Microsoft goes bigger in Arcade, memory units

By Tim Surette, GameSpotPosted Mar 5, 2007 11:53 am PT

XBLA Jetpac Refuelled, 512MB memory unit preloaded with Geometry Wars announced; size of Xbox Live Arcade games officially bumped up to 150MB.

Microsoft is a titan in the software industry--there's no denying that. In keeping with its gargantuan reputation, the company has announced that it is supersizing two of its products.

Enhanced graphics, indeed.

Xbox 360 owners will be able to carry more with a single memory unit, as a new 512MB version was revealed today. Previously, memory units were sized at 64MB. The new half-gig units will come preloaded with the Xbox Live Arcade title Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (for a limited time) and retail for $49.99 when they arrive in stores on April 3. At that time, the price of the 64MB units will drop from $39.99 to $29.99.

The announcement comes in conjunction with the revelation that Microsoft has increased the size limit of Xbox Live Arcade titles from 50MB to 150MB, a move the company says will give developers "greater flexibility in game design and [expand] the opportunity to add advanced game features while still keeping games compact." Today's news is the official confirmation of the increase, which was previously given the thumbs up for the upcoming Castlevania: Symphony of Night.

Microsoft also formally confirmed the Xbox Live Arcade game Jetpac Refuelled from Rare Ltd. The game is a remake of the 1983 shooter Jetpac released on the UK ZX Spectrum computer. The XBLA version will feature enhanced graphics and more than 100 levels. Jetpac Refuelled will be shown off this week at GDC, along with the previously announced Pinball FX, Boom Boom Rocket, 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures, and Eets: Chowdown.

169 Comments

  • Spikester1981

    Posted Mar 13, 2007 1:12 pm PT

    Yeah I know it's going to happen...just wish they would stop making dumb business decisions like this one when the demand is there for the hard drive

  • mrklorox

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 3:20 pm PT

    Get_Shorty: Too little Too late? Not in the least! This is 3 times the space XBLA games could be before. I'm kinda excited about this news. Oh, and NOBODY is trying to be like the PS3.

    Spikester1981: It's going to happen and you know it! 1/2 hour HD episodes on XBLM take up around a GIGABYTE of space. That's more than 7% of the space the 20GB hard drive has (for data storage like movies). The 20GB unit was to test the waters and to wet appetites.

  • Get_Shorty

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 10:45 am PT

    Too little too late. Some of the games out now could have benefited from that increase before they came out. They're trying to be like the PS3 who arlready does this.

  • Spikester1981

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 10:33 am PT

    Screw the bigger memory units. GIVE US LARGER HARD DRIVES!!

    I don't know about anyone else, but I don't feel like keeping XBLA downloads along with my game saves and having to buy memory units all the time. I would rather have a larger hard drive to store stuff on.

    Stupid move on M$ part...

  • LosDaddie

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 9:24 am PT

    Great news for a fan of XBLA like myself.

    Go, Wii60!!

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 8:35 am PT

    Should have done this long time ago M$!

  • gmax Site moderator

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 7:18 am PT

    Probably a good move...

  • LordAndrew

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 6:40 am PT

    That's more like it!

  • necrophilissimo

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 5:14 am PT

    Oh my, this one looks GOOD. I mean, not poorly patched-in emulator stuff the other classic "ports" are made off, but seriously slick art! Can't wait
    ---
    Edit; And about the MU; I'll most likely buy one to store older games I no longer play; to wait another retro-itch.

  • TTDog

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 3:17 am PT

    I remember playing Jetpac back in 1982, boy have I been playing games too long.

    There were sad little fanboys around then as well, but back then they knew how to spell and form proper sentences, none of this PWNED nonsense.

  • 50dollaz

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 3:09 am PT

    thats good

  • Tranceplant

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 2:18 am PT

    Awesome news!!! Now I need a DATE for SOTN... that Jetpack game looks crazy.

  • nazraq

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 12:40 am PT

    this is great news! now the 64 MB card is cheaper. I never liked the price of the memory cards so I couldn't bring my live account to my friends without bringing my hard drive. now its worth it. and i can finally continue to earn achievements while playing split screen at my friends house.

  • Lee_way86

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 10:27 pm PT

    The point of the memory unit is to take with you else were like say you want to go to a friends house To play doa4 and you have helena unlocked and they dont personally its a good thing to have but to use as an actual storage device and not just a portable device is well not a good idea

  • Rickettsz0780

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 10:26 pm PT

    why not spend 50 bucks more and get 19.5 gigabytes. waste of money if you ask me adding the arcade worth it hopefully boosts the sales maybe maybe not cause you can buy it for 5 bucks anyway

  • SnuffDaddyNZ

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 9:41 pm PT

    Good Point XAF1.
    I don't think Ill ever be buying a memory unit for my HD equipped 360.

    The memory units are intended for people who bought the hd-less versions.

  • XAF1

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 9:04 pm PT

    Guys the main thing to consider is why even buy a 512mb MU for $50 bucks when one could buy an offical 360 20gb hard drive for $50 bucks more---just save the cash. Also why even worry about it if MS is possibly releasing a bigger hard drive later this year. Actually I am happy that I am not using my own external hard drive. You guys tend to forget that not all external hard drives have the same access speeds and USB is okay but if games or demos are 1GB or bigger how does that help. USB is great for optimized usage but how do u optimize for every hard drive brand out there. XBLA games are going to get even bigger. I'm just happy that they are increasing the size limit. It means we could get the other Sega Arcade games from the 90's and the bigger SNK, and Capcom, Midway, and Namco , Killer Instinct ,etc. games eventually. Also this opens up a new avenue for Indie games with big aspirations. As far as all this crap about media extender just pick up a Windows Media PC or Windows Vista Premium. Also this article has nothing to do with Blu-ray or HD-Dvd--- such a tired debate any way. If you have a PS3 enjoy it but this article isn't about the PS3 it's about download size and XBLA. The PS3 has its own issues which I and many others are waiting for Sony to resolve.

  • stealthrodent

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 8:58 pm PT

    Sweet, but a bigger HDD would be nice. I'd rather one big HDD, than an HDD and a memory unit.

  • wenbin09

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 8:23 pm PT

    good news, but a bigger HDD will be better

  • Valen_Ca

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 7:28 pm PT

    Now all they need to do is unlock the ability to attach USB drives and have the system recognize them as system drives.

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