E3 2008: Portal spin-off leads XBLA lineup

GLaDOS leads the Live Arcade charge alongside South Park, Geometry Wars 2, Galaga Legions, Uno Rush, and the original N64 Banjo-Kazooie.

While Microsoft's E3 Media & Business Summit conference culminated with the news that Final Fantasy XIII would be heading to the Xbox 360, there were a handful of warm-up surprises in store. Xbox Live Arcade was the subject of a handful of revelations, as Microsoft added a sextet to the downloadable game service's upcoming lineup.

First among the notable new games is Portal: Still Alive. Set for release this fall, the spin-off to the standout hit from The Orange Box and Game Developers Choice Awards Game of the Year winner will feature new levels and new achievements.

A handful of other sequels were announced during the conference, including Activision's Geometry Wars 2, which looks to add four-player action to its predecessor's already hectic gameplay. Meanwhile, Uno Rush revisits the hit card game with support for the Xbox 360's new avatars.

Namco is also returning to one of its proven franchises with Galaga Legions. Taking an aesthetic cue from Space Invaders Extreme, the game amps up the visual action of the original Galaga. Developed by the team who produced the Namco revamp Pac-Man: Championship Edition, Galaga Legions is set for release next month.

Not everything heading to XBLA is a sequel, however. Rare's Nintendo 64 platformer Banjo-Kazooie will arrive sometime this holiday season. Earlier this year, another Rare N64 title, the breakout first-person shooter GoldenEye, had been rumored for an XBLA release.

Finally, Microsoft unveiled a South Park game for the Xbox 360, but the brief trailer shown gave next to nothing away about the game. For more on the future of the Xbox 360, check out GameSpot's live blog of the Microsoft conference.

53 Comments

  • GuNNerWiLLiAMS

    Posted Sep 26, 2008 1:11 am PT

    Goldeneye on XBLA would be amazing. Hope they include an online multiplayer mode if it does get released.

  • Superdude475

    Posted Sep 11, 2008 4:28 pm PT

    No GLaDOS? no cake? sure there are portals and turrets but it's still not the same. Well at least there's also Banjo and Kazooie

  • ShadowJake

    Posted Aug 19, 2008 5:09 pm PT

    where is vigilante 8 arcade? that is the one game i have been waiting for. screw a spin-off Portal, I'll just wait until Portal 2 like most people. come on gamespot, give me some info on vigilante 8 arcade - a release date would be great

  • EdibleFood

    Posted Aug 19, 2008 12:55 pm PT

    im waiting for portal 2 not some dumb expansion "still alive"

  • EdibleFood

    Posted Aug 19, 2008 12:55 pm PT

    im waiting for portal 2 not some dumb expansion "still alive"

  • DoMiNiC147

    Posted Aug 9, 2008 11:51 am PT

    Even though there might be no story or GlaDOS. I'm still going to get this cause I just like the puzzle styles of portal.

  • DoMiNiC147

    Posted Aug 9, 2008 11:51 am PT

    Even though there might be no story or GlaDOS. I'm still going to get this cause I just like the puzzle styles of portal.

  • Jackyll87

    Posted Jul 24, 2008 2:51 am PT

    Is it true that the sequel has no story AND no voice overs??

  • ThAdEa82

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 10:12 am PT

    No story and no GlaDOS voice overs...only puzzle levels. Will skip till Portal 2

  • Hungry_bunny

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 10:10 am PT

    I Have to play it.

  • smashfanatic

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 1:26 pm PT

    a new portal YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!

  • Donnyp

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 3:32 pm PT

    What about those of us who buy games from stores? Or dont own a 360? As for the N64 games i got a WII to download em on. That or bust out the ones i own on my 64 and play it up classic style.

  • Proman84

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 7:20 pm PT

    Can we get those Portal extra modes on PC too, please?

  • lettuceman44

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 12:56 pm PT

    Portal stuff is cool.

  • ThAdEa82

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 7:32 am PT

    Quit stroking your orange box.

