XBLIG Price Drops

vamn · Jan 5, 2012

Since Microsoft recently changed their pricing structure for Xbox Indies, larger games can can now be sold for 80 MSP. As a result, many XBLIG devs have opted to drop the price of their games. I thought it would be pretty cool to have a thread that would try to track what WORTHWHILE games are now cheaper.

DISCLAIMER: Yes, I know that Xbox Indies is a largely horrifying wasteland of shovelware and absolute garbage like "Avatar Zombie Massager" and "Look I Made a One Level Platformer with MS Paint!!!". (There's really no need to elaborate on it further, we all know this.) But there ARE some good games in the pile. And I'd like to keep the thread focused on those, if possible.

DISCLAIMER 2 (The More Important One): Xbox Live Indie Games require an internet connection to start the game. It doesn't matter if you have a Silver (Free) or Gold account, just that the Xbox is connected to the internet. Again, this is only to start the game; once the game is running you can disconnect your Xbox, but not sign out of your profile.

Price Drops:

= New this week

* = Local Multiplayer
* = Online Multiplayer
* = System Link (LAN)

The Best:
Firefly Vegas - 240 -> 80 - Clearance Bin Review
Magic Racing GP 2 ** - 240 -> 80 - XBLIG.co - Xbox Hornet
Mechanoid Army - 240 -> 80 - Two Fedoras

The Rest:

The Island of Misfit Toys
These are the games that have received poor to mediocre reviews. (Or no reviews at all.) You may find a gem among them, but don't count on it.

Absolult Firepower - 80 -> 240

Flip N Shift - 80 -> 240

Nanosquad * - 80 -> 240
Ninja Recapture - 240 -> 80
Piniq * - 240 -> 80
RC Airplane Challenge ** - 240 -> 80
Sky Ninja War - 240 -> 80

The Book of the Biblets - 240 -> 80
へっぽこ騎士 - 240 -> 80 - DIYGamer

wEEman33 · Jan 27, 2012

I really wish Pingvinas would go on sale!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkLe-O6gx4A&feature=player_embedded

It's an awesome board game, but I am a cheapskate and don't want to play 240 points for it, even if it has online play.

I love me some pingvin stranding and fish eating!

kilroyfx · Jan 29, 2012

Thanks for all the Support for BloodyCheckers, hope everyone gets to enjoy the FREE UPDATE that was just released.....and here is a FREE copy of Bloodycheckers to whoever gets it first. Just guess the last LETTER of the code and its yours to keep !! You guys have been great !!

REDEEM CODE :

BP334-3BKQQ-4PHKD-7T2P6-TB4R* Fill In the Last Letter

williamsle · Jan 29, 2012

Thanks for the Bloody Checkers code. I just redeemed it.

vamn · Jan 29, 2012

I finally updated/cleaned the OP. Kobold's Quest is now 80 MSP. That should make anyone looking for a good couch co-op game happy.

WTPolaris · Jan 29, 2012

To be honest, Checkers the board game bores me to tears but your interaction with the community here and in general made me buy the game just to show my appreciation that theres a developer(even if it's just you by yourself, Kilroy) willing to put so much attention and effort into his work. Large conglomerate video game developers could take a lesson or two from you on how to make, support and care about their games.

Even if I never play the game or enjoy it, giving you a dollar feels like the right thing to do to show my appreciation. If I do like it, I guess we both win!

kilroyfx · Jan 29, 2012

Wow, haha that was fast !! You deserve it !! I have been playing games my whole life

crunchewy · Jan 30, 2012

I tried the demo of Bloody Checkers and while I really want to like it, not being able to invert the Y axis is a deal killer. I just can't get use to that. Any chance you will update it with an option to invert the Y axis?

On a different note, I'm enjoying Hypership Still Out of Control, though it's a lot harder to play with controller than a touch screen. Also, and this seems to be an issue for XBLIG according to what it says about it in the game, there is no online leaderboards. That's a bummer. Apparently the only option for any type of online in XBLIG, including just leaderboards, is peer networking.

Still the game is fun and worth a buck for sure.

kilroyfx · Jan 30, 2012

I HAVE A FIX FOR THAT !!

Ok, I can certainly add that option for you !! But, for now if you go to the dashboard and then hit the GUIDE --> go to PROFILE --> go to GAME DEFAULTS --> go to ACTION --> change Y-AXIS to INVERT

My game will look at your profile and change the Y-Axis in the castle and checkers game !! Tadaa !!

