Dig Dug Released for Xbox360? Sigh

[DYNAGOD]

 
So exactly how is Microsoft "defining" the "Next Gen" of gaming by reintroducing quarter of a century old games?
this has to be the defacto waste of hardware.
it just seems to me to be so counter to the whole next generation theme.

coming from PC gaming, the next gen games by microsofts standards are about 5-10 years behind the times.
3/4 of the games are ports from PC or last gen consoles and i have yet to see soemthing jaw dropping..

im just not feeling this current gen. and when the biggest news they have is dig dug is being released in HD i fail to rise to the hype..

[leapinlew]

You seem to have been pretty excited about Metal Slug being on the PSP.

You fail to mention that it's a game available on xbox live. It's not like you have to go to Best Buy and drop $50 on a classic. It may not be your cup of tea, but it's cool that these games are available for hardcore classics fans. I happen to think it's pretty cool when a console allows you to play the old classics as well as the newer games. It sort of like a tribute. If you don't like Dig Dug, don't play it.

The fact that it's xbox live allows for some cool possibilities. I'd love to play a game of Galaga with my brother who lives hundreds of miles away.

Do you really feel it's Microsofts fault that there hasn't been enough good games for you? Do you think Sony will do better?

[versapak]

Huh?



How is Dig Dug the biggest news?


I am all for seeing the arcade titles in the marketplace. No, Dig Dug is not a "next generation" game in and of itself, but it is part of a next generation of distribution for such content for console users.  It is also only $5, and is not at all a required purchase.

The Marketplace and Live Arcade are a new and extremely welcome addition to console gaming. I love being able to d/l demos straight to my 360, being able to purchase small games in the arcade, and it has also proven to be great for getting to see the content from trade shows.


I have never been much a of a Dig Dug fan, but in general... Yeah, I, like everyone here, have other ways to play these games, and in some cases, no doubt, better ways, but having them on the 360, in the Live Arcade, gives me something I can easily drop to the dash to play at any time. Arcade games, like Dig Dug, are by their very nature good for those times when I am just looking to fill a gap.

There have been many times where I was playing online with a bunch of friends, and when the party ended, still felt like some gaming. It is times like those where I like to just drop to the dash and get some quick Live Arcade action going. Along those same lines it is great if I am meeting up with some friends in a game, but I am early. Instead of sitting there doing nothing while I wait, or playing with random strangers, I can just get some arcade action going until they show up.


It is not like we aren't going to get full on next gen gaming also.

[DYNAGOD]

  

[somunny]

So exactly how is Microsoft "defining" the "Next Gen" of gaming by reintroducing quarter of a century old games?
this has to be the defacto waste of hardware.
it just seems to me to be so counter to the whole next generation theme.

coming from PC gaming, the next gen games by microsofts standards are about 5-10 years behind the times.
3/4 of the games are ports from PC or last gen consoles and i have yet to see soemthing jaw dropping..

im just not feeling this current gen. and when the biggest news they have is dig dug is being released in HD i fail to rise to the hype..

Do you own a 360?  Your level of negativity leads me to believe that you don't.

I think that XBLA is a great feature.  Yes, the games are old (though some prefer the term "retro").  I played the hell out of Frogger and Time Pilot when they were released.  Plus, many of the classics now have co-op play, which is a nice change of pace.  These are meant to be inexpensive diversions from the A-list titles, IMO.

And when I get tired of Poker, Street Fighter or Dig-Dug I can go back to COD2 or Oblivion.

[DYNAGOD]

You seem to have been pretty excited about Metal Slug being on the PSP.

You fail to mention that it's a game available on xbox live. It's not like you have to go to Best Buy and drop $50 on a classic. It may not be your cup of tea, but it's cool that these games are available for hardcore classics fans. I happen to think it's pretty cool when a console allows you to play the old classics as well as the newer games. It sort of like a tribute. If you don't like Dig Dug, don't play it.

The fact that it's xbox live allows for some cool possibilities. I'd love to play a game of Galaga with my brother who lives hundreds of miles away.

Do you really feel it's Microsofts fault that there hasn't been enough good games for you? Do you think Sony will do better?

"You seem to have been pretty excited about Metal Slug being on the PSP."

well having metal slug 1-6, plus X on a little handheld "is" pretty exciting. especially when you consider that two of those titles, 6 and X are in circulation in arcades TODAY. thats modern day arcade level hardware emulated/ported in a tiny litle "handheld", that to me "is" something to get excited about.
a Next Gen "CONSOLE", playing 25 to 30 year old software is not..
To help show the potential of this supposed heavy hitter why not bring at the very least "current gen" arcade titles to the XBM via live? if its such modern hardware and next gen, then why not give us at least some current gen tittles to choose from is my point.
 if the handheld PSP can play arcade level hardware, why isnt the Console 360 trying it? seems a little undewhelming to me, especially when you consider the whole emulation thing was done to death and to perfection already on last gens xbox 1.

