[fatmanforlife99]

I received it very quickly. No more than 5 minutes after I sent the offer to my alternate accounts. Maybe contact support.

[djsmf435]

Yep. my thoughts exactly. Onto the hard drive it goes. 

 

Batman Blackgate worth the money? I have a sinking feeling it can get cheaper though. 

Something tells me it could go lower. Dont forget the Black Friday sales and the 12 days of xmas are coming, those are usually pretty good.

[snakeybro]

Yep. my thoughts exactly. Onto the hard drive it goes. 

 

Batman Blackgate worth the money? I have a sinking feeling it can get cheaper though. 

If u need to play a metoidvania then sure pick it up but be warned the map in the game is bad and you will get lost a lot.

[bunck]

If u need to play a metoidvania then sure pick it up but be warned the map in the game is bad and you will get lost a lot.

Have you played this version or just the handheld? My understanding is that the map problems were supposed to be fixed on this one.

[snakeybro]

Have you played this version or just the handheld? My understanding is that the map problems were supposed to be fixed on this one.

both. map is equally bad on both versions, maybe a drop better on console but not much.

[skonson]

Something tells me it could go lower. Dont forget the Black Friday sales and the 12 days of xmas are coming, those are usually pretty good.

I'd be amazed if Blackgate goes any lower - it's usually a $20 game. I'd bite at $5 as it's definitely worth it. It's been on sale already twice in the last 5 months - which might mean that it might be a good while before we see it on sale again. I don't think we'll ever see it for less than $5 - I mean 75% off is a pretty good sale. I bought it at 50% off and still think I got an amazing bargain. 

 

We might see it as a GWG some day but a sale that goes beyond 75% off is very very rare and as of lately has been mostly confined to Kinect arcade games or multiplayer only games that probably haven't sold too well like the Lords of the Rings MOBA.

 

If you like Metroidvania games or the Batman Arkham series and don't own this game just buy it this week. At $5 it's a no brainer.

 

Oh and just be careful with Xbox Rewards for anyone looking at doing the new promotion. I'm owed over $80 from the rewards program as they haven't put a single point in my account for over a year now despite lots of purchases, promotions that I've taken part of and renewals/surveys. I've been in touch with both the Xbox Live Rewards guys over twitter and on the forum and they've said it's Microsoft. I've spent over 5 hours on the phone with Microsoft at this point and they say it's the Xbox Live Rewards guys. So just be aware that there are some issues with the program and the customer service for it is awful so buyer beware with this promotion.

[Cage017]

I feel sorry for anyone who bought Red Johnson on Date Night. Finding the first box requires me to nearly put my face on the TV since it's so small compared to the rest of the environment. The combination to open it is a joke - so is the voice acting. This is Amy bad.

 

And with that, I'm safe for this week. Hope we start seeing some zombie games like Dead Block and State of Decay soon.

[skonson]

Have you played this version or just the handheld? My understanding is that the map problems were supposed to be fixed on this one.

I haven't played the handheld version but the map is still difficult on the XBLA version. I think it's the fact that the game is a 2.5D Metroidvania and so you can walk around a corner so the map gets difficult to understand at times. This is different from Shadow Complex which, while looking like a 2.5D and allowing you to shoot in the background plays like a 2D game so the map is a bit easier to follow. You will struggle with the map in Blackgate but don't for the most part it shouldn't effect you getting through the story.

[bob101910]

I feel sorry for anyone who bought Red Johnson on Date Night. Finding the first box requires me to nearly put my face on the TV since it's so small compared to the rest of the environment. The combination to open it is a joke - so is the voice acting. This is Amy bad.

 

And with that, I'm safe for this week. Hope we start seeing some zombie games like Dead Block and State of Decay soon.

I was actually thinking about buying it, but read somewhere that it was episodic and missing episodes. "Glad" to hear it is Amy bad so I don't have to buy it.

[shulamm]

I feel sorry for anyone who bought Red Johnson on Date Night. Finding the first box requires me to nearly put my face on the TV since it's so small compared to the rest of the environment. The combination to open it is a joke - so is the voice acting. This is Amy bad.

 

Good comparison, since both games were created by the same company, now dead and gone.

