First launched in 2007, Microsoft’s “Xbox Originals” scheme seemed an easy way to re-release old Xbox titles on the 360 as a digital download, and make a buck off them in the process. Hasn’t worked out that way.
After an initial flurry of titles, releases for the service soon slowed to the point where most of you probably forgot it was even around. And it may as well have disappeared, with Microsoft saying it has now “finished it’s portfolio” of releases for the service, and that following one final release (which has yet to be determined), there will be no more Xbox games offered for download (though you’ll still be able to get the games already on there).
Shame. The service had real potential. Or, it would have if Microsoft had bothered releasing more stuff like Psychonauts, or had fixed some backwards-compatibility issues so they could sell Jet Set Radio and Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath.
UPDATE – Reader Adrian points out that the Xbox Originals have already been “moved” and rebranded, and are sitting on Xbox.com as the first offerings for Microsoft’s “Games on Demand” service.
E3 2009: The End of Originals [IGN]
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Rockstar Games and Microsoft may be giving Xbox 360 owners a chance to brush up on their Max Payne history in advance of the release of Max Payne 3, courtesy of the Xbox Originals program.
The ESRB lists relatively new ratings for both Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne for the Xbox 360. Typically, that’s a good indicator that the games are going to hit the Xbox Originals lineup. That’s a good opportunity for those of you who missed out on the originals to see how Max progresses from terminally pinch-faced to sad and droopy to blood-spattered and grizzled over the course of the trilogy.
We expect the release date to be between now and “Winter.”
Max Payne [ESRB via Destructoid]
The Xbox Originals program selection process continues to confuse, as the Gamerscore Blog revlelas the next addition to the lineup of downloadable “classics” for the Xbox 360, Terminal Reality’s Blowout.
Only the fact that Crecente might actually be reading this post keeps me from just writing “Why?” 200 times and calling it a day. For 1200 Microsoft points on January 19th you can download Majesco’s 2003 run and gun shooter, which scored around a 50 average on GameRankings. If that’s a bit too pricey, you could always buy the original game for the Xbox on Amazon for $1.50 used. Or you could just not buy it at all, which is probably your safest bet.
At this point I am convinced the Xbox Originals selection process features a hat and a blindfolded child.
BlowOut Coming to Xbox Originals [Gamerscore Blog]