But, you bring up a valuable point, I need a screen with some sensitivity and Y-Axis....for now my game looks at the profile and chooses based on that...and I even mention it in a Loading Screen Hint/Tip ... sorry for the concerns

crunchewy · Jan 30, 2012

I didn't know about that system/profile option!! Thanks for pointing that out. I'll give it a shot.

kilroyfx · Jan 30, 2012

Awesome glad you got my note !! I realize that the Y-Axis is a big concern for a lot of gamers.....I did program it into BloodyCheckers but you are correct, I should install a setting for that at least in the main menu... I am issuing out another Update This Week, because of the HUGE support you guys have given and the excellent feedback !!!

m3talst0rm · Jan 30, 2012

This looks interesting Rotor'scope down from 400 msp to 80.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6pLRLZaErI

Turbojugend · Feb 1, 2012

Rotor'scope looks really cool, I'll be sure to check it out.

I picked up Apple Jack. It's really well done and definitely worth the buck, but the "you messed up the puzzle, might as well kill yourself now" moments are a bit frustrating. Interesting soundtrack, can't remember hearing anything like it before.

I also bought Raventhorne, a game that seems to be reviled by, well, pretty much everyone. I actually had a pretty good time running around and stabbing stuff in the face, it's nice to stare at if nothing else. Okay, so the enemies are repetitive, the stamina system blows and the game just kinda ends. Still, I've had worse experiences with 800MSP XBLA games, and at 80MSP at least I didn't feel ripped off.

February is here, Escape Goat price drop come on down!

louiedog · Feb 1, 2012

Escape Goat has dropped to 80 as expected.

sp8001 · Feb 1, 2012

[quote name='louiedog']Escape Goat has dropped to 80 as expected.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the heads up! Purchased

Heard nothing but great things about this game.

Turbojugend · Feb 1, 2012

I'm playing now, it's really great.

Also check out Soulcaster I and II, both from the same dev as Escape Goat and both very very good.

vamn · Feb 2, 2012

Brand finally came out today. Apparently, it's been delayed for months. Don't know much about it except that it's an action-platformer and it looks great. Also, it's only 80 MSP.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdwDQHdVTjE

wEEman33 · Feb 2, 2012

Soulcaster I & II and Escape Goat are must buys at 80 points!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYjOcdkgSNM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfTAzr1oz0M

BudzMcGee · Feb 2, 2012

For anyone that is considering Cro-Mag Rally (for 240) I found out today that Cro-Mag Extreme, which will include some serious upgrades, will be coming out soon. Just throwing that out there.

Also, giving away Volchaos on the site this weekend. Check the link in my sig if you are interested.

WTPolaris · Feb 2, 2012

Volchaos was a ton of fun, it was an instant buy for me at 80 points. If you liked super meat boy at all, you should really give it a try. I liked the retro graphics and the controls were very tight and responsive. If I didn't already own it, I'd enter the contest!

m3talst0rm · Feb 2, 2012

Veks and Silence dropped from 400 to 80. This was a game I was considering at $5 so I'm really excited about the drop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUktVh4PzTo

xbox.com is acting all funky for me right now so here is the link: http://marketplace.xbox.com/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025855028a

Turbojugend · Feb 2, 2012

Interesting. Veks and Silence is showing up as a 156mb download, I wonder if there's a bit of wiggle room in that size cap.

I bought Brand sight unseen, I guess the previews looked good enough. The controls are a bit of a chore so far, the character doesn't seem as responsive as he should when turning from side to side. Loading times are pretty bad too.

BudzMcGee · Feb 3, 2012

[quote name='Turbojugend']Interesting. Veks and Silence is showing up as a 156mb download, I wonder if there's a bit of wiggle room in that size cap.

I bought Brand sight unseen, I guess the previews looked good enough. The controls are a bit of a chore so far, the character doesn't seem as responsive as he should when turning from side to side. Loading times are pretty bad too.[/QUOTE]

Brand looks great and the demo wasn't horrible so I contacted the developer about featuring the game in an upcoming XBLIG Spotlight on my site. Haven't heard anything yet though. Indie Gamer Chick seems to be getting ready to tear it apart though, based on her tweets.

Zbornak · Feb 3, 2012

[quote name='Turbojugend']Interesting. Veks and Silence is showing up as a 156mb download, I wonder if there's a bit of wiggle room in that size cap.[/QUOTE]

Microsoft recently increased the cap to 500 MB.

Blade · Feb 3, 2012

[quote name='vamn']I finally updated/cleaned the OP. Kobold's Quest is now 80 MSP. That should make anyone looking for a good couch co-op game happy.[/QUOTE]

Damn, I was excited because it's late and I mistook this for Korgoth of Barbaria. That's it. We need a game based on Korgoth. It was only one episode long, Adult Swim.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_t605Th-QI

Turbojugend · Feb 3, 2012

[quote name='Zbornak']Microsoft recently increased the cap to 500 MB.[/QUOTE]

I was referring to the 80MSP price point for 150mb or smaller games, unless I'm mistaken on that part.