[Masters_93]

 

Oh and just be careful with Xbox Rewards for anyone looking at doing the new promotion. I'm owed over $80 from the rewards program as they haven't put a single point in my account for over a year now despite lots of purchases, promotions that I've taken part of and renewals/surveys. I've been in touch with both the Xbox Live Rewards guys over twitter and on the forum and they've said it's Microsoft. I've spent over 5 hours on the phone with Microsoft at this point and they say it's the Xbox Live Rewards guys. So just be aware that there are some issues with the program and the customer service for it is awful so buyer beware with this promotion.

Is this promotion specific or overall credit deposit? I've gotten a deposit in May and I'm thinking of ordering another one this month. 

[bob101910]

It seems that Project Spark has been unlocking achievements without me needing to be online. Achievements came out yesterday or Monday night, yet I have some that say they were unlocked 10 days ago. I haven't been online since Sunday morning. If you played the beta long ago check your achievement list and you might have new achievements unlocked, even if you haven't started the game since.

[Donken]

The Lego Movie game seems to be lacking in content on the other ones. Some of them are getting so big now though that they take forever to complete so I don't know if its a bad thing...

[eastx]

Yeah... games that come out with no fanfare, are too big to be cheap games but not budgeted enough to be full priced retail games, then get average at best reviews doesn't spell a winning formula.  Which is a shame because it looks neat in screenshots and I like the concept.

Not that they shouldn't have promoted Styx more, but I don't think people should expect that games have to cost only $10 or $60 with nothing in between. That implies that a developer who wants to spend and do more with a game than $10 would allow should just charge $60 when they don't really need that much for the game to pay for itself. Far better for games to use all points on the cost spectrum instead of only the minimum and maximum.

[EldritchOnRye]

Not that they shouldn't have promoted Styx more, but I don't think people should expect that games have to cost only $10 or $60 with nothing in between. That implies that a developer who wants to spend and do more with a game than $10 would allow should just charge $60 when they don't really need that much for the game to pay for itself. Far better for games to use all points on the cost spectrum instead of only the minimum and maximum.

I agree that a wider variety of pricing and scope of games would be nice. Unfortunately as long as I've been buying games that's a warning sign more often than not. Doesn't mean a lower priced game can't be good or even great but that's the pricing structure we live in. I miss when 2K tried to shake things up and did their sports games for $20 for a bit.

[bardockkun]

Playing Blackgate and man, Batman sucks at fucking rolling over goddamn spikes on the ground. Though really the Arkham control scheme doesn't translate well at all to a 2.5D Metroidvania game.

[Crono-00]

Date night proved waiting for it was worth it.  Last time Batman Arkham Origins: Blackgate Deluxe Edition was discounted only 50% to $10 which was still more than I wanted to pay due to its starting price of $20, but just like last week with Assassin's Creed Liberation HD (another portable gone XBLA title initially priced at $20) it finally found a more palpable price on discount for the CAGs who were patient enough for the better price.  I noticed all the cosplay videos I linked in preparation of this coming Halloween and my hype for Costume Quest 2 relates well to this week's deals on Xbox Live.  So, I'm predicting next week's Deals with Gold and guess for some horror themed and/or costume DLC to get into the spirit.

It is officially the time when all the high profile titles we've been anticipating start releasing for the holidays.  Already I got Persona 4 Arena Ultimax and I've now got an unexpected interest for next month's XBLA Geometry Wars 3 Dimensions (which I think I can wait out for a discount unlike most the other holiday titles).  I also see that one of my favorite XBLIG titles, Vorpal, has its sequel set for both the 360 and X1 this fall as another unexpected surprise which I may spend on.  Between all the titles I know I will be spending on this holiday season, I need all the discounts and free titles to ease my spending.

 

I remember when Doritos Crash Course 2 came out me and my friends were excited to play it since we loved the first one but for some reason DCC2 just never clicked with us.

My rationale behind why I consider the first superior to the sequel boils down to the sequel exhibiting conflicting design elements opposed to the original's focused design.  I remember voting for IllJill's initial concept proposal amongst the finalists in the Doritos Unlock Xbox promotion/competition because it seemed most fleshed out to be a plausible fun game in part by its simplicity.  The original Doritos Crash Course was basically Trials HD, where you are simply trying to speedrun through stages.  Like Trials HD, the persistent friend leaderboard constantly remind and pushes the player to better their own play.  That's it, it was a race (there were some mechanics to allow for variation like slide jumps and inability to continually hold sprint), and the game had a nice set of stages which didn't overstay their welcome.

