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AtomMicrosoft ameliorates Xbox Live downtime disappointments with a free game
This news is probably circulating everywhere now, but Microsoft sent over an e-mail (attached past the break) with a statement regarding the Xbox Live problems over the holiday season. A usage spike was the reason for the unstable performance and the excuse I use for my poor performance at Senko no Ronde over those few days.
To compensate for the annoyance Microsoft is giving gamers around the world a free Xbox Live Arcade game. Details about what game they’re planning on giving away are coming at a later time . Logically, it’s going to be either an existing title or a game we don’t know about yet. I know that sounds obvious, it’s supposed to. If the free game is an existing title it has to be something prepared for all regions. Remember, this is a gift for the world, not just a single country. So, without further ado I present to you India’s list of Xbox Live Arcade games. They have the smallest selection in the world and if it’s going to be a known game it’s going to be one of these:
Zuma
Worms
UNO
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
Street Fighter II
Small Arms
Pac-Man
Marble Blast Ultra
Lumines Live
Gauntlet
Galaga
Frogger
Doom
Cloning Clyde
castlevania: Symphony of Night
Bankshot Billiards 2
Assault Heroes
Word Puzzle
Switchball
Shrek-n-Roll
Screwjumper!
Undertow
Asteroids
Arkadian Warriors
Gripshift
Sensible World of Soccer
Metal Slug 3
Read the official letter from Marc Whitten, General Manager of Xbox Live, past the break.
Dear Xbox LIVE Members:
During this past holiday season you helped us break a number of Xbox LIVE records. This included our largest sign-up of new members to Xbox LIVE in our 5 year history and just yesterday you broke the record for the single biggest day of concurrent members ever on the service.
As a result of this massive increase in usage we know that some of you experienced intermittent Xbox LIVE issues over the holiday break. While the service was not completely offline at any given time, we are disappointed in our performance. I would like to take this moment to thank you each and every one of you for your patience and understanding as our team has worked around the clock to return the service to a stable state.
At the same time we would like to offer a token of our appreciation to all of you in celebration of record success for the service. And as a thank you for your loyalty during this holiday period, we will be offering all of our Xbox LIVE members around the world access to a full Xbox LIVE Arcade game that will be available to download free of charge. In the coming weeks we will be sharing the specific details of this offer with you.
Thank you again for helping make Xbox LIVE everything that it is today!
Sincerely,
Marc Whitten
General Manager, Xbox LIVE
Gamertag: Notwen
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8 Responses to “Microsoft ameliorates Xbox Live downtime disappointments with a free game”
January 4th, 2008 at 12:12 am
I would assume that Microsoft would be paying for the game to the publisher (unless it’s one of their own) and not just handing it out for free on someone else’s behalf.
That said, I don’t think it has to be the same game for all regions as shown by the Carcassone/Hexic 2 giveaway a few weeks ago.
January 4th, 2008 at 1:09 am
Hmm, interesting. Be nice if there’s a choice to be honest, but I’m not complaining - there’ll be enough people doing that on gamefaqs etc.
There’s every chance I played you on Senko over the holidays Spencer, probably around the time when I realised how sorely lacking my skills were when I came up against the Japanese players who refused to use BOSS mode and still destroyed me…
See you on the servers when they’re fixed!
January 4th, 2008 at 2:33 am
Smart thinking there with posting the smallest regional list. (Not sarcastic)
January 4th, 2008 at 6:03 am
ShadowMarth* lol
I don’t have a xbox so ill choose by simply doing this:
WICH ONE IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE
January 4th, 2008 at 6:19 am
@alice - Good points! Microsoft could give away different games for each region too. And yes the game will likely be a Microsoft published game too. I was thinking that when I was typing up India’s list, but I opted not to exclude the non-Microsoft published titles.
@Swallow - Yeah, some of the Japanese players are fantastic. I admit I *have* to use B.O.S.S. mode to even have a chance too.
January 5th, 2008 at 5:40 am
my best guess would be Lumines Live, because the xbox lumines game model depends on the user to buy more skins/songs. What better way for Microsoft and Q to use this chance for everyone to get the Base Pack for free, then offer everyone the different expansions so users can spend more Live Points.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:32 am
Good Point Scott.
Another way to get more folks on an already overhyped, under supported network of users. Clogging it up even further trying to purchase inane “skins” etc.
Meanwhile Uncle Bill rakes in the cash, suppling a shoddily supported network, which frustrates 5 million users and makes the competition rub their hands with glee.
A sort of “Shoot My Self In The Foot” scenario once again.
You would have thought if the advertise to increase the sales……
Surely…….
You would think they might upgrade the system to support the planned sales before the users get upset?????
Just a thought Bill…….
Try co-ordinating your business a little better (or firing someone).
Yes I am upset that I cannot get my cash back and now have to put up with an intermittent shoddy “live”network……..
There must be a way to make them pay…..?????
Gaming Map
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:59 pm
…it’s gonna be that Toyota Yaris game.
LAWLZZZZZ!! Feel bad for SNK if they give out Metal Slug, ish is brand new!