Microsoft lays out August XBL schedule

Galaga Legions, Castle Crashers, Braid get dated as publisher celebrates the "Summer of Arcade" with 100,000 Microsoft point giveaway.

Microsoft rarely gives gamers more than a couple of days' notice on Xbox Live Arcade releases, but the publisher confirmed today a whole month's worth of games for the downloadable-game service.

This Wednesday's release of Geometry Wars 2: Retro Evolved will kick off a string of five straight weeks of big-name Xbox Live Arcade games. The sequel to Bizarre Creations' hit Xbox 360 launch shooter will be followed by Jonathan Blow's indie platformer Braid on August 6, Capcom's NES remake Bionic Commando Rearmed on August 13, Namco Bandai's Galaga Legions revamp on August 20, and The Behemoth's long-in-development beat-'em-up Castle Crashers on August 27.

To further promote the lineup--which Microsoft has dubbed "The Summer of Arcade"--the software giant is running a contest. Gamers who play demos or full versions of any of the preceding Xbox Live Arcade games during their week of release will be entered into a drawing to win 100,000 Microsoft points ($1,250), an Xbox 360 Elite system, and a 12-month subscription to Xbox Live. Two runners-up will each receive 10,000 points ($125) and a yearlong subscription. Five weekly winners will receive 4,000 Microsoft points ($50).

For more on the contest, check out the official Web site.

142 Comments

  • Unheard-Volume

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 11:47 am PT

    HOLY CRAP! 100,000? is there even enough stuff to buy on XBL arcade? lol I wonder who won this?

  • -E-N-E-M-Y-

    Posted Sep 27, 2008 11:03 am PT

    It would have been cool to win 100,000 ms points.

  • xPiiTBULL122

    Posted Aug 25, 2008 4:59 am PT

    Sweet, I'm on the list because I played Braid and I didn't even know

  • MetraGold2006

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 12:00 am PT

    wheres banjo kazooie

  • Pork_Lord

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 8:27 pm PT

    Wow, I'm in the running for this and I didn't realise!

  • Soony

    Posted Aug 9, 2008 8:47 am PT

    oh cool!!! it'd be nice to win some pts

  • w4rgasm

    Posted Aug 8, 2008 5:22 pm PT

    Sweet! Free money chance!

  • guthwulf_de

    Posted Aug 7, 2008 10:40 am PT

    Awesome. Looking forward to Castle Crashers.

  • glitchgeeman

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 5:22 pm PT

    Damn, I wish Castle Crashers was the 1st of those games to be released, it's the only one I'm seriously interested in. Ah well, cool to see all these quality XBLA games being released.

  • Gourry_Inverse

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 1:42 pm PT

    Already grabbed GeoWars 2 and I'll be picking up Bionic Commando next week for sure.

    Nice batch of DLC, this.

  • mrkame16

    Posted Jul 31, 2008 7:12 am PT

    Real good Contest. i was planning on buying Bionic Commando Rearmed and i always play all the new arcade demos regardless if im interested in them or not.

  • beprice3

    Posted Jul 30, 2008 2:51 pm PT

    Super Joe FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!.
    On a side note it's freaking hilarious that people can find something to complain about in this story.Well you cant please all I guess.

  • Hvac0120

    Posted Jul 30, 2008 8:34 am PT

    Well what was the point of holding back titles that have done for months? Yes, I would have rather had some good titles to play during my summer off of school, then have a bunch of great games that I don't have time for because school has started. It's great that they actually have some good games coming out all at once, but since this is a rare thing and they held back titles in order to do it, I still think it was a bad thing for them to do. Maybe good marketing wise, but bad because they pushed back games just to have a promotion.

  • Bobby969

    Posted Jul 30, 2008 5:26 am PT

    nice prize

  • MoK86

    Posted Jul 30, 2008 2:39 am PT

    kool

  • Olaoye_tw

    Posted Jul 30, 2008 12:42 am PT

    I'm gonna download Geometry Wars 2 now!!!