    This is xbla content...is there any way to get a tangible copy?

  • grambyte

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 5:05 am PT

    can't wait for new portal content!

  • Sasuke_Ninja21

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 12:59 am PT

    Im excited about the Banjo kazooie game coming to Xbox Live, Looking back on it, Banjo Kazooie was a pretty epic game and its a lead up to Banjo Kazooie Nuts and Bolts.

    Also the portal game seems interesting, its not going to be a sequel but will offer something to people that have swayed from the game, also im betting at the end of the game theirs going to be a trailer or something on the next portal sequel

    Also Valve will not be moving away from the PC market Steam is huge and gets so many customers everyday and is one of the best ways of releasing games for download.

  • Bahamut-Prime

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 10:50 pm PT

    well obviously details at this point are basically no-existent but it doesn't sound like the portal is a true sequel so obviously those who don't have an x-box won't be abandoned

  • Agulf

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 6:37 am PT

    Valve isn't abandoning the PC market are they... Because they ARE the pc market... Next to blizzard. :/

  • zbiggie

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 4:44 am PT

    Damn goldeneye will be worth it, and maybe banjo.

  • LegendaryEpoch

    Posted Jul 15, 2008 6:23 pm PT

    Portal... Must have new Portal... *strokes Orange Box case in corner of a dark room*

    Its about damn time. Many nice games coming out this year. I hope none of them are let downs.

  • grigjd3

    Posted Jul 15, 2008 11:28 am PT

    I think M$ may have won E3 this year.

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 11:32 pm PT

    I'll stick to the original one on the pc

  • Jebril

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 11:08 pm PT

    Fanboys seem to be getting desperate.

  • Humikimi

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 10:15 pm PT

    oh my goodness! B-K on XBLA? YES!@$ I guess Nintendo had no rights at all for it after all. GLORIOUS! I suppose that means B-T is bound eventually too.

    Portal sounds fun. I personally prefer the PC controls and have immensely enjoyed it and hope a pack gets released through Steam to get the extras from the XBLA game, but if not I will get it on XBLA for sure.

  • halosniper52

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 8:19 pm PT

    Sony and Nintendo got some work to do.

  • xchiefmegadethx

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 8:13 pm PT

    My god xbox 360 is king. so many big things this year it's crazy

  • combatsoldier

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 7:51 pm PT

    Man they had some brutally awsome announcements. Good job.

  • x70xchallengerx posted Jul 14, 2008 7:41 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    x70xchallengerx

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 7:41 pm PT (hide)

    geometry wars 1 wasnt that great, and 2 looks the same! galaga just looks like a cheap spinoff of the original, and banjo kazooie i really dont care... come on micrososft! and the other announcements:
    singstar: "lips"
    eyetoy:"yer in teh movies"

    copy much? whats next motion sensitivity and internet browsing and remote play with psp!!!

    sheeeesh!

  • vaejas

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 7:38 pm PT

    More Galaga? Yes please.

  • psychojosh

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 7:00 pm PT

    I don't think people are paying enough attention to this tidbit mentioned in the last bit of the article

    THE ORIGINAL BANJO-KAZOOIE?!!? ON XBOX LIVE?!!!? HOLY F***ING CRAP

  • HolteEnder4Life

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 5:56 pm PT

    wow Gamesoul15
    you have a PS3 and are slagging MS off, real origional.

    Fanboys aside, i think MS pulled it out the bag in their press conference, the pressure is on for Sony but apparently they're getting a FFVII remake and id rarther have that then FFXIII

  • ctg867

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 5:39 pm PT

    So the new Portal game will actually be a Portal expansion/sequel? Or will it be some spin off? Even if the graphics are dumbed down to Half-Life 2 Original Xbox quality, I'm okay with that. But if it's actually the same great type of game Portal was, even if there's no story, no final boss, and no Glados voice over, then I'm fine with that.

    Geometry Wars 2 sounds pretty cool. I think co-op is a great addition, and I'm curious to see if this will be on PSN as well since Activision, a multiplatform publisher, is publishing it. You also have Uno Rush, which sounds cool. I may or may not pick that up, it depends.

