With a little more than 5 weeks away from being released in the <B>United States</b>, <a href="http://www.xbox.com">Microsoft's Xbox 360</a> is starting to build some steam towards the starting line of the next-generation console race. One of the built-in features of the <b>Xbox 360</b> is the <b>Xbox Live Arcade</b>, featuring simple games for the casual gamer to download and play instantly. <b>Microsoft</b> <a href="http://www.xbox.com/en-US/press/1014-livearcade.htm">announced</a> a list of <b>21</b> <b>Xbox Live Arcade</b> games to be available during launch, with <b>35</b> to be available by summer <b>2006</b>.
Amongst the list of launch games are four <b>Midway</b> arcade classics such as, <b>Gauntlet</b>, <B>Joust</b>, <b>Robotron 2048</b>, and <b>SmashTV</b>. All four of these games have made an appearance on the first <b>Midway Arcade Treasures</b> title; however, <b>Xbox Live Arcade</b> offers <b>Midway</b> a direct to consumer distribution channel with very little costs involved, no DVD disc to master or box to ship. In addition, these versions are <b>Xbox Live</b> enabled, which means online multiplayer.
As the <b>Xbox 360</b> matures and <b>Xbox Live Arcade</b> gains in popularity, perhaps <b>Midway</b> will open up their catalog and provide more and more classic arcade titles to <b>Xbox Live Arcade</b>. One very likely scenario is an online <b>Xbox Live</b> enabled version of the classic <B>Mortal Kombat</b> arcade games.
If <b>Midway</b> charged $10-$20 for a <b>Xbox Live</b> enabled <b>Mortal Kombat</b> or <b>Mortal Kombat II</b>, would you be comfortable enough to buy the title directly through the <b>Xbox Live Marketplace</b>? If not, why?
Amongst the list of launch games are four <b>Midway</b> arcade classics such as, <b>Gauntlet</b>, <B>Joust</b>, <b>Robotron 2048</b>, and <b>SmashTV</b>. All four of these games have made an appearance on the first <b>Midway Arcade Treasures</b> title; however, <b>Xbox Live Arcade</b> offers <b>Midway</b> a direct to consumer distribution channel with very little costs involved, no DVD disc to master or box to ship. In addition, these versions are <b>Xbox Live</b> enabled, which means online multiplayer.
As the <b>Xbox 360</b> matures and <b>Xbox Live Arcade</b> gains in popularity, perhaps <b>Midway</b> will open up their catalog and provide more and more classic arcade titles to <b>Xbox Live Arcade</b>. One very likely scenario is an online <b>Xbox Live</b> enabled version of the classic <B>Mortal Kombat</b> arcade games.
If <b>Midway</b> charged $10-$20 for a <b>Xbox Live</b> enabled <b>Mortal Kombat</b> or <b>Mortal Kombat II</b>, would you be comfortable enough to buy the title directly through the <b>Xbox Live Marketplace</b>? If not, why?