Centipede, Millipede crawling to XBLA this week

Retro offerings to be joined by strategy board game Catan on the new release list of the Xbox 360's downloadable game service this Wednesday.

Microsoft has stepped up its Xbox Live Arcade output lately by releasing two games each Wednesday. This week the company is expanding on that with three game releases...sort of.

Microsoft today announced this week's slate of Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday releases, and it includes two downloads consisting of three games. Beginning at 2 a.m. PST on Wednesday, Xbox 360 owners will be able to download Big Huge Games' strategy game Catan, as well as a combo pack including Atari's arcade shooters Centipede and Millipede.

Big Huge Games made its name developing the real-time strategy PC series Rise of Nations, but its latest effort stretches back to the roots of turn-based strategy, the board game. Catan, based on the board game Settlers of Catan, drops three or four players onto an uncharted island and has them race to colonize it. Players can compete against one another online or try out one of the game's six different artificial intelligence personalities.

Arcade aficionados will remember Centipede and Millipede as a pair of track-ball-equipped shooters in which players had to eliminate encroaching arthropods through a field of mushrooms while avoiding spiders and other creepy crawlies. Both games will be playable in arcade-authentic and "evolved" varieties, with the latter including prerendered graphics with visual effects like motion blur and particle-based explosions.

Catan will be available for 800 Microsoft points ($10), while the Centipede-Millipede combo pack will sell for 400 Microsoft points ($5). Both downloads are rated E for Everyone.

97 Comments

  • BOSSMAN_2004

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 4:08 pm PT

    I love Catan!!!

  • theKSMM

    Posted May 9, 2007 4:09 pm PT

    I'm not familiar with Catan but it goes without saying that Centipede and Millipede are true arcade classics that anyone old enough to go into an arcade in the 80s will remember fondly.

    I can understand why some people don't see the value of these games. Five dollars for an individual game is a lot when I can buy a collection for around $20. Personally, I subscribe to GameTap, but that's because I love old-school games and want to buy them in bulk. Compilations are great when there are four or more games that you want to play.

    For other people who just want to get one game that they may have liked long ago (or perhaps even missed playing entirely) it makes sense to just download the game individually. Buying one or two isn't that expensive, but if you find yourself wanting several of them, it might be good to look for alternative routes.

  • vf21x

    Posted May 2, 2007 12:18 am PT

    enough with the retro games.
    Where are the really awsome games from the last two generations.

  • km1498

    Posted May 1, 2007 1:57 pm PT

    Catan sounds interesting. Gonna have to download a demo of that.

  • datniccah187

    Posted May 1, 2007 1:31 pm PT

    I'm porbally going to have to pick up Centipide Millipede. Theres a soft spot in my heart for xbla games that only cost 5 dollars. So i'll probally be downloading that when i get up tomorrow afternoon.

  • Synapse720

    Posted May 1, 2007 1:24 pm PT

    I hate bugs. And I will destroy them all.

  • EikoAtoride

    Posted May 1, 2007 11:53 am PT

    Finally the day has come! Thank you!

  • jknight5422

    Posted May 1, 2007 10:52 am PT

    These board game to arcade game conversions are very, very interesting. I'm definitely looking forward to this 'retro' style of gaming that is being introduced. Not sure I care about centipede type games..heck, why don't they just offer space invaders & charge $5 for that? It's the same concept.

  • Axemetal

    Posted May 1, 2007 10:23 am PT

    hooray to microsoft and the increased export of live arcade games

  • StylinLancer

    Posted May 1, 2007 9:41 am PT

    Finally its here. Been waiting for weeks for this to come out, although where is the trackball at?

    Also, where in the heck is Double Dragon?

  • DrKill09

    Posted May 1, 2007 9:13 am PT

    Centipede kicks ass!

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted May 1, 2007 8:24 am PT

    I have no idea what Catan is, but I am psyched about Centipede/Millipede. All the more without the trackball... I sucked at it with the trackball, lol.

  • Metron4

    Posted May 1, 2007 7:44 am PT

    How the heck am I supposed to play Centipede/Millipede without a trackball?! Someone's gotta come out with a real trackball device.

  • RMGreen

    Posted May 1, 2007 7:36 am PT

    Catan will be awesome. I've been waiting for this game ever since it was announced. This is a GREAT addition to XBLA, adding some variety. As fun as Double Dragon may be (and it probably isn't as fun as we all remember), having another beat-em-up isn't as great as having something completely new, which Catan is. Anyone with a boardgaming bone in their body will love Catan.

  • JoeMama365

    Posted May 1, 2007 7:17 am PT

    Yahoo finally Catan is coming out. It's about time for a new decent strategy game on XboxLive. This should hold me over until C&C3 comes out!

  • Nuke_trooper

    Posted May 1, 2007 7:09 am PT

    Centipede, that's old school (a little too old school for me though) I'd like bubble bobble, Topgun and Raiden instead thanks

  • shadystxxx

    Posted May 1, 2007 5:20 am PT

    sinx1971 Where's Castle Crashers!!!!!?????
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Castle crashers is not coming untill next year.