[leapinlew]

I see your point... it's a little out there.

Your complaining about releasing old school games on a newer console. Your really complaining that there aren't enough good titles for you on the xbox 360. My guess is your in your teens or early 20's. Most of us in our 30's had to play games over and over and didn't have to be constantly entertained with stimulation overload. That's not a slam so much as an observation that I've seen from the older gamers to the younger gamers. It certainly doesn't encompass everyone in those age groups, but is instead a generality.

I'm not excited about Metal Slug coming out on the PSP, but I'm not gonna slam it. Even though there is plenty of ammunition to use against the PSP for not having enough cool titles available.

Perhaps your having Xbox360 buyers remorse, or maybe your just not happy with the xbox360. The 360 has many more titles than the PS3 and Wii currently do. You'll find plenty of people who are perfectly content playing the titles thier Xbox360's have to offer.   

Either way, don't be mad at Dig Dug!

[versapak]

You seem to have been pretty excited about Metal Slug being on the PSP.

You fail to mention that it's a game available on xbox live. It's not like you have to go to Best Buy and drop $50 on a classic. It may not be your cup of tea, but it's cool that these games are available for hardcore classics fans. I happen to think it's pretty cool when a console allows you to play the old classics as well as the newer games. It sort of like a tribute. If you don't like Dig Dug, don't play it.

The fact that it's xbox live allows for some cool possibilities. I'd love to play a game of Galaga with my brother who lives hundreds of miles away.

Do you really feel it's Microsofts fault that there hasn't been enough good games for you? Do you think Sony will do better?

"You seem to have been pretty excited about Metal Slug being on the PSP."

well having metal slug 1-6, plus X on a little handheld "is" pretty exciting. especially when you consider that two of those titles, 6 and X are in circulation in arcades TODAY. thats modern day arcade level hardware emulated/ported in a tiny litle "handheld", that to me "is" something to get excited about.
a Next Gen "CONSOLE", playing 25 to 30 year old software is not..
To help show the potential of this supposed heavy hitter why not bring at the very least "current gen" arcade titles to the XBM via live? if its such modern hardware and next gen, then why not give us at least some current gen tittles to choose from is my point.
 if the handheld PSP can play arcade level hardware, why isnt the Console 360 trying it? seems a little undewhelming to me, especially when you consider the whole emulation thing was done to death and to perfection already on last gens xbox 1.

If you want those modern arcade games, then I guess start writing to developers and publishers begging to get them released. It is not like MS is the one making all the games.  

Of course don't expect them on the Live Arcade, as there is a size restriction to Live Arcade games. They have to be able to fit on a memory card.


As for the you give me... I don't get it, but whatever.


You are bitching about arcade games on the marketplace, like it is your only option for gaming on the 360.


If you want some next gen games, then why don't you go ahead and go buy some. They are usually the ones that come in the green cases on shiny little discs. duh


It is not like developers are taking their time away from making next gen games, so that they can give us these classics instead. Next gen games take time to develop, and system's first years are almost always lacking (if not in quantity, then in quality).

[somunny]

To help show the potential of this supposed heavy hitter why not bring at the very least "current gen" arcade titles to the XBM via live? if its such modern hardware and next gen, then why not give us at least some current gen tittles to choose from is my point.

Not sure if you've noticed but retro gaming is rather popular.  People *like* the classics.  Like I said, these games are not intended to be A-list flagship franchises.  

[SirPoonga]

 

However, I am about to provide some food for thought...

Dynagod, it sounds like you don't understand what Xbox Live Arcade is.  XBL is a pretty cool idea.  Games that are on the XBL system have to follow a requirement of being less than 50megs.  This allows users to download a game to a memory card.   Find a modern arcade game that is less than 50megs...

The purpose of XBL is allow developers to create "casual" games and for new developers to get their name known.  Recently Microsoft announced the XNA Game development Studio.  It will allow indie developers to create game that run on the 360 for a very affordable price.  It will only cost $100 per year!  That is by far cheaper than other system.  To develop for the Nintendo DS it will cost up to $10,000 AND you have to have already developed commercial games in order to get the development kit.  The free version of XNA Game Studio will allow you to develop games with limited documentation, only for PC, and no access to the XNA developers group.  That may sound bad but for free it gets you started.