And yeah, I spent another half hour or so with Brand last night. Definitely not feeling it, bad controls leading to cheap death leading to more loading screens. This makes Raventhorne look like God of War.

crunchewy · Feb 3, 2012

Is there any point in getting Soulcaster I, or should I just jump to the sequel?

Gabrius · Feb 3, 2012

Man, I wish these games showed up in my recent activity feed. I want everyone to see Escape Goat when they check out what I've been playing...

wEEman33 · Feb 3, 2012

[quote name='crunchewy']Is there any point in getting Soulcaster I, or should I just jump to the sequel?[/QUOTE]

Get both.

It's an action RPG ala Gauntlet. Well worth the $2 for both games.

FrogTheWarrior · Feb 3, 2012

Picked up Breath of Death VII and Cthulhu Saves the World. Have been enjoying Breath of Death enough that I'll probably start buying Indie Games regularly.

Gabrius · Feb 3, 2012

I have over 50 indie titles on my HDD now..... I am amazed by that number more than the fact that my Xbox 360 backlog is now over 300 games long.

Turbojugend · Feb 3, 2012

A month or so ago I couldn't have cared less about XBLIG. This morning I almost passed on The Simpsons Arcade because I was telling myself I could get 10 indie titles for the asking price.

[quote name='crunchewy']Is there any point in getting Soulcaster I, or should I just jump to the sequel?[/QUOTE]

If I only had one dollar to spend it would be on the sequel, but both Soulcaster games are very purchase-worthy.

Gabrius · Feb 3, 2012

[quote name='Turbojugend']A month or so ago I couldn't have cared less about XBLIG. This morning I almost passed on The Simpsons Arcade because I was telling myself I could get 10 indie titles for the asking price.[/QUOTE]

That would be a good line of reasoning. Think about it, those indie titles *typically*: have higher production values, are longer, have greater replay value, and are only 1/10th of the cost.

...and with it only being 18MB, most indie titles are larger in size. Sure, I loved playing The Simpsons Arcade as much as everyone else who grew up going to arcades, but $10, really?!

I'm sticking to my "No XBLA unless it's on sale" guns from now on - it would be silly to do otherwise with the sheer amount of games I have yet to play.

Turbojugend · Feb 3, 2012

Yeah, The Simpsons Arcade was basically a nostalgia purchase. They added a bunch of cool stuff like galleries and even the Japanese ROM, but the game can also be beaten in way under an hour. Hell, it took me longer to finish LaserCat.

wEEman33 · Feb 3, 2012

$10 for a Simpsons ROM is a joke.

Definitely wait for the sale.

morrodox · Feb 3, 2012

[quote name='Gabrius']Man, I wish these games showed up in my recent activity feed. I want everyone to see Escape Goat when they check out what I've been playing...[/QUOTE]

I think they do show up if you're actually playing the game, but not in history. You'd think MS would do more to promote XBLIG, but instead it's like they half-bury it. I always have to look a bit before I locate it in the new dashboard.

Turbojugend · Feb 3, 2012

[quote name='morrodox']I think they do show up if you're actually playing the game, but not in history.[/QUOTE]

I'm not so sure. I recommended a certain indie game to an XBL friend, when he played I got a pop-up notice saying "'NameOfFriend' has started playing XNA Community Game."

sp8001 · Feb 3, 2012

+1 recommendation for Blocks That Matter...

I don't own the XBLIG version, but I just beat it on steam and had a blast! Well worth the $3 asking price and quite a bit of replay value searching out all those BTM lol.

A very well done puzzle platformer unlike anything I've ever played before.

It also won the grand prize last year for Microsofts Dream Build Play contest. It really should be translated to an XBLA game to give it better exposure.

Mr. Domino · Feb 3, 2012

[quote name='Gabrius']That would be a good line of reasoning. Think about it, those indie titles *typically*: have higher production values, are longer, have greater replay value, and are only 1/10th of the cost.

...and with it only being 18MB, most indie titles are larger in size. Sure, I loved playing The Simpsons Arcade as much as everyone else who grew up going to arcades, but $10, really?!

I'm sticking to my "No XBLA unless it's on sale" guns from now on - it would be silly to do otherwise with the sheer amount of games I have yet to play.[/QUOTE]

That's pretty much what I've done as well over the years. I'll still cave if it's something I really want as I did for SFIII or if it debuts cheap as Quarrel did, but by an large I'm content to wait for the inevitable half off sale. There's just so much to play as it is anyway, and I'm still sitting on my half off Snoopy Flying Aces, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, and other games to be pressed to spend more for titles that'll just collect dust.

iNFiNiTE HORiZON · Feb 3, 2012

Was looking at some of the Minecraft type of games on XBLIG, are all of them $3? was hoping to find one for 80 points. and are any of them worth $3? or should I just skip altogether and wait for Minecraft to come to 360?

vamn · Feb 3, 2012

[quote name='BudzMcGee']Brand looks great and the demo wasn't horrible so I contacted the developer about featuring the game in an upcoming XBLIG Spotlight on my site. Haven't heard anything yet though. Indie Gamer Chick seems to be getting ready to tear it apart though, based on her tweets.[/QUOTE]

I'm waiting until some more people review it. Indie Gamer Chick's reviews should usually be taken with a wheelbarrow full of salt. I have a sneaking suspicion that she generally doesn't like video games all that much.

eugaet · Feb 4, 2012

Won a code for EvilQuest off Facebook this evening, so my XBLIG-to-buy list has been decreased by one!