    Galaga Legions sounds incredible. It's made by the same team who did Pac-Man:CE. As long as it has just a bit more content that was in that game, I'll easily drop $10 on it.

    The Banjo port has me curious. If it's a nice port, with some overall updates, and it's actually worth $10, then I'll pick it up. But if it's just Soul Calibur XBLA, then it's gonna be awful.

    Finally, I don't even get the South Park game. We'll have to wait and see..

  • MjolnirMaster51

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 5:35 pm PT

    They said during the announcement that Portal: Still Alive would be a 2008 exclusive, so it will be on the PC at some point. Valve probably wants to put it out on Steam as soon as possible anyway, but Microsoft just paid them for a little time. And just because it's a Valve game doesn't mean it necessarily "belongs" on the PC; it's just that Valve has more of a track record for making PC games.

  • wills_b

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 4:57 pm PT

    For gods sake. "Where portal belongs"

    What, because it had a long and illustrious career on the PC before its simultaneous multi-system launch? And no, it's not part of half life, it is its own separate game (with the awards to prove it) simply using the same engine.

    It's a game, I think it's great we can all enjoy it. It will of course have a simultaneous release on PC, but I think this is great news for those of us who can't afford a Ninja PC to make it look as good as it does on Xbox.

    Now play nice children.

  • SpareJesus posted Jul 14, 2008 4:35 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    SpareJesus

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 4:35 pm PT (hide)

    Portal for XBox?

    Bring it to the PC where it belongs, kthx.

  • DreFullCircle

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 4:31 pm PT

    wow. a nintendo game on microsoft's console? i wonder if it'll appear on the wii virtual console too

  • Haruhi_love posted Jul 14, 2008 4:00 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Haruhi_love

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 4:00 pm PT (hide)

    damn this is not a good day first FF13 and now portal it should be a PC game first and foremost!!!!!
    I guess i wont get it on the 360 until im 100% sure it wont be coming out on the PC

  • Warchief_Zuljin

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 3:21 pm PT

    Yeah I'm really sure a new Portal game would be exclusive only to the 360. Look for the PC version to be released at the same time.

  • ColdfireTrilogy

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 3:06 pm PT

    Ill just be keeping portal on my PC ... where it belongs. I have a few dozen custom maps already for it so ... not really news to me.

  • ocdog45

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 2:58 pm PT

    galaga looks sick

  • LAZZOR

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 2:54 pm PT

    And I just bought Galaga....

  • i-rock-socks

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 2:45 pm PT

    when i read that banjo was coming to XBLA i almost **** my pants
    AWSEOME!!!!!

  • Cheech_Chong

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 2:44 pm PT

    What about Duke Nukem 3D?

  • Lord-Viru

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 2:27 pm PT

    Portal game=AWESOME INCARNATE. Seriously hearing Glados' voice was music to my ears this will be a game I will definately be downloading when it comes out.

  • -Intellectual-

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 2:25 pm PT

    When I heard Glados I said YES. Another great Portal game coming soon.

  • GameSoul15

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 2:18 pm PT

    Wow.... the MS confrence was laughable. There is absolutely nothing amazing coming out for it. What about after 09'? hmm... idk but you'll have singstar! oh wait i mean lips... jeez, Xbox is a hardcore system and MS is shooting themselves in the foot for trying to go casual... MS i want the two wasted hours of watching your confrence back.

  • shrink45

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 1:53 pm PT

    All great announcements!

  • The_Dude1212 posted Jul 14, 2008 1:50 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    The_Dude1212

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 1:50 pm PT (hide)

    BULL CRAP!

    This is disgustingly outrageous. Banjo Kazooie and GoldenEye should stick with the Wii VC. This is as bad as Conker converting to M$.

    Next thing you know GSpot will give GoldenEye a 0.2 greater score on Xbox than Wii VC 'just because you can go online', like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the Genesis.

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