For The Mag (X360, again): Is XBLA still relevant?

[360_Mag_Dave]

Split opinion

This is for X360 and its shiny new community section, and we want to blow apart all the issues facing Live and the online side of gaming. This month we want to talk about the relevance of XBLA. Is it still important?

With iPhone, iPad, Android and even browser-based games taking off in spectacular fashion, is there space left for XBLA and its mixture of big budget games, small budget games and once innovative indie titles?

Do you still play games on XBLA, or have you forsaken it for your iPhone? What could Microsoft do to make it better? Are you upset that XBLA started out with such promise (Geometry Wars) but now finds itself hidden from view on the dashboard? Or, do you think games like Braid, Limbo and The Walking Dead make up for it?

What do you all think?

[gugly_duk]

Not speaking so much for Arcade, but the best game I've played in a long, long time was Journey on the PSN. Sure, there's more rubbish D/L games but when some shine through, they can be well good.

[Mullered Moose]

XBLA certainly ain't what it used to be; sure there's plenty of good games to play but finding them under a sea of ads is proving harder by the month. I now genuinely rely on the forum to find out if anything worth looking at has arrived. If MS bring back a friendly UI then I still think there's space for XBLA in the entertainment market.

[Johnny Shoulder]

I think XBLA defo still has a place. I don't get all these games on your phone as I much prefer gaming on a big screen.

Some XBLA games put some full priced boxed titles to shame in terms of quality, and I think if games like Bulletstorm were released on XBLA they would of fared a lot better.

[j2000_nr]

I think that XBLA is still a great service, I've played so many arcade games that have been excellent. I don't use my phone for anything other than calling or texting.

As long as they keep releasing quality XBLA games then it will always have a place.

[Palerider_GB]

I don't use my phone for anything other than calling or texting.

Wow! That must be like living in the stone age...


I think I use mine for everything but calling or texting...

[gugly_duk]

I don't use my phone for anything other than calling or texting.

Wow! That must be like living in the stone age...


I think I use mine for everything but calling or texting...

I can only call and text off mine haha.

[TheSelkie]

I was never a big fan of XBLA. To me it was always just a way to play old games (sonic, worms, bomberman, poker) with friends. I've downloaded a few other titles, but never with particularly great results (Gotham City Imposters was particularly disappointing), although I was pleasantly surprised by Minecraft.

I still check it out from time to time, but the new dashboard certainly hasn't helped.

[biron_w]

I still use XBLA. There are some very good games on it. It comes in handy over the summer game drought.
As for mobiles and gaming. I don't own an iphone and have no intention of buying one. I'm an android man. But I don't buy games for my phone. IMO a screen isn't practical as a controller.

[McGunslinger]

Don't think Microsoft care anymore, they hide it away like an embarrassing child.

[The-Marb]

XBLA is like going to Blockbusters, its full of utter dirge that no-one should watch/play, but has the occasional hidden gem provided you know what you are looking for.

I still use it, just sparingly.

[Bob]

The problem for me, with limited time to game, is that XBLA has crept up in price where I just can't justify the expense. Am I going to spunk 1200 Points on an XBLA game when I could buy a brand new boxed game for less? So no. It's priced itself out of relevance.

[j2000_nr]

I don't use my phone for anything other than calling or texting.

Wow! That must be like living in the stone age...


I think I use mine for everything but calling or texting...

Not far off bud!

All my mates rip on me for not using it as a 'smart' phone

I don't have the time to play games on it, not when I could be playing our beloved xbox!

[Johnny Shoulder]

I'm almost the same J2, the only other thing I use my phone for is listening to music on my travels.

[nojdanzig]

To be honest the whole Microsoft ideal has veered away from gaming and towards using your console for everything BUT gaming. Hence the XBLA service is the red-headed stepchild with no support and tucked away.