BudzMcGee · Feb 4, 2012

[quote name='vamn']I'm waiting until some more people review it. Indie Gamer Chick's reviews should usually be taken with a wheelbarrow full of salt. I have a sneaking suspicion that she generally doesn't like video games all that much.

[/QUOTE]

She doesn't demo the game I believe, so she makes a lot of purchases blindly which would of course mean that she ends up playing a lot of stuff that sucks.

I'll be reviewing Brand hopefully this next week.

MoCiWe · Feb 4, 2012

[quote name='iNFiNiTE HORiZON']Was looking at some of the Minecraft type of games on XBLIG, are all of them $3? was hoping to find one for 80 points. and are any of them worth $3? or should I just skip altogether and wait for Minecraft to come to 360?[/QUOTE]

I can't comment about all of the ones that are out now, but personally I didn't really enjoy FortressCraft but I felt that Total Miner: Forge is well worth the 240 points. They are updating it rather frequently and there's a list out of things that they want to add in the future if you check out their forums.

Turbojugend · Feb 4, 2012

[quote name='vamn']I'm waiting until some more people review it. Indie Gamer Chick's reviews should usually be taken with a wheelbarrow full of salt. I have a sneaking suspicion that she generally doesn't like video games all that much.

[/QUOTE]

She definitely has a flair for the dramatic, but I think her essential points of her review are basically spot-on. Armless Octopus posted a similar review (minus the vitriol of course).

The problem is that Brand just isn't very good. It's a really interesting premise and the visuals are nice, but I felt that the gameplay just ruined it. And a 75/25 gameplay-to-loading screen ratio is something I never want to deal with again. There are surely worse games you can buy for a buck, but there are also much, much better.

vamn · Feb 5, 2012

[quote name='Turbojugend']She definitely has a flair for the dramatic, but I think her essential points of her review are basically spot-on. Armless Octopus posted a similar review (minus the vitriol of course).

The problem is that Brand just isn't very good. It's a really interesting premise and the visuals are nice, but I felt that the gameplay just ruined it. And a 75/25 gameplay-to-loading screen ratio is something I never want to deal with again. There are surely worse games you can buy for a buck, but there are also much, much better.[/QUOTE]

Yea, I saw the Armless Octopus review yesterday. I was really hoping the game would be something great since the trailer looks amazing. Oh well, maybe they'll patch it and make it playable someday.

Mr. Domino · Feb 6, 2012

For what it's worth, Brand isn't absolutely terrible. The gameplay is pretty bland to start, but the sword upgrades can make progress easier and gameplay more fun. Brand matures into a pretty decent albeit repetitive game, but it really shouldn't demand that players grind and suffer through the loading screens and numerous respawns to get to that point.

There's a lot going for Brand. The graphics are the main selling point, but the game controls fine (a bit stiff, but no real faults) and the variety of upgrades allows for different styles of play. It's tough but fair, too; there are no cheap deaths, but then the constant dying early on still will frustrate players. Brand's problem is easily solved if the developer were to implement either a regenerating health system and/or allow for instant restarting of the current level upon death. This would solve the problem of the constant loading on restart as well as make the few repeating enemy types more tolerable.

Mad dog · Feb 6, 2012

I found you just have to get used to how brand controls. It's not fluid and modern, it's clunky and deliberate. I plan to buy it.

Turbojugend · Feb 6, 2012

I have to say, my son really liked Brand. He was also using techniques in ways I wasn't, like using the dash to get past ledge campers and avoid attacks from both sides. I don't see myself ever going back to the game but I'm glad he got something out of it.

Now I'm wondering what everyone here thought of Raventhorne. There was a game I had zero expectations for due to the poor reviews, but ended up having fun with anyway.

shivan128 · Feb 6, 2012

Thanks to the people who recommended Bloody Checkers, this game is damn fun!!! I highly recommend this game along with the others who have in the past. Think of it as king's field with checkers!

vherub · Feb 6, 2012

Anyone try Little Racers Street?
http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Little-Racers-STREET/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258550a68
ArmlessOc review is high on it.

edit: thanks for the opinions, grabbed it

XBLIG Price Drops

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