Defender this week's Live Arcade game

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpotPosted Nov 15, 2006 4:19 pm PT

[UPDATE] Xbox 360 version of Midway's arcade classic arrives after a delay in certification process--or does it?

The standard modus operandi for new releases in Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday program has become a late-Tuesday announcement of a game to be released in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

Microsoft deviated from that formula last night, when the clock struck midnight and beyond with nary a new Arcade offering to be found online. However, Xbox Live director of programming Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb did confirm on his blog late Tuesday night that Midway's Defender had been planned for release, but was held up by last-minute certification issues. Hryb said at the time that "the team is working as hard as they can to get it into your hands as soon as possible on Wednesday."

Wednesday afternoon, a Microsoft representative told GameSpot the company was "just wrapping up some details" on the title. However, Defender was still not available on the Marketplace as of press time.

The Xbox Live Arcade version of Scramble and the demo of 2K Games' Prey also ran into certification issues. Scramble was eventually released a week after the certification problem was confirmed, while the Prey demo found its way online about nine days after it was originally expected to appear.

[UPDATE 6:01 p.m.] A Microsoft representative has told GameSpot that Defender has made it through certification and should be available tonight on the Xbox Live Marketplace. However, it was still not available as of press time. When it does arrive, it will sell for 400 Microsoft points ($5).

37 Comments

  • _Sam_

    Posted Nov 23, 2006 2:45 pm PT

    Why do you think it's overpriced?

  • KBFTodd

    Posted Nov 20, 2006 10:53 am PT

    It's cool......

  • piecake

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 1:20 pm PT

    grrrrrreat

  • LancerVI

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 10:06 am PT

    I just played it. They did a good job. One of the most difficult coin-ops ever...

    Lancer VI

  • dokidokilove

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 1:10 am PT

    Ah yes, one of the most difficult games around! I love the original, and I happen to think this is a good transfer.

  • ralphikari

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 11:07 am PT

    Atlus took the Double Dragon/Kunio Kun franchise after Technos Japan went under but they showed little interest in reviving it. They also stick to making PS2 and DS games so unless someone like Digital Eclipse pries it off their hands, Double Dragon won't come to XBL

  • Jebril

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 11:00 am PT

    I won't be downloading any Wii Classics because I already own most titles so unless they add something to them I have no reason to buy them again.

  • mariokart64fan

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 10:06 am PT

    yay more overpriced crap! , i rather download mariokart64 or mario64 on my wii then download old games i already do not like

  • Lepuke

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 8:49 am PT

    I might buy this one. Double Dragon with online Co-op would be awesome.

  • TWOC2689

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 8:34 am PT

    I really like the Updated Visuals

  • Destroyeron13

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 8:03 am PT

    Certification Issues?

  • ksathra

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 6:15 am PT

    Nice to see this show up on the 360 but if I wanted to play Defender that bad I will play Midway Arcade Classics on the original Xbox.

  • OPOLO

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 6:15 am PT

    I'm going to get this one

  • SpruceCaboose

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 5:09 am PT

    I enjoy older classics, but I would love more original games on arcade, like Wik, Marble Blast, and Geometry Wars! I hope the XNA tools get more creative games out on the arcade.

  • EmperorSamoth

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 3:32 am PT

    Why can't we see Double Dragon on Live?

  • Britesparc

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 2:17 am PT

    Personally, I'm hoping for some more newer retro games - Doom's a good example. I'm chuffed to bits that Sensible World of Soccer is coming out next year, and Worms too, apparently (nothing about it on Gamespot, but Team 17 have said it's on its way - for PS3, too, mind).

    As well as some spangly new games - I'm looking forward to Jeff Minter's latest - we should get some HUGE classics, bugger the 64mb restriction. How about the original Perfect Dark? Or the first two Monkey Island games? I'd pay 1200 points for all those games!

  • Dolacide

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 1:07 am PT

    I agree, most of the games on the arcade are over priced, and after playing Contra, are crap.

  • TOSgamer10

    Posted Nov 15, 2006 11:40 pm PT

    Yay!!! More overpriced crap.....

  • pondarosa

    Posted Nov 15, 2006 11:22 pm PT

    "From now on you have competition to contend with."

    Uh, I wouldn't exactly call "Wheel of Fortune" competition. The retro arcade is going to be a big deal with the Wii, with a lot of old-school games available, but they aren't going to be giving us anything new. As far as the PS3 is concerned, we should see if they can even pull off a decent online anything before they are considered competition on that front. Microsoft has brought out a good amount of terrific classic games and also shown that the arcade will be a showcase for new talent as well. I'm all for more games like "Marble Blast Ultra" and "Cloning Clyde".

    "Wheel of Fortune" is not going to make a downloadable gaming service like "Geometry Wars" or "Marble Blast Ultra" did.

  • gta11

    Posted Nov 15, 2006 9:10 pm PT

    Cool, I love Defender.

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