Games - Xbox Live Arcade

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	Games - Xbox Live Arcade

Xbox Live Arcade is a service first launched by Microsoft on 4 November, 2004 for the Xbox. The service offers both new and old arcade and console games over Xbox Live for a flat fee - approximately $5 to $15 (USD) or £5 to £7.50 (GBP). Playable demos of the titles are available for free.

Xbox Live Arcade software (available for a nominal fee by mail or via magazine cover disks) was required in order to access the service on the original Xbox. The service is an integrated feature of the Xbox 360 dashboard.

The Xbox 360 hard drive comes preinstalled with Hexic HD, an exclusive Xbox Live Arcade title.

Xbox 360 support brings Xbox Live Arcade to new heights with accurate and up-to-date leaderboards. All game scores are linked with a player's gamertag. Gamers can see where they stand in the Xbox Live community, take a look at the world's best players, or see how they match up against people on their Xbox Live friends list. While demos can be played, the full version must be purchased in order for upload scores to the leaderboards, unlock achievements, play multiplayer, and download bonus content. Each Xbox Live Arcade game can contain a maximum of 12 possible achievements totaling 200 gamerpoints.

Microsoft Points

Games are purchased on Xbox Live Arcade using Microsoft Points. Points can be purchased instantly via the dashboard using a credit card or by redeeming a prepaid card purchased from a retailer. They can be purchased in blocks of 500, 1000, 2000, or 5000 points. The purchase price of Microsoft Points vary by region.

There are multiple advantages to using a system such as this to purchase software. By utilizing an abstract concept such as the Microsoft Point, it helps disassociate the cost of the game from its actual monetary purchase price. Also, requiring customers to purchase points in block sizes that differ from actual game cost, customers will always have some remaining points that they can "top up" to purchase something else.

Sales and downloads

Microsoft announced that as of March 10, 2006, 3 million downloads of Xbox Live Arcade games had been made, at least 600,000 of which had been purchased. Also, 60% of gamers connected to Xbox Live on the Xbox 360 had downloaded a trial version of an Xbox Live Arcade title. In terms of sales, the best selling title was Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, followed by Gauntlet, Smash TV, Bejeweled II, and Zuma, in that order.

Xbox Live Arcade Games

The following is the complete list of titles available on Xbox Live Arcade.

(*) Note: LB - Leaderboards, M - Multiplayer, CO - Co-operative play, DC - Downloadable content

Upcoming Games

These are upcoming titles.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Xbox Live Arcade ]

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