  • paulmg

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 9:48 pm PT

    So Canadians have to answer a math question correctly to win?

    The only reason the skill question is mandatory is because non-government lotteries aren't allowed in Canada ( or at least in Quebec).
    By adding a simple math question, the contest becomes something like a ''gameshow'', which is entirely legal in Canada.

  • justagrouch

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 8:21 pm PT

    That would go towards Rock Band songs

  • Justforfun44

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 6:01 pm PT

    It would be fun to spend 100,000 points on Xbox Live!!!

  • aznjeon89

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 5:57 pm PT

    Microsoft's software division might be in bad times, but it is good to see that their Entertainment and Gaming division is finally doing well for the first time ever. Way to go MS! And this is coming from someone who owns a Macbook, lol.

  • Baseman28

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 5:34 pm PT

    Very, very good news.

    I've been waiting for Castle Crashers, but the rest of the games seem to just as fun.

  • tek-9

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 3:14 pm PT

    holy crap, that is a ton of points, you could buy expansion packs for games you dont even have and not even care lol

  • VolcanoMan001

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 3:03 pm PT

    Castle Crashers... it is about freckin' time!!!

  • soldjango

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 3:02 pm PT

    Whoo! Go Geometry Wars 2, Bionic Commando, and Castle Crashers (Galaga's cool too)! The contest is sweet too, but, knowing my luck, I'm not gonna win anything.

  • xbox360progamer

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 2:52 pm PT

    I GOTTA GO YALL .. LOL

  • Wolfather

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 2:28 pm PT

    Braid FTW

  • darobinson67

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 2:27 pm PT

    i cannot wait to try out braid, galaga 2 and castle crashers

  • km1498

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 1:40 pm PT

    castle crashers and GW 2 is definitely a must get. Contest are also cool.

  • Slaughtahouse

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 1:13 pm PT

    I cant wait for the galaga and castle crashers looks fun. I do like newgrounds's " alien hominid" so i can presume that castle crashers will be the next hit.

  • Slaughtahouse

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 1:08 pm PT

    wheres my GALAGA!!

  • peoplekiller1

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 1:03 pm PT

    finally some good arcade games. im going to buy castle crashers and geometry wars 2 for sure.

  • NND1

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 12:58 pm PT

    Firstly ALL YOU HATERS NEED TO HATE YOURSELF FOR BIENG A HATER / SECONDLY 360 rOCKS

  • okassar

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 12:32 pm PT

    Cool,a competition where I have a small chance to win all that and....Geometry Wars 2!!!I am definitely going to buy that.But am I the only one that thought,by the title Gamespot set,that they were going to say MS's whole schedule including exactly when avatars,Netflix...and all that come along?Ya,I'm kind of disappointed by the misleading title,but w/e.

  • paullywog

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 12:15 pm PT

    i want to win 100k ms points so bad.

  • Avenger1324

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 12:10 pm PT

    Holy competition rules Batman!!

    This is open to residents outside the US!!!!

    From the official site:
    NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States (includes D.C.), Canada, France, Germany, or U.K. 17+. Game ends September 2, 2008. Skill-testing question required for potential Canadian winners. For details including free, alternate method of entry, see the Official Rules.

    Not quite sure what skill testing for Canadians is :p

  • habstown

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 12:04 pm PT

    In Canada, there is a law that requires you to answer a mathematical type question everytime you enter a contest or win and want to collect the prize. Ya its wierd.

  • Mr_arizona

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 11:48 am PT

    For Canadian Residents Only: If you are a potential winner you will be required to correctly answer, without assistance of any kind, whether mechanical or otherwise, a time-limited mathematical skill-testing question to be administered by either telephone or e-mail. If you answer the skill-testing question incorrectly, as determined by us in our sole discretion, you will be disqualified and, at our discretion, an alternate winner shall be chosen from among all remaining eligible entries.

