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Microsoft to discontinue Xbox Live support for original Xbox games

Microsoft announced today that they would cease all support for Xbox games, be they disc-based or purchased via the Xbox Originals service, as of April 15, 2010. The reason for this cessation is that Microsoft has changes planned for the Xbox Live service that they would be unable to implement if they continued supporting Xbox games.

For gamers, this means any online gaming you plan on doing on Halo 2 or any other online-enabled game will need to be done soon. All offline modes will continue to work on the Xbox 360, including offline multiplayer and single player modes.

Feb 8, 2010 - 11:52 am | 0 comments

Sonic goes episodic

Sega has finally revealed the game formerly known as Project Needlemouse to be Sonic the Hedgehog 4- a sequel to the Sega Genesis era Sonic titles. To the relief of many oft-ignored Sonic fans, it will be a 2-D platformer in the vein of the Genesis titles, with the story taking place after Sonic & Knuckles.

Additionally, Sega will add timed leaderboards to the game, allowing friends to compare their times and race each other in the game. It will also incorporate motion controls for the PS3 and Wii, though how it will do so has not been revealed yet

The game will be episodic, which means Sega has planned multiple entries in this 'new' style to be released in the next year or so. The first will be released this summer as a downloadable title via XBLA, PSN, and WiiWare.

Teaser trailer after the break.

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Feb 4, 2010 - 11:18 am | 0 comments

Fallout: New Vegas to arrive this fall

Bethesda announced today that the follow up to the critically acclaimed Fallout 3 will arrive this fall.

Along with this announcement, they released a teaser trailer that shows Sin City looking much as it does today, perhaps signalling that Las Vegas managed to escape the worst of the holocaust that visited the rest of the world.

It also suggested that the New California Republic will be a major faction in New Vegas, as the lone soldier in the video is seen holding a California state flag.

More information will likely be forthcoming, but for now, the trailer is posted after the break.


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Feb 4, 2010 - 11:08 am | 0 comments

Preview: ModNation Racers

ModNation Racers, set for release this Spring, has been called "LittleBigRacer" for its similarity to Media Molecule's customizable platformer. Shawn Vermette and Graham Russell spent a lot of time with the beta so they could give you a preview of the upcoming title.

Shawn Vermette: I went into ModNation Racers without high expectations. I love kart racers, mainly because of Mario Kart, but the big focus of the game seemed to be on customization, which I’m not a big fan of. I love the idea of customization…I just rarely put the time or effort into customizing things. So consider me impressed when I tell you that I believe ModNation Racers could be the closest anyone has gotten to creating a kart racing game that is as fun and addictive as Mario Kart Wii. 

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Jan 31, 2010 - 12:25 pm | 0 comments

SB Asks: This side of the Q1 fence

All through the fall, gamers were griping about delays and talking about how Q1 2010 would be better than Q4 2009.  Now that we're here and starting to see the release of some of these games, do you think that's true?  What are you looking forward to in January, February and March?  Let us know!

Jan 12, 2010 - 6:15 am | 20 comments

Happy holidays from Snackbar Games

From our family to yours, we'd just like to wish everyone a joyous holiday season and general merriment.  Whatever and however you're celebrating, be sure to have some fun before 2010.

Feel free to stop by and let us know how it goes!

Dec 24, 2009 - 8:17 am | 0 comments

SB09: Chris Ingersoll's picks

One of Snackbar Games' traditions every year is to have each staffer pick their top ten games of the year.  We're so all over the map in our tastes that our lists are never similar.  Today, we have site veteran Chris Ingersoll.  We'd be surprised that he wrote so much about only two systems, but...well, we know the guy.

As usual for my own year-end list, I want to emphasize that this only covers games released this year that I have actually played. This leaves a lot of front runners left off the list simply because I don't own the system(s) on which they were released, I wasn't interested in them, I had other financial obligations at the time of its release and it got back-burnered, or any number of other reasons. Additionally, there are a few titles remaining to be released this year that could have stolen a place or two.

Right off the bat, I don't own an Xbox360, PS3, PSP, DSi, or gaming-capable PC. For the two systems that I do own, here are the ones I didn't get to for 2009 that probably deserve consideration:

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Dec 18, 2009 - 7:54 am | 2 comments

SB09: Andrew Passafiume's picks

One of Snackbar Games' traditions every year is to have each staffer pick their top ten games of the year.  We're so all over the map in our tastes that our lists are never similar.  Today, Andrew Passafiume has a lot of games about punching, shooting and killing things.  Then he has The Beatles.

10) MadWorld

MadWorld is a game I had been anticipating for quite some time, and it delivered on its promise of over the top action and extremely fun gameplay. It has a surprisingly strong story, and very nice variety of bosses and challenges. Although the game may seem easy at first, the challenge picks up quickly. This is a game I believe every Wii owner must have in their collection.

9) Left 4 Dead 2

The original Left 4 Dead is an amazing game in the fact that it is probably one of the shortest games around, but it is also one of the most replayable. The sequel brings us a brand new setting, new characters, and plenty of other new toys to dispatch zombies with. It simply is bigger and better than the original in just about every way.

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Dec 17, 2009 - 6:36 am | 7 comments

The Beatles Rock Band: Rubber Soul DLC impressions

The third and final DLC album for The Beatles: Rock Band was released this week, one that is considered one of The Beatles’ best albums by many. Rubber Soul contains the rest of the eleven tracks not already on the disc, and although I’ve said this before, it may be the best DLC for the game yet.

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Dec 16, 2009 - 10:40 am | 0 comments

SB09: Graham Russell's picks

One of Snackbar Games' traditions every year is to have each staffer pick their top ten games of the year.  We're so all over the map in our tastes that our lists are never similar.  Today, Graham Russell makes a lot of offbeat picks, because that's pretty much what he does.

10. Retro Game Challenge (DS)

I want so badly for Japanese show Game Center CX to be subtitled and have an American release.  If more of you guys had bought this game, which is based on it, my dreams would be closer to happening.  You're all dream-crushers.  That seems so incredibly mean. 

9. Torchlight (PC)

It's like Diablo.  In that it's really close to being Diablo.  Torchlight has a brilliant art style for a downloadable title, and there's way too much gameplay in here to be healthy.  Multiplayer would have kicked it into the stratosphere, but it's still solid as it is.

8. Scribblenauts (DS)

A perfect example of how hype can kill a game.  Before the months of constantly-raising expectations, Scribblenauts was a magical little cult hit.  Hopefully the series will continue with better controls and just a bit more variety in gameplay.

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Dec 16, 2009 - 6:29 am | 2 comments