We first found out about the likelihood of this a couple months ago, but now it's official. Microsoft announced the Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged, Volume 1 title today, and it will include six Live Arcade games for a $40 price. Also included will be a free month of Xbox Live Gold.

The games included, obviously, are some of the most popular on the retro game service on Xbox Live -- Geometry Wars, Wik: Fable of Souls, Outpost Kaloki X, Bejeweled 2 Deluxe, Hardwood Backgammon, and Texas Hold 'em. At approximately $10 each for these games online, the $40 price tag is a "bargain", I guess, though this kind of simplistic game collection seems more like something that should be a budget title. That's what we're used to when it comes to this kind of genre.
The Xbox 360 has been on a mission for quite some time to attract the casual gamer. They'll kind of be caught in the crossroads when the PS3 and Wii come along, with the former dedicated to action, visually intensive games, and the latter focused on casual play. Microsoft is trying to build the 360 to be the complementary system to either of these.

The XBLA Volume 1 collection will hit stores on September 5.

Via Joystiq

Report Published by: Mark Raby