The sequel, however, added in too many miscellaneous mechanics which drove gameplay away from that laser focused design.  The additions of collectables, powerups, unlocking (paths/stages), and side goals gave the sequel a "play how you want to" design which I feel works great in open world sandbox games.  The introduction of powerups unbalances the playing field, such that a person's recorded time is no longer purely derived from player skill but now involved collected items.  In fact, the game deemphasizes speedrunning when it prioritizes players to collect the stars (in out of the way locations), complete goals (some which doesn't encourage skillful play), and unlock the alternate paths or additional stages (which may lead to some grinding, in turn making stages overstay their welcome).  Due to players given the options to play however they want, one may not even choose to compete in racing for better leaderboard standings.

An ancillary reason for the original's superiority is also represented by the perceived value of the game itself.  For the original, Xbox owners got the game for free, if you're willing to accept its background advertising by Doritos/Microsoft.  The first title, once downloaded, can be played anytime and is digitally owned by the account.  Due to the fact it was essentially free, flawed game mechanics (such as the player character felt like a giant domino-shaped bounding box opposed to the visible avatar) were more easily forgiven.  Whereas the sequel in order to function requires an online connection and a gold subscription (both of which likely incurred some cost to the account holder).  The sequel also possesses design elements tailored towards microtransactions, while completely optional, still stings the mind, especially the CAG mind, just enough to be less happy about their inclusion.  With added cost, comes a higher expectation and the sequel's design flaws aren't easily forgiven (at least to me).  I feel the original, didn't have that same sting when they released a paid DLC pack of stages way later (not a day one sectioned off part, but something for those who wanted more).  Alongside the original's DLC's low price, I think those who enjoyed the original game were relatively happy to pay the small amount.  Isn't that how it should be?  Where one is happy to choose added value.

Don't get me wrong, Doritos Crash Course 2 did bring in some good elements which improves upon the original.  Alternate paths (if not for their requirement to be unlocked), wall running, and edge grabbing distinguishes the sequel from the formula of the original for a different style of play.  It is a shame the sequel will cease to function in a few days, but that is the nature of a game tied to an online requirement.  The original game can be enjoyed into the future, while the sequel may end out just being a footnote memory.  Unlike 1 vs. 100 (good times) or poker games, I find it difficult for the sequel when most of its game design doesn't seem to necessitate an online connection (leaderboards aren't necessary but maybe record validation, and security for payment of microtransactions is the only reason I can think of).  I keep telling myself to start Happy Wars since it is online only before it is shut down, but there's so many other backlog titles I'd prefer to play first =/.  Like 1 vs. 100, if you care about achievements best play Doritos Crash Course 2 now for them.  Afterwards, once Crash Course 2's servers get shut down, at least we get a new free game with Darksiders 2.


 

I'm curious what the reaction would be if Microsoft put out Tomb Raider as a GWG offering for both consoles at once

Spoiler

 

2 South Park pinball table's will be releasing later this month for Pinball FX 2. FTW, buying those day one or hopefully they will be free like The Walking Dead table

Wait, I missed out on a free Walking Dead table?!  Why didn't anyone tell me?!  The only free table I ever got was Paranormal (and I won Zen Classics and Ms. 'Splosion Man tables through PlayXBLA's Weekend Achievement Challenges, I miss those).  I've been wanting a discount on the new tables for a while.  The Guardians of the Galaxy and Deadpool tables fit this week's theme of sales, and they are not discounted.  I recently decided to knock the remainder of the tables I had yet to play off my backlog, and now I am all caught up.  I am now craving some new tables, and happy to hear another great series gets a table.  I just need them to be priced for me to buy.



On the fighting game front, there's an explanation for the 360 version of Skullgirls, had the free DLC character, Eliza, pulled from the marketplace.  Encouraging to know the character may be back in a couple weeks on the marketplace offsetting a bit of the deflating mention that Darkstalkers will not likely see a new release soon.  News that Cecilia and Lambda-No.11 will be playable in BlazBlue Chronophantasma 2.0 accompanying balance changes along with how there will be newly added striker assist characters for the console Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax puts a smile on my face.  I want to take the opportunity to remind CAGs that the two additional characters for Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is still free at this time, get them as soon as you can before they cost.
 