You purchase XBL games using Microsoft points and download them to the harddrive or memory card.  XBL games cost $5-$15.  Many of them are PC games ported, like Marble Blast Ultra, Zuma, and Bejeweled.  They are casual games, games that are not meant to be played for 70 hours to complete.  Cloning Clyde is a pretty cool platformer.

Being able to download a game onto a console is part of the next gen mentality.  So being able to download Dig Dug shows off some of the next gen ideas.

Why is it s waste of hardware?  You know there are people who think building an arcade cabinet is a waste of space and wood.

Little do some people know that casual gaming is a big thing.  That's partly why the DS is the number one selling system right now.

I don't know how you can say the 360 is 5-10 years behind the PC in gaming.  Microsoft is in PC gaming too!  Shadowrun and Huxley sound cool in the fact that they are going to have cross platform multiplayer. 

Visually the 360 is on par with video cards that were coming out when it was released.  I tried COD2 demos on PC and 360, they were pretty close.

Many of the games on the 360 are not ports, they are third party.  The thing about third party is they tend develop for all systems so you think they are ports.  In fact, Ubisoft has said they prefer developing on the 360 then porting over to other systems. 

Just because it has the same title it doesn't mean it is a port.  The PC and 360 versions of GRAW are different.  Same with Battlefied 2, the PC and 360 versions are different.  (This is due to the fact that two different development groups worked on the different versions)

How many 360 games have you played and which ones?  Of course for the first 6 months to a year of a system it is going to have ports.  Developers aren't going to stop projects or stop working on current gen to go exclusively next gen.

There's some cool titles coming out soon that I think are worth getting excited about.  Rainbow 6 Vegas tlooks cool.  I think Gears of Wars is getting over hyped but it still looks cool.  Assassins Creed looks freaking awesome.  Have you seen Dead Rising, Kameo, or N3 when they have hundreds of enemies on screen?  I did the special move in the N3 demo and killed 800 ogres that were on screen.  That takes power to display all of those polygons.

If you haven't played something on the 360 how can you comment?  All you base your opinions on then is pictures and reviews.

However, based on your comments you already have the opinion that the 360 sucks and will not have an open mind to it.  So no matter what we say it won't make a difference.  You already formed your opinion and are looking for any little thing to back it up.

Now, considering you say "coming from PC gaming" I hope when the PS3 comes out you bash that too since for $600 you can upgrade a computer to be a pretty damn good gaming machine


Also, I am with versapak, how is Dig Dug the biggest news?  Have you not seen the hype for Gears of Wars?  Probably not if you aren't following 360 news.  I wasn't following PS3 news too much and I didn't realize how over hyped Resistance is.
If you want to see the latest news go to youtube and check out the X06 videos from about 2-3 weeks ago.  I am defintely looking forward to Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed, Gears of War, Alan Wake, and Battlestations: Midway.

[leapinlew]

However, I am about to provide some food for thought...

Great Post! 

[DYNAGOD]

sigh,

So,im a troll for having formed my own opinion of the stae of the 360 that differs from yours?

 

my opinion of the 360 is based off of owning one since launch and seeing nothing worth the hype or anything that suprasses my now 3-4 year old AGP GPU based PC graphically..
 i spent nearly 600.00$ and i dont feel ive gotten my moneys worth. perhaps after having lived through electronic gaming from its near inception to present has caused my expectations to become too high.
ive admittedly not found a title ive truly enjoyed long term short of saints row.(great writing)
having played titles like graw(owned), fear (Demo), bf2(owned), and a handfull of others, graphically they lacks the polish of their pc counterparts and the control schemes for me at least dont translate well to a controller and pale in comparison to a PC.
 For a piece of hardware totally dedicated to games, without the overhead of a bulky OS or other resource sucking factors like a PC has, one would hope that the 360 would be able to play at least on par or hopefully surpass these titles. but it doesnt. Fear being my latest DL off XBL , it was a sad sorry shadow to its pc peer, which i own as well and still enjoy on pc.

when i think "next gen", i think a step beyond what was previously available, not on par or below with whats aging. maybe its my own fault for having misunderstood the intention of this overused and abused marketing campaign.

that all being said, rainbow six and assasins creed indeed look like theirs hope for second string titles.
and i totally agree, how "is" dig dug the biggest news? im not one of the people who placed it on digg today, or destructoid or gametrailers or gamespot, or each and every other gamesite known to man! i hardly find it worth mentioning, which was what the geneis of this thread was. somewhere along the line my intent has been twisted here.

And i love my love my classics, my time over the years here includes several arcade machine builds as tribute to that. however i dont think that a console whos selling point has been the coming of the second age of high end gaming is the proper venue to play them.

