cheeper then they all cost then I would deffinitly buy it.

  • AlexJ-

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 8:07 pm PT

    Oh that's great news. Good of Microsoft to think of the guys who don't play LIVE.

  • pahria

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 7:07 pm PT

    I only want geometry wars of this compilation

  • Jedi_Osborn

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 6:29 pm PT

    seems like MS is looking out for everyone....

  • Tekku_kun

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 5:59 pm PT

    If you don't have/can't get broadband.. don't bother with a 360..it was basically made to have an ethernet cable permanently connected to it..
    That's why I love mine ^^

  • flintgijoe

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 5:41 pm PT

    this will be 40$...
    And that is too much for Geometry wars.

  • UnnDunn

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 5:31 pm PT

    "Not if it comes with an activation code tied to your XB account then they would prevent the usage on anyone else's 360"

    Yeah, but how are you going to enter the activation code without being connected to XBL, and if you are connected to XBL, why not just download the Arcade games directly?

  • veracity024

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 5:29 pm PT

    and i just broke down adn bought geo wars. grrrrrrrrrr

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 5:07 pm PT

    do people really buy that?

  • chibi-acer

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 5:00 pm PT

    That's a cool idea. You're still totally missing out on a ton of features without Live, even if you don't play multiplayer games. The demos alone are totally worth it. But I suppose for those people who don't have broadband available, this is the next best thing.

  • hepcat00

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 4:36 pm PT

    the thing that sucks about the current XBLA is that if you DL a game to your HD, you have to access XBL to put the HD on a different 360 (ex- my brother dl'ed geowars and brought his HD over and we had to link up to XBL to verify that the other 360 was legit). why pay any money for a game that's non-transferable system to system?? (I can understand non-transferable HD to HD)---which sucks if you have NO internet access (obviously not the case here).

    Alternately, if you were able to DL the game from a disc, you wouldn't be able to return the game anyways, as most (if not all) retailers disallow returning an unopened game (unless the game is faulty in which case it is replaced with the same game).

    Pricing--the game disc will probably retail at $30-40 initially, but I'll wait until it drops to $15 or less (depending on the amount of games). I mean really, we're talking about Atari 2600 level programming here for most of these games--not much on the graphics, but very addictive. Can't wait for the Wii to come out to play the true classics.

  • Tranceplant

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 4:35 pm PT

    It's excellent for those who don't have live.

  • vaejas

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 4:12 pm PT

    Good idea for those... ah nevermind. Port it to a different system and then I'll be impressed.

  • ocdog45

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 3:47 pm PT

    not even worth 10 bucks. good for kids

  • vgplaya89

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 3:43 pm PT

    as people already said, good idea for those without Live

  • Ninjamonkeyofd

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 3:37 pm PT

    who would pay 40 bucks for that?????

  • alberto2045

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 3:13 pm PT

    well thats cool

  • andresmabril

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 3:01 pm PT

    no point having a core pack, it misses more than a half of the stuff.

  • supermario-2000

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 2:56 pm PT

    Sweet!

  • SuperVegeta518

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 2:50 pm PT

    Who has a 360 and doesn't already have XBL and geometry wars?

  • jmangafan

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 2:40 pm PT

    Well, everyone with a 360 DOES HAVE LIVE. Silver is free. I have dial up, and I really could care less about getting Gold. This doesn't bother me at all, namely because I generally despise having to interact with online players. Most of whom are either complete jerks, 12 year olds, or some combination of the two. That being said, Geometry Wars doesn't make up for the rest of the games on there, thus I can't call it a worthy purchase. Especially since most were available for the PC a while ago.

  • StriderNickolas

    Posted Jun 26, 2006 2:37 pm PT

    Well, if it would include Lumines, I'd buy it in the heart beat... I only miss my PSP for that game. Curse you Shake Ya Body and Shinin'! You crushed my dreams, you crushed them so hard!

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