 
To the next date night, see you there.

[kickrockz713]

Wait, I missed out on a free Walking Dead table?!  Why didn't anyone tell me?!  The only free table I ever got was Paranormal (and I won Zen Classics and Ms. 'Splosion Man tables through PlayXBLA's Weekend Achievement Challenges, I miss those).  I've been wanting a discount on the new tables for a while.  The Guardians of the Galaxy and Deadpool tables fit this week's theme of sales, and they are not discounted.  I recently decided to knock the remainder of the tables I had yet to play off my backlog, and now I am all caught up.  I am now craving some new tables, and happy to hear another great series gets a table.  I just need them to be priced for me to buy.

 

Yea it was glitch that lasted like a day. I think it actually started the day before it released, can't remember.

[bob101910]

Finally
http://www.xboxachie...le-Spotted.html

[Pheran]

Finally
http://www.xboxachie...le-Spotted.html

Yuck, white console.

[EldritchOnRye]

The Sunset Overdrive bundle is white so in not sure why that's news if it's just white and nothing else.

[cancerman1120]

Finally
http://www.xboxachie...le-Spotted.html

My understanding is this has only been announced for Brazil ($840 USD) and they are saying "no plans" for a NA release.

[LostMyNarbles]

I doubt it'd be hard for them to just take a Black regular system throw in a copy of the MCC and then sell it on Black Friday or something like that.

[evful]

My understanding is this has only been announced for Brazil ($840 USD) and they are saying "no plans" for a NA release.

Fyi, and you probably already know this, Brazil has a crazy import tax so consoles there cost way more than they do here. It be safe to assume it be the normal 399/499 price if it made it here. 

[jbug617]

New Preorder/Preloads up Xbox Store

 

COD: Advanced Warfare- 45.84 GB

Day Zero: http://store.xbox.co...70-0d4b5cf1a0b9

 

Digital Pro: http://store.xbox.co...42-38c5a8aeb537

NBA Live 15- 14.19GB

http://store.xbox.co...e7-1732cea59dcd

Sunset Overdrive (includes Xbox Live extras)- 22.98 GB

Day One- http://store.xbox.co...93-6a34515ecc6f

 

Day One Deluxe (includes Season Pass)- http://store.xbox.co...ac-2cc35e40fb56

[LostMyNarbles]

It seems kind of silly that the Day One Deluxe edition for SSO costs the same as the Game and the Season Pass would if bought separately. I imagine there's some exclusive items thrown into it but they should have offered a small amount of savings if you buy both at launch.

 

Going to Preorder Call of Duty and start preloading it. I've been on and off about getting it since it'll probably go on sale for Black Friday but with all the Microsoft credit I have saved up expanding that over cash is probably just smarter for me.

[redonkalous]

The only game I digitally pre-ordered was Destiny for the Xbox One.  Then a few days before the release they had that 360 to Xbox One upgrade offer and I regretted pre-ordering digitally so early.  So I'll wait like a day or two for the games release before pre-ordering digitally again.  Maybe CoD will have an upgrade deal too, we'll see.  I'm getting Sunset Overdrive for sure but I'm still gonna wait till it gets close.  I really do like pre-loading.

[bob101910]

The only game I digitally pre-ordered was Destiny for the Xbox One. Then a few days before the release they had that 360 to Xbox One upgrade offer and I regretted pre-ordering digitally so early. So I'll wait like a day or two for the games release before pre-ordering digitally again. Maybe CoD will have an upgrade deal too, we'll see. I'm getting Sunset Overdrive for sure but I'm still gonna wait till it gets close. I really do like pre-loading.

CoD does have an upgrade deal

[Masters_93]

How does Lego Marvels compare to the other Lego games? 

[ZeroNightmare]

The only game I digitally pre-ordered was Destiny for the Xbox One.  Then a few days before the release they had that 360 to Xbox One upgrade offer and I regretted pre-ordering digitally so early.  So I'll wait like a day or two for the games release before pre-ordering digitally again.  Maybe CoD will have an upgrade deal too, we'll see.  I'm getting Sunset Overdrive for sure but I'm still gonna wait till it gets close.  I really do like pre-loading.

you can cancel digital pre-orders by simply calling 1-800-4MY-XBOX. I canceled mine easily.