    So Canadians have to answer a math question correctly to win?

  • mariomusicmaker

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 11:27 am PT

    GEO WARS TOMORROW????!
    * PEES PANTS*
    oh my god was it not just announced a few weeks ago?

  • geeko316

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 11:24 am PT

    I can believe alot of you are complaining. How can you complain when there are games coming out, and free points to be made. I remember when summers used to have one or 2 good games to hold you over. I already feel this summer has been a a better one for games. Geometry wars 2 and castle crashers cant wait.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 11:17 am PT

    well, that's good that just playing demos can make one eligable, though, I was planning on getting Geometry Wars 2 anyways, so here's to hoping I get that Elite and all those MS points

  • terry_tate

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 11:13 am PT

    @ KLONE360
    'wow more dumb arcade games and i thought psn was bad i wish these companies saw we dont want twenty million platformers we want real games to like doom or maybe halo 1,or even free to play games funded by advertisements or any other 3d game that can be considered good. I HATE ARCADE GAMES i have already played most of them to death!"

    If you hate them.. why have you played most of them "to death"?

  • submissions72 posted Jul 29, 2008 11:12 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    submissions72

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 11:12 am PT (hide)

    WHO CARES microsoft! Seriously DO you think majority of gamers care about Geometry Wars 2: Retro Evolved?? Update us with some real news and this boring game industry that's been going on this summer. ALL the games are coming out in november.. this summer blows

  • flackstone

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 11:00 am PT

    marcusrosemeier-
    "2 k for first prize wow step microsoft dont get to close to the edge. i know its hard when u earn billions do give back and little something to your consumers. this an insult"

    And im sure micrsoft wants to give you free stuff when you say stuff like that....I find they give free stuff to people who actualy enjoy games for games and the money as an extra bonus they dont give it to little ****

  • goldfront45

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 10:49 am PT

    you can download halo 1

  • akiwak

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 10:07 am PT

    M$ will now tempt you into buying bigger harddrives so you can download all the demos and games you would have otherwise just skipped. This is the way M$ 'Gives Away' points. They will wind up making it up with these sales. Not a bad strategy... I would like you to consider your odds of winning 1 in 12million+Live users I doubt that a non-Live user will win but that is another 7 million. Good Luck

  • kennykaos317

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 10:04 am PT

    Hvac0120 - I disagree completely with your post. While 1 release per week isn't great, the games they are releasing may be. They are at least 5 very high profile titles. Would you rather have 1 Geometry Wars, or a week of Dodgeball and Crosswords?

    And I think the idea is brilliant. It gives incentive for everybody to at least try games they may not be interested in. It may even drive players who wouldn't normally touch an Arcade title at all to give it a try. They will surely make some sales through this promotion that they normally wouldn't.

    While it would be great to have all 5 titles released as soon as they are ready, that's not the reality. I'm excited to be getting 5 straight weeks of potentially great Arcade games. And by spacing them out, I may actually have time to play them all!

  • raahsnavj

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 9:32 am PT

    A lottery is a interesting idea. And a free lottery is even better. Count me in.

  • Hvac0120 posted Jul 29, 2008 9:13 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Hvac0120

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 9:13 am PT (hide)

    :
    "The Summer of Arcade"


    Okay, so we're all about to go back to school (well, those in college and under) and Microsoft is promoting a "Summer of Arcade." Summer is almost over you idiots!

    Plus, 1 month with only 4 releases? That doesn't really seem to be a month "packed" with exciting releases.

    Lastly, some of these games have been COMPLETE since early this year. Why hold them back for this promotion? This is really dumb. Whoever thought of this should meet with Tonya Harding for a knee whooping.

    The free MS points is nice. Especially since the demos count as entries. Too bad MS will likely give it to someone who actually pays. Also too bad that I never win anything, although I always register for everything! That's just my luck though.

    Anyway...that's my 2 cents and it's more thought than MS put into the promotion.

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