XBLA expands! 512MB Memory Units engaged!
The size limit of Xbox Live Arcade games has been increased from 50MB to 150MB, signalling the arrival of yet more spectacular games. Starting today, game creators have even more freedom to bring new and original ideas to XBLA with more complex game features. Of course these babies aren’t all going to fit on your standard 64MB Memory Unit, which is why Microsoft is introducing a 512MB version from 3 April. Games such as “Boom Boom Rocket” from Bizarre Creations and 16-player “Wing Commander Arena”, both published by EA, are among the first fantastic new games to take full advantage of the increased memory benefits. Bizarre’s ‘hypnotic rhythm music’ game will launch on XBLA this spring, but we’ll have to wait a little longer for WCA. Meanwhile, we have “3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures”, “Eets: Chowdown”, “Pinball FX” and Rare’s classic update “Jetpac Refuelled” to come.
If you’re hoping to transport these bigger games and sign-in to play using your account on a friend’s Xbox 360, the 512MB Memory Unit is your only option bud. Priced €49.99/£34.99, these will contain Bizarre Creations’ “Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved”… but for a limited time only, so be smart and be quick. Another great use of the 512MB Memory Unit will be to give Xbox 360 owners the ability to download exclusive content from any of the Xbox 360 kiosks accessible at retail outlets. Also from 3 April the price of the more familiar 64MB Memory Units will drop to €34.99/£22.99, and these babies are still perfect for transporting save game files or user profiles and Xbox Live Marketplace content. Basically, we’re all winners here guys. Nobody gets left out, not while we’re in charge. |
