Xbox Live throws a 'Block Party' for March

Much like with their Summer of Arcade promotions of the past, Microsoft is bundling a bunch of their most anticipated Xbox Live Arcade games into a few back-to-back (-to-back-to-back) weeks. This time they are calling it the "Block Party," and much like their last promotion, you'll be rewarded for downloading all the games offered. Downloading the 3 paid games (see below) will nab you 400 Microsoft Points ($5) and if you're a Gold subscriber you'll also get an extra month added onto your subscription. Silver subscribers get a bonus of their own with free access to Block Party's online multiplayer modes from March 26-29. Check out the lineup below:

March 3-- TOY SOLDIERS (1200 MSP/ $15)

March 10-- SCRAP METAL (1200 MSP/ $15)

March 17-- PERFECT DARK (800 MSP / $10)

March 24-- GAME ROOM (Free; see below)

The Game Room service will give you a digital arcade for your Avatar to roam through. You can buy "cabinets" featuring old-school arcade games for either 240 MSP ($3) or 400 MSP ($5); the more expensive version will let you play it on your PC as well. Now, go to your calendar and circle March 17 so you know exactly when to download the extremely affordable, enhanced version of the N64's best shooter.

XBLA Summer of Arcade schedule revealed

Having already previously revealed the lineup, Microsoft has now unvieled the schedule and price points for the titles included in the promotional program. The list contains a mild surprise in the revelation that Shadow Complex withh only be 1200 MS Points, or $15. Previously, someone who was interviewed at Epic--I think Mark Rein--had said the title would likely be $20 or more because of its scope (apologies for being unable to find a link for that).

July 22-- TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled (1200 MSP/$15)

July 29-- Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (1200 MSP/$15)

August 5-- 'Splosion Man (800 MSP/$10)

August 12-- Trials HD (1200 MSP/$15)

August 19-- Shadow Complex (1200 MSP/$15)

E3 2009: Perfect Dark XBLA confirmed, Summer of Arcade is back!

Confirming earlier rumors, Major Nelson's Twitter page has revealed the Rare-developed N64 hit Perfect Dark will in fact be landing on the Xbox Live Arcade this winter. No details were given beyond that it will run in 1080p... but expect the usual XBLA enhancement such as online play and leaderboards. Hoo-rah! Mums the word on the also-rumored Perfect Dark 2, though.

In other XBLA news, Microsoft is bringing back its Summer of Arcade promotion following the immense success of last year's edition. While the 2009 Summer of Arcade may not be as mind-blowing as the first, it sure does pack a punch. Check out the lineup below, in no particular order:

-Marvel vs. Capcom 2

-Shadow Complex

-'Splosion Man

-TMNT: Turtles in Time RE-SHELLED

-The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition

-Trials HD

Not included in the promotion (and therefore likely hitting in the June or July) are notable prospects Joy Ride and Battlefield 1943. Also, check out the LIVE Marketplace tomorrow for a free Perfect Dark theme.

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 Fighting Footage

For those of you out there that are as stoked as me about the upcoming Marvel vs. Capcom 2 XBLA/PSN port, then here is a little treat. The following montage video features almost (if not) all the fighters featured in the game. Can't wait for this one!

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 at IGN.com

Bionic Commando Rearmed discounted for a week

In case you havn't noticed, Microsoft has permanently instituted a program that proved to be pretty successful during the 2008 Holiday Season: the Xbox Live Deal of the Week. Every week there is a new special discount for a selected item on Xbox LIVE, featuring everything from Arcade games, Downloadable Content, and Xbox Originals. This week's deal, Bionic Commando: Rearmed, is pretty noteworthy as it was considered one of the better games on Xbox LIVE Arcade. The original 800 MSP ($10) price was already a pretty good deal, but this week's promotion knocks that price down to 400 MSP ($5). At that price, the game is simply a steal. The game itself is a full remake of the original Bionic Commando for the NES, but it is a tad on the difficult side so at the very least try out the demo if even the miniscule $5 price point isn't incentive enough.

Original Perfect Dark might be coming to XBLA

A couple months back, people got all excited about a little tease Rare had. In promotion of a Banjo-Kazooie dashboard theme, the Rare employee's gamer profile featured a played game that had a picture icon featuring the N64 model of Joanna Dark. Many people surmised that a port of the original game was en route to XBLA, but that's not exactly hard evidence, is it.

Well over the weekend there was a new leak, this time from the same Brazil conference that supposedly confirmed Forza Motorsport 3 for this year (not something thats totally a shock, mind you). From that same vid, there is a screenshot of a gamer blade featuring Perfect Dark with the same N64 Joanna icon. This is a little more solid evidence to go on, and as a personal time-sucker of my middle school years I am pretty stoked if a port is in fact in the cards.

In the comments of that same 1up News story that features the leak, some users have also speculated what "Bean" (also listed in the screenshot) could possibly be. "Bean" has the same icon as Perfect Dark Zero, so this could be a Perfect Dark Zero 2, or, more likely, Perfect Dark 2, or even some completely unrelated project altogether. My bet is on an already-rumored Perfect Dark 2 coming either this year or perhaps sometime next year since Halo 3: ODST is slated for this year. Whenever it does come out, I'm also betting that the Perfect Dark XBLA port will probably be used as a pre-order bonus a la the original Banjo-Kazooie was for Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, another Rare franchise.

Xbox Live Arcade Essentials-- #10

For the next 10 days, I will be counting down the 10 best games on the Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA). Each day will be an explanation of what the game is about and why you need to go download the free trial RIGHT NOW. They are free for a reason, but these are all well worth the small amount of cash.

#10-- PORTAL: STILL ALIVE (800 MSP)

Portal: Still Alive is an enhanced, downloadable version of the critically-acclaimed puzzle game that was bundled in The Orange Box in 2007. This version is just Portal, enhanced with unique achievements and bonus challenge maps. 

Gameplay in Portal is controlled much like a first-person shooter, except that your only gun is the portal gun. From this gun you can shoot orange and blue portals with the two triggers and go in and out of either one. There can only be one orange and one blue portal at any given time, thus where the strategy begins. The first couple levels serve as somewhat of a tutorial, but the game gradually builds up and becomes increasingly complex until the final two levels, which really test you're brain power (but relax, they are doable if you just analyze it enough). Guiding you on your "tests" is a hilarious A.I. called GlaDoS. She might sound boring at first, be the writers gave her some genuinely funny things to say.

It might sound kind of complicated, but in practice it is actually very simple. Just check out the video below for a glimpse of what exactly is going on, then download the free trial for the 10th best XBLA game right after.

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 finally confirmed for XBLA and PSN

After months of evidence-backed rumors, Capcom has finally come clean with their new downloadable version of fan-favorite fighter Marvel vs. Capcom 2 for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. 

The fighter features over 55 characters out of the Marvel Comics universe as well as Capcom's gaming archives facing on in fast-paced, 3-on-3 tag team action. This new downloadable version of the game will be based on the Dreamcast version, but with upgraded 16:9 visuals and the lag-free network code of Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix's online component for fighting over the internet. 

Lucky PlayStation 3 owners can download a demo for the game right now. For Xbox 360 owners and people who want to get the full package (it will be $15/1200 MS points), Marvel vs. Capcom 2 will be released for download this summer. I had a chance to give the PS3 version a spin earlier this afternoon and I have to say that it is definitely worth the bills.