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Microsoft bringing original Xbox titles to Live

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Microsoft bringing original Xbox titles to Live

Halo to lead retro gaming push on Xbox Live as part of Autumn console update

CVG reports that Official Xbox Magazine has learned that the leading feature of Microsoft’s anticipated Autumn Xbox 360 firmware update will be the ability for gamers to download original Xbox titles through the firm’s Xbox Live Arcade service.

Going live on December 4th, the new service will launch with Bungie’s classic FPS Halo, which will cost 1200 Microsoft points to download – the same as the most expensive Live Arcade titles, but great value when compared to the likes of Bankshot Billiards, which costs the same.

Microsoft has a number of titles lined up for download, including Fable, Farenheit and Burnout 3, and in time hopes to bring much of the Xbox back-catalogue to the service.

OXM also reports that whilst no date has been put on the European arrival of Microsoft’s film-on-demand service, the cogs are turning with studios such as Warner Bros in close discussions with Microsoft.

Films will reportedly cost less than £5 and will all come at a hi-def resolution of 720p. Consumers will have 14 days to watch any film once it is downloaded before its licence expires.

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HALO 1 online?

posted by Ryu Hyabusa Nov 13, 2007 at 10:21 am
1
Ryu Hyabusa

By by HALO 3...

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Re: HALO 1 online?

posted by Reythor Nov 13, 2007 at 11:25 am
2
Reythor

Halo CE has always had the best multiplayer experience of the series. Well paced, well balanced - it was as if Bungie really didn't understand what made it so good, opting to make it 'faster' and 'bigger' and in the process creating the (dire) Halo 2 and (the not so bad, but still not as good) Halo 3 online experience. I hope online multiplayer is included…

I own three copies of Halo CE as it is, but will gladly pay again not to have to keep faffing around with discs. Firing lasers at plastic discs to get information from them is so last gen.

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Re: HALO 1 online?

posted by lolkekbur Nov 13, 2007 at 12:08 pm
3
lolkekbur

w00t!!!!

Halo CE was THE best mulitplayer with the variety of maps. The 1200 point price is a bit steep imo but will draw a lot of Halo fans away from Halo 3...

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Re: HALO 1 online?

posted by Alias Nov 13, 2007 at 1:00 pm
4
Alias

I agree wholeheartedly with Reythor

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Re: HALO 1 online?

posted by wratty Nov 13, 2007 at 2:05 pm
5
wratty

But will these downloadable titles feature achievements? No one has asked this question yet!

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Re: HALO 1 online?

posted by Ryu Hyabusa Nov 13, 2007 at 3:07 pm
6
Ryu Hyabusa

100% likely it will have achievemants as its compulsory that ALL Xbox 360 titles including arcade games have achievemants.

I have HALO 2 achievemants and HALO 3 (HALO 2 on the PC) and would love to complete that with a nice HALO 1:CE icon for achievemants on my gamercard.

So even if it has no online play I am sure many will buy it just for the points.

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Re: HALO 1 online?

posted by Nov 13, 2007 at 3:49 pm
7

I would just like to be able to play revenge of the sith again, as my disc is scratch slightly and 360 has trouble with it (oddly, my xbox doesn't)

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Re: HALO 1 online?

posted by charlie Nov 13, 2007 at 3:59 pm
8
charlie

The kotors never seemed to work the best on the 360, so i hope kotor 1 comes out for it as i'd buy that in a flash, my only copy is a US one so i cant use it :(

If Halo 1 has achievements then that would be awesome, but as the game would have to be modified which I doubt they will do, I dont keep my hopes up for it.

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Re: HALO 1 online?

posted by ChoZanWan Nov 13, 2007 at 4:13 pm
9

No way will there be achievements. These are XBOX games. This just gives them the chance to bin backwards compatibility, and save money. They've used the experience garnered from BC to properly emulate an original Xbox, and can now make more money from dead titles.

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Re: HALO 1 online?

posted by Ryu Hyabusa Nov 13, 2007 at 4:31 pm
10
Ryu Hyabusa

At the comment above.

It has been stated it is going to be on the Live Arcade, therefore it WILL have achievemants.

Unless Microsoft make a classic section with a heading 'No points here'.

But think about it, how many would buy the game just for the achievemants? I think very many actually...So in theory it would be a strategic move by Microsoft.

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This is a massive story

posted by Bruce Everiss Nov 14, 2007 at 8:04 am
11
Bruce Everiss

This is the thin end of the wedge that will change the whole publishing model and our industry for ever.
Plastic and cardboard will die out as a distribution mechanic.
Bricks and mortar retail will die.

It is inevitable, just look at what is happening to music.

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Re: This is a massive story

posted by Charlie Nov 14, 2007 at 10:19 am
12
Charlie

Until everyone in the UK is given cheap/very cheap access to the internet retail will never die. More people may shift to online but there will still be retail how it is for many a year to come.
At least from a green point of view there wil be less rubbish in general created as im sure eventally many games get binned

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