Get Retro with Xbox Live Arcade

There's no doubting the appeal of those deceptively simple yet addictive games from the past. Take everyone's favorite Bejeweled for instance: After sitting at a computer all day, it's tough on your back and your rear-end to spend an additional few hours at home, hunched over your PC playing games on the Zone. Wouldn't it be great to kick back in a giant beanbag chair, wireless controller in hand, and play your beloved Bejeweled on Xbox® in complete comfort?

Your wish is our command. Now you can play a boatload of your favorite games from the Zone, plus a host of classic favorites—including arcade, puzzle, trivia, card, and board games—on Xbox Live® Arcade. It turns your Xbox into an instant party: In games that support it, like Fuzzee Fever, you can play with friends over Xbox Live, and chat while you play.

It's simple to get started—all you need is the Xbox Live Arcade launcher disc. We'll even send you the disc for free; you just pay for shipping and handling. And, for a limited time, the disc comes with a full version of the retro arcade classic Ms. Pac-Man.

What else can I play on Xbox Live Arcade?
Lots. Here's just a taste of what you'll find online ...

• Retro classics like Dig Dug, Pole Position, Galaga, Joust, Defender, Robotron, and Gauntlet from publishing partners that include Namco Ltd. and Midway Games Inc. These games are true to the original arcade titles, as originally designed for coin-operated machines.
• Card and board games like poker, hearts, spades, backgammon, and chess.
• Puzzle and trivia titles including Bejeweled, Zuma, Hexic™, Fuzzee Fever, and Mah Jong Tiles.
• Action and arcade games, with new takes on classic action games as well as side-scrolling shoot-’em-ups and old-school 2-D platformers. These titles include Alien Sky, Hamsterball, Feeding Frenzy, and Marble Blast.
• Social sports. This genre includes the types of games that you would play with a group of friends on a Friday night while hanging out, such as bowling, billiards, and golf.

You can try out any and all of these games on Xbox Live Arcade, then purchase and download the full versions of your favorites. With over 40 games currently available and new games being added monthly, there will always be something new and cool on tap.

What does it cost?
Every game has a playable demo, so you can check them all out and see if they rock your world. If you want to purchase the full version of a game, here's the skinny: Some basic games like Bejeweled and Alien Sky are $9.99 U.S./$14.99 Canadian; other, more fully-featured games—like Guardian and Fuzzee Fever—will set you back $19.99 U.S./$24.99 Canadian. There's also a $14.99 U.S. ($19.99 Canadian) bundle from Namco that includes Galaga, DigDug, and Pole Position. The sweet thing is that the cost will just be charged to your Xbox Live account (like when you buy premium downloadable content on Xbox Live). Your new game is then downloaded right to your Xbox so you can play it whenever you want! No need to enter your credit card info each time.

I have to have it! What do I do?
It's simple. Here's what you need:

1. An Xbox Live account. (See your options here.)
2. A launcher disc.
3. There is no third thing … that's it! See? Easy!

If you're already an Xbox Live member, just get yourself the Xbox Live Arcade launcher disc with Ms. Pac-Man. Order it here.

If you haven't yet joined the Xbox Live community, this is a great time to start (Halo® 2, anyone?). Purchase a Starter Kit, which comes with a copy of the launcher disc, and you'll soon be on your way to classic arcade action.