The New Xbox Live Arcade!

If you have Xbox 360™, chances are you have noticed the changes and all the features that it has to offer. We rarely get a chance to say this, but it was definitely worth the wait and the hype! There are a wide range of game types in the launch titles and each has something that amazed me.

I can now stream my own custom soundtracks from my computer at the touch of a button, I can talk with a friend while playing a game or just relaxing without needing to exit the screen, I can even go to Marketplace and download new trailers in high definition, watch them at a touch of a button, and then delete them just as easy.

In short, since I have set up my Xbox 360, it has rarely been turned off and has become just as important to me as my original Xbox® system. Many of you may remember the article we wrote last summer about the Xbox Live® Arcade and the ease of the disc driven system. The Xbox 360 has a built-in Arcade feature, so now there are no more discs to pop in and out when you want to play.

Mutant Storm Reloaded looks great in hi-def.

Xbox Live Arcade Is Versatile
Microsoft has made the Xbox Live features and games available to Xbox 360 owners easier and friendlier to use. Go to the Xbox Live Arcade screen and download a playable demo, or download the full version by redeeming Microsoft Points. Thanks to the Xbox 360 Hard Drive, the games or demos you download are now kept in one place. With a push of a single button you can play whenever you want.

Need a break from the fast pace and white-knuckle chase that Need for Speed™ Most Wanted provides? Maybe a relaxing game of Hardwood Hearts or Hardwood Spades will do the trick. If that's not your style, choose a game of Bankshot Billiards 2 or classic coin-op games like Smash TV, Joust, or even Gauntlet.

For shooters, check out the complete version of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved and Mutant Storm Reloaded, both with mind-blowing HD graphics and intense action. You can be racing at record speeds one minute and online with a few friends playing a nice game of cards the next … is Xbox 360 Arcade cool or what?

Your Account and Games are Safe
Not only is the new Arcade much easier to navigate though, it safeguards your downloads from accidental deletion. Each time you download a full version of any game, it keeps a download history that is connected to your gamertag.

It's hard to stop playing the addictive Zuma .

If you happen to delete the game or need to replace it, it's fast and easy. For parents the best part is now your credit card is safer than ever because you can redeem Microsoft Points for content in Xbox live Marketplace. Points cards can be bought in various increments from your local Xbox 360 retailer. A Points card is like a prepaid phone card or debit card. Scrape a coin to reveal the hidden number, and then input the code on the back of the card to redeem the Points!

This helps parents teach their younger children how to manage their points, and also safeguards them from going beyond the pre-set limit. Of course, a simple push of the download history will show parents  everything that has been bought or downloaded from Xbox Live Arcade and Marketplace. Most of the games carry an ESRB rating of E-T.

The cost of each game generally ranges from 400-800 points, with one or two a little higher. The variety of different games is great—from puzzle and word games to the classics. The best part is that most of the games feature a co-op and Xbox Live mode, so you can play with others.

Enjoy a relaxing game of Hardwood Backgammon .

Yes, you can also get Points from Xbox Live with a credit card. Once obtained, they remain in your account to redeem in the future for games, themes, or other downloads. The new privacy and ease of buying as little as 500 points at a time really offers everyone a bit more control over their credit cards.

Was It Worth the Change?
You can see how Microsoft not only changed Xbox Live Arcade, but also improved it. The games are not just short money-making versions, but also offer the same great sound and hi-def visuals as regular Xbox 360 games without the need of having to run out and buy the game. It also allows for invites from a friend that may have a game that you do not have. In about 30 seconds, download it and join in.

Have a great conversation and catch up on old times while still having fun using the Xbox Live Arcade feature. Here at Xbox Solution, we've found ourselves playing the Arcade games more often than some of our favorite titles …

The old system was good, but just like the enhanced controls and functions of Xbox 360, the Live Arcade also has many new and great features. Games will be added monthly and those who grew up in the arcades (like me) will have greater classics to choose from. Those who prefer card or puzzle games will also get some great new games soon.

SmashTV can be a great stress reliever.

I really enjoyed the old Xbox Live Arcade, but the new Xbox 360 version has blown me away. The games are great, the download times are very fast, and the games are fun and can teach at the same time. If you want to expand your Xbox 360 experience and you haven't really checked out the new Xbox Live Arcade yet, you're missing out on some great games. Most games are less than ten bucks, and Xbox Live Arcade is open 24/7/365!

Casual Games—More than Games, Seriously
We've done a lot of snooping around, a lot of developer interviews, and even more talking with gamers just like you and me. When it comes to casual games, such as the games found in the Xbox Live Arcade, it seems there is more than meets the eye.

We all know that games in general are used by people, even subconsciously as a stress reliever, and Xbox Solution has maintained in many previous articles that they help build fundamental skills for gamers of all age groups. It wasn't until we spoke with PopCap games, the folks who created Bejeweled 2 and Zuma that we got some solid research behind our theories. We're not going to go into a bunch of psychobabble here, but there are some interesting highlights that are certainly noteworthy.

In July of 2005 a study in The British Medical Journal concluded that "Video games can provide cognitive distraction for children during chemotherapy for cancer and treatment for sickle cell disease." As it turns out, the benefits aren't just for children:

An ongoing, nationwide study of elderly subjects found that those who routinely participated in brain-stimulating activities were at reduced risk for developing Alzheimer's. The more the participants performed such activities, the greater the protective effect. Those reporting frequent brain-stimulating activities at the beginning of the observation period were found to be 47% less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease over four and a half years of follow up than were those reporting infrequent cognitive activities.
—Chicago's Rush Institute for Healthy Aging
The Journal of the American Medical Association, February 2005

Casual word and puzzle computer games, such asBookwormand Bejeweledcan help people exercise and enhance their concentration and focusing skills; develop new cellular brain connections thereby helping to keep the healthy brain active and vital; and, by seriously attending to the word and puzzle games, people can control stress by cognitively 'blocking out' the negative stresses of the day, at least temporarily.
—Psychologist Dr. Carl Arinoldo, Stony Brook, New York

So it seems our theories have some validity to them, at least to some people with much more experience in the field than we have. The bottom line is that the casual games delivered on the Xbox Live Arcade have the potential to not only entertain, but to be more helpful than we may ever realize. Over the course of our next few articles, we will be highlighting some of the Xbox Live Arcade titles that we think are hits, and letting you know why. Until then, see you in the Arcade!

Article by Jason Rybka and Rich Reed, Xbox Solution