Arkanoid Live! Now on XBLA

[Graham Mitchell]

There was a whole bunch of cool looking stuff on XBLA this week (like Lode Runner and a remake of Space Invaders), but the only one I got so far was Arkanoid Live due to my undying love of that game.

It's pretty cool. I haven't had a ton of time to spend with it, but a lot of the levels from episode 1 are directly from the original arcade/NES game. The online game is fun, too, although I have trouble finding opponents.

Unfortunately, it's not as good as the Arkanoid Returns arcade game from around 2000. That game was amazing, and I don't think it's been ported to anything in the US.

Anyway, thought ya'll would want to know about it. Anybody know how to unlock Episodes 3 and 4? I suspect this may be DLC available down the line.

[Leo_A]

You buy the second set of episodes in-game for 400 MS points.

[GrandAmChandler]

This has to be the biggest screwjob since Lumines Live! (http://www.vitalsecurity.org/2009/05/when-is-full-game-not-full-game.html) The demo is NOT honest. When you play it clearly states that there are 4 episodes. It also says you can download episodes 3 & 4 when you are done 1 & 2. (It says nothing about paying extra!) It's basically an unlock code so they can take a 800pt game and turn it into a 1200pt game. I refuse to support this.

Try bricks4ever (http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258550195/) instead, a better value at 200pts than this garbage.

[norkusa]

Is it hard to play with the 360 controller? I'm a big Arkanoid fan but I'm avoiding it because I can't imagine playing it without a spinner or at least a mouse.

[Leo_A]

There's nothing wrong with what Lumines Live did. As far as I know, it was clear the game was divided into seperate pieces and the various components are there in XBL marketplace for all to see. They never tried to decieve people, just divide a higher priced game into smaller pieces to ease the sticker shock for what's viewed as a typical XBLA game to get people to try it out and expand it later if they choose to do so after getting addicted. Starting out by selling it whole for what they felt like it was worth ($30 or so?), and most everyone on XBLA would've immediately dismissed it. This way they let people get a taste of it and expand it later if they desired, without any deception of the hidden cost.

That's not the case with Arkanoid. Your buying what's listed as the full game, there's no episodes 3 & 4 download on XBL marketplace to tip you off that something's up (Its paid for and unlocked entirely ingame), and there's no warning your not actually getting the full game when you buy what's labeled as the full game for 800 points. Its nothing but deception to try to get a extra $5 out of people after the initial purchase.

[iloveguns]

Is it hard to play with the 360 controller? I'm a big Arkanoid fan but I'm avoiding it because I can't imagine playing it without a spinner or at least a mouse.

same here...

[Graham Mitchell]

Really, it plays quite well using the analogue stick. If you hold down the bumpers, the Vaus doubles in speed. If you hold down both, it increases speed to 4X. It works pretty well.

You know, I think it's ridiculous that people bitch about the cost of DLC. It costs what it costs. Deal with it.

It's a little more annoying when features like levels on Beautiful Katamari or the Vs mode on Resident Evil 5 are actually shipped on the disc and then you need to pay to unlock them, but I don't see the big deal with Arkanoid Live. There are tons of games on XBLA of comparable quality that sell for 1200 points.

[c0ldb33r]

Try bricks4ever (http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258550195/) instead, a better value at 200pts than this garbage.
I downloaded this based on your recommendation. The presentation isn't much, but it plays great :)

Much better than spending 10-15 bucks for the official version.

[meancode]

Hey Chandler, I will surely give bricks4ever a try. Once I get online again and recover my Gamertag, and then migrate all my licenses to my new 360 - what a freaking pain.

[Graham Mitchell]

Yeah, I'll give it a try too when I get a chance!

[paperinik]

hi guys, sorry for the intrusion. I'm the brick4ever's programmer, I'm very happy that you like how I did the game. Thank you!

I ask you to support the game going on xbox.com (here (http://forums.xbox.com/27215158/ShowPost.aspx)) expressing your preference and, if you don't mind, write a mail to Major Nelson (major@xbox.com) telling that you like B4E, he could speak about b4e during his show.

Thanks guys!!

[Poofta!]

Unfortunately, it's not as good as the Arkanoid Returns arcade game from around 2000. That game was amazing, and I don't think it's been ported to anything in the US.


was it ported to anything? in any country? i loved the arkanoid game on DOS back in the day and would love to play something similar.

another question: why are you guys paying $10+ for a 20 year old game? i mean something with this amount of remakes, is it really necessary to own an xbla version?

[Graham Mitchell]

was it ported to anything? in any country? i loved the arkanoid game on DOS back in the day and would love to play something similar.
i dont really know for sure. if it was poerted to anything it would have been japanese dreamcast because that console had tons of 2d arcade ports from that era.

[Leo_A]

Arkanoid Returns was more mid 1990s, and it saw a Japanese only Playstation release.

Wouldn't surprise me if it was included on one of the Japanese Taito Memories PS2 volumes, they got a ton of stuff we never got in Taito Legends 1 & 2.

[norkusa]

Has anyone tried the Mad Catz joystick with the spinner knob to see if it's supported in Arkanoid Live? I'm guessing it's not but I gotta ask anyway.

BTW, do ANY games 360 games work with that Mad Catz spinner?

[Poofta!]

Has anyone tried the Mad Catz joystick with the spinner knob to see if it's supported in Arkanoid Live? I'm guessing it's not but I gotta ask anyway.

BTW, do ANY games 360 games work with that Mad Catz spinner?

i think that is a non-functioning knob. almost certain of it.

[Leo_A]

The knob does stuff, its tied into the analog stick or something. But every report I've ever read said it didn't work very well and was useless.

[Poofta!]

The knob does stuff, its tied into the analog stick or something. But every report I've ever read said it didn't work very well and was useless.

i had the thing, in my experience its just a plastic thing that is just for show. [not speaking in absolutes, i really have no idea if its wired or not, i just know its useless]

[Captain Wrong]

The knob is basically the X axis on the left stick. And it's pretty much worthless.