    I know its crazy but true.

    http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3157899

  • prioritymail

    Posted May 1, 2007 4:27 am PT

    Eh. Yawn

  • monkeymonfp

    Posted May 1, 2007 3:52 am PT

    lol gimmie some new games, not badly remade classic
    (geometry wars roxs!!)

  • menmau

    Posted May 1, 2007 3:11 am PT

    More games on XBLA...

  • stevotatersdeep

    Posted May 1, 2007 2:19 am PT

    these games are terrible.where is double dragon?it was suppossed to be out in march its now neerly may and no sign of it. psn is catching fast.

  • FiestaUnicorn

    Posted May 1, 2007 1:24 am PT

    Has anyone here actually played Double Dragon recently? It's not as good as you remember. Just like a lot of older games it hasn't aged well.

  • playa42018

    Posted May 1, 2007 1:02 am PT

    as much as I love the Xbox 360, these are legit complaints.

  • jhz

    Posted May 1, 2007 12:21 am PT

    XBLA Needs:

    Streets of rage 1, 2 and 3.

    Sonic 1 & 2 and Sonic and Knuckles.

    Road rash.

  • Tranceplant

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 10:28 pm PT

    Lol... all we want is DOUBLE DRAGON! We keep repeating it week after week, after week, after week...........

  • Doolum

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 9:59 pm PT

    nice to hear that coming from MS.

  • lemec78

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 9:38 pm PT

    I've been waiting to hear that Catan was coming for MONTHS. I play the board game all the time, and now I get acheivements for playing, WOOT!

  • Selfdestruct9

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 8:37 pm PT

    I don't get whats so grade about these arcade games. . . If i wanted to play mini games like these i'd just download them for free on my pc, and yes, regally download -_- Another thing that doesn't make sense to me is playing 20 + year old games on your new console . . double u t eff, emulators exist ya know.

  • SoralinkGS

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 8:08 pm PT

    is it me, or do people always want something different each week...this reminds me of that Clint Eastwood movie....

  • Sagacious_Tien

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 7:50 pm PT

    It's nice to see the XBL Arcade stepping up - and Catan will certainly be a great game, I believe. Big Huge Games is a great developer.
    Now, we need to see some Chess, Checkers and the like. More board games please!

  • m33nstr33k

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 6:40 pm PT

    Double Dragon

  • drand54

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 5:58 pm PT

    Nice announcment. But where is Double Dragon, Missle Command and Space Invaders??????

  • jmford_1

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 5:21 pm PT

    I'd like to see Crystal Castles.

  • GizmoVirus

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 4:59 pm PT

    Could be worth the cash, I'll have to wait and see

  • BadMunky

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 4:40 pm PT

    get arcade beatem ups and then ill buy

  • AJmon13

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 4:26 pm PT

    haha I used to have Centipede the arcade machine in our basement...god I miss it.
    And on the DS version (well in a combo) I played for 4 hours straight on a greyhound trip...

  • Nudie_Magazine

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 4:22 pm PT

    finally, centipede/millipede, but my 360 broke (again) I hope it get's back from microsoft soon.

  • godamus187

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 4:14 pm PT

    This is waaaaaayyy better than the Ps3 store XBL is killin them.But i agree with Chris_55_TK weres Double Dragon?

  • Chris_555_TK

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 3:45 pm PT

    When's Double Dragon coming out?

  • mentalchaos28

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 3:41 pm PT

    Centipede is awesome Period.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 3:18 pm PT

    Quality over quantity, Microsoft.

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 3:02 pm PT

    I have the arcade version of centipede and i have the superior pc version. i never played millipede though. I;ll try

  • pupaboy

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 2:57 pm PT

    Sorry but Centipede won't be the same without the trackball. Half the fun was spinning that trackball.

  • somesthetic

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 2:55 pm PT

    As a fan of the board game, I'm excited for Catan and hoping it will translate well.

    you people complain way too much.

  • Kayrod29

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 2:51 pm PT

    Nice that Centipede/Millipede combo pack sounds very good for the price, I like the way they handled that, good job on microsofts part for that one. Now start doing the same for other games!

  • addybody

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 2:45 pm PT

    wheres castle crashers,seriously where is it!!!!!!!!!???????????????????????????????????

  • tenorio_rotc

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 2:29 pm PT

    Catan games usually take an hour or more, so I wonder how fast it will be in the Arcade

  • sinx1971

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 2:22 pm PT

    Where's Castle Crashers!!!!!?????

  • msudude211

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 2:11 pm PT

    Cool. Looking forward to it.

  • fanboy_killa

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 2:06 pm PT

    yeah baby!!

advertisement
Click Here

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!

Related Game

Catan Boxshot
Catan

Game Stats

Full Game Details »Close
Also on

Related Games

Recent News

See All News »

Site Blogs