[SirPoonga]

Alright, that's a little more informed than mocking that di dug is on the 360 and it is "next gen".

Of course it is going t be on all the technology sights, it's a new game that is released.  That doesn't mean it is big news

Well, comparing BF2, Fear, COD2 on my pc with a 2 year old agp card I say the 360 is much better.  However, I agree FPS isn't as good on consoles.  I am impressed with the remake of burnout revenge.  That is currently one of my favorite games.  It is much better looking than the ps2 version.

I think the 360 is the perfect venue for the arcade classics, especially since they remade them with multiplayer over live.  Microsoft is trying to make it a family media entertainment system, not just games.  While games is the primary focus they also want non-hardcore gamers to play and use the system.  So casual games and classic are a perfect fit.  You say it is dedicated to games but that is not true.  It's a media extender, and a very good one at that.  I've been controlling MCE on Vista with th 360, it's pretty damn cool.

If you are into fps I don't suggest consoles.  I like GRAW, it works well.  But run and gun FPS like Prey and Halo just don't work on controllers.  I stick mainly to sports and racing on consoles, which are done very well.

[elvis]

SirPoonga is on the money.

XBLA is not about impressing the graphics-whores and eye-candy junkies.  XBLA is about 2 things:

1) Offering casual gaming to people, particularly when one household might have more than one resident - my kids will play some next-gen eye-candy fest, but I'd rather play Street Fighter.  Microsoft get more people playing their consoles if they offer wildly different types of games, rather than just a constant stream of graphics-engine upgrades as per the last generation of 3D consoles.

2) LEGAL RETRO TITLES.  Think about it - all this MAME business is fine, but to date not a single ROM is available for LEGAL purchase.  To some people, that matters.  I'm a Microsoft-hater from way back, but even I must tip my hat to Microsoft and congratulate them for having the balls to do what no-one else has done so far: offer easily-accessible and legal retro gaming alternatives. 

If you don't like the way Dig-Dug looks, don't play it.  Nobody's holding a gun to your head and forcing you to play it.  I hate most 3D games with a passion, so you won't see me buying them - nor will you see me starting forum threads about how stupid the companies who release these games are.

As for "not getting your money's worth" - once again, no-one held a gun to your head and forced you to buy the most expensive console on the market at the time at launch.  You could have easily held back and waited to see what the games lineup was like in 6-12 months time.  I personally have not bought a 360 yet, and will not be buying a PS3 nor Wii until at least mid-2007, if at all.  Once all three have been out for 6+ months, I will re-evaluate their worth based entirely on the games available and if I find them even remotely entertaining, and make my purchasing decisions then.  If you'd done the same, you could have saved yourself $600, and quite possibly bought two consoles for the same price in half a year's time.

I see early adopters as my own personal R&D.  For every person like yourself who went out and spent the $600 on launch only to be disappointed, that's one more black mark against that console's name, and it saves me having to blow $600 of my own cash.

For the record: I was once an early adopter in the 8 and 16bit era.  After wasting much money on largely usless hardware, I have a very different outlook on my entertainment spendings now days. 

[shmokes]

I think the problem Dynagod really has is related to the law of diminishing returns.  Doubling the power of the game console will not double the quality of the graphics/sound, etc.  You need paradigm shifts periodically in order to make new games seem truly next gen.  Think about the difference between 2D gaming between the Atari 2600 (or even the 5200 or 7800) and the NES.  The quality jump was still huge, but not as huge, between Nintendo and Super Nintendo.  Had Nintendo then released another 2D-centric system, the jump in quality wouldn't have been anywhere near as big as the previous generation.  Hell, name one sprite-based 2D game for the Xbox 360 that couldn't be replicated exactly on the Xbox.   That's diminishing returns right there.  It's not that Xbox 360 isn't more powerful than Xbox . . . it's just that 2D games can't get much better than they are at this point as a result of more powerful hardware.

At any rate, in spite of diminishing returns, we still got a major next-gen jump after the Super Nintendo because instead of merely releasing another evolutionary step with a more powerful 2D system, we got a paradigm shift with the jump to 3D-based N64 and PSX.  After that we had a huge jump in quality between PSX and PS2, N64 and Gamecube because polygon based videogames were in their infancy at the time and had SOOO much room for improvement.

I think the problem is, we're hitting significant diminishing returns again and are due for another paradigm shift.  The Nintendo Wii is obviously trying to usher in just such a shift and hopefully they got it right.  We'll know soon enough, I suppose.

I think ya'll are being a little hard on Dynagod.  If he didn't feel like he was merely playing an uprezed Xbox game every time he turned on his Xbox 360 I doubt this DigDug attention would have rubbed him the wrong way.