Geometry Wars the Halo of Live Arcade

[Vandenh]

Geometry Wars has taken Live Arcade by storm. MTV has the news (http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1520696/20060112/index.jhtml?headlines=true).

Since the 360 was launched less than two months ago, the trial version of the game has been downloaded more than 200,000 times, according to Canessa. Nearly 45,000 people have purchased the full game and had their high scores posted on Xbox Live's global-leader board.

[bapenguin]

I so called this back in October. :) This game is just FUN.

[dartt]

It's a great game, a friend came round to my flat with his 360 for a day and we must have played Geometry Wars longer than Perfect Dark and PGR3 put together!

Well worth the £4 or so it costs.

[overdrivechao]

Yay that the best game on the most powerful console ever made seems like it was designed for the vectrex. Best use of $400 i've seen in a while!

[Montolio]

Yay that the best game on the most powerful console ever made seems like it was designed for the vectrex. Best use of $400 i've seen in a while!

New-retro isn't for everyone and maybe especially at that price point but the game is a lot of fun. Easy to play, difficult to master since is never really ends. Some games just have "it" regardless what they look like and this is one of them.

[Atorak]

Man, there are 45,000 people who have scores and I'm in the top 1,500?! Sweet.

Although bap is still sitting pretty at top 200.

[bapenguin]

Yay that the best game on the most powerful console ever made seems like it was designed for the vectrex. Best use of $400 i've seen in a while!

It's pretty funny too that this game utilizes all 3 cores. It sorta seems like overkill until you get to the later levels. The entire screen will be filled with enemies, I think I counted at least 2 to 3 billion particles...seriously. :)

[johnperkins21]

This game gives me a headache. I honestly don't see the appeal.

[GrinR]

I tell people that all the time - "The best game on my $5000 rig is a 4 dollar download, and the really wild part is that far from having a problem with that, I'm actually very happy about it. Ultimately, I buy game stuff to have fun... mission accomplished!"

[GrinR]

This game gives me a headache. I honestly don't see the appeal.

You're either too old, or too young?

[Cubfan]

My problem with the game is with all of the enemies and the various graphic effects that crowd the screen, I have a difficult time getting my bearings and knowing exactly where I am at any given time. Maybe it's my standard TV and things are a bit clearer in high-def? Or I suppose it could that I'm not very good and am not clearing enemies as rapidly as I should be :)

[bone4ahead]

My problem with the game is with all of the enemies and the various graphic effects that crowd the screen, I have a difficult time getting my bearings and knowing exactly where I am at any given time. Maybe it's my standard TV and things are a bit clearer in high-def? Or I suppose it could that I'm not very good and am not clearing enemies as rapidly as I should be :)

I've played the game on a standard def TV and a HDTV, and its a lot easier to tell whats going on in hi-def.

[GrinR]

My problem with the game is with all of the enemies and the various graphic effects that crowd the screen, I have a difficult time getting my bearings and knowing exactly where I am at any given time. Maybe it's my standard TV and things are a bit clearer in high-def? Or I suppose it could that I'm not very good and am not clearing enemies as rapidly as I should be :)

I couldn't imagine playing on anything less than a 37" hidef.

[Rakael]

Hook the damn thing up to your PC monitor if you don't have hi-def! ;P

S'what I plan on doing. 19" of true HD is much better than 30 some-odd inches of standard resolution.

[Mr.Green]

You're either too old, or too young?
Or he simply doesn't like the game?

I think it's a pretty damn cool game but honestly, remove the Live scoreboards and achievements (e-penis waving) and you'll probably lose 90% of the crowd.

[King Drewsky]

Bah! Give me Robotron or give me death.

[dotbomb]

Good to see a fun game getting the props it deserves. Hell even my 2.25 year old son loves the game. He flies straight for the bottom left corner every time. Sometimes he scores 200 points!

[LilAbner]

Halo of Live Arcade? It's the Halo of 360, which is kinda sad.

[XenonCJ]

Halo of Live Arcade? It's the Halo of 360, which is kinda sad.Hey, a good game, is a good game, and this one is somehow refreshingly badass.

[Heretic Machine]

Halo of Live Arcade? It's the Halo of 360, which is kinda sad.

How is it sad? Good game design doesn't require raw power. That's why good games are timeless. The sooner people get that, the sooner we can all move on from the hardware wars.

Besides, the 360 has a lot more going for it than beefy graphics.

[ldi222]

wow, drink some mtn dew and win a contest and youve got a fan for life.

Seriously, Im all for retro arcade gaming but for a killer app for a next gen console to be a throwback to the 80's is pretty weak. That game could easily be a download for live arcade for the original xbox and if it was and the 360 hadnt come out yet no one would be talking about it. Its a good game yes but this justification as to why the 360 rocks is just silly. If Xbox360 had a killer app right now it would be COD2 and COD2 while intense is no HALO.

[SymetriX]

I think it's a pretty damn cool game but honestly, remove the Live scoreboards and achievements (e-penis waving) and you'll probably lose 90% of the crowd.

Remove Live scoreboards and achievements and you lose 90% of what makes the Xbox 360 worth buying.

[Atorak]

Remove Live scoreboards and achievements and you lose 90% of what makes the Xbox 360 worth buying.

Oh, so you mean a PS3?

[bapenguin]

Oh, so you mean a PS3?

ba-dum-ching!

[Achilles]

Halo of Live Arcade? It's the Halo of 360, which is kinda sad.Call of Duty is the Halo of the 360. It sold to 77% of the people who bought the system.

[Heretic Machine]

wow, drink some mtn dew and win a contest and youve got a fan for life.

Seriously, Im all for retro arcade gaming but for a killer app for a next gen console to be a throwback to the 80's is pretty weak. That game could easily be a download for live arcade for the original xbox and if it was and the 360 hadnt come out yet no one would be talking about it. Its a good game yes but this justification as to why the 360 rocks is just silly. If Xbox360 had a killer app right now it would be COD2 and COD2 while intense is no HALO.

Ya, fuck the 360, fuck it for having good games! How dare it!

[ldi222]

Geometry wars is a good game I agree, it ranks right up there with Galaga. Hell, if I keep drinking enough of the green kool aid Ill be a fanboy too. Honestly Perigon, nothing wrong with your love of the 360, I guess you finally found your killer app for xbox.

[LilAbner]

I have no problem that a quality game like GW is on 360. My problem is it's not on Xbox. It's not like 360 is the only hardware capable of running it. MS has totally alienated guys like me who can't afford a 360 right now.....and I'm a huge advocate of Xbox.

[kathode]

It's not like 360 is the only hardware capable of running it.

That's kind of incorrect. The background alone is a 60,000 vert object that deforms and corrects based on numerous inputs - it takes up an entire core with calculations. This is not even to mention the INSANE number of particles that appear on the screen, and vector math still isn't cheap. There's a reason why the Retro version (the one that actually DID appear on the original Xbox) is so laughable to play after Retro Evolved.

It's really easy to tell who's actually never played the game in this thread.

[Mr.Green]

Damn! I go away a few hours and you guys let the hating trolls in that easily? For shame.

[ldi222]

That's kind of incorrect. The background alone is a 60,000 vert object that deforms and corrects based on numerous inputs - it takes up an entire core with calculations. This is not even to mention the INSANE number of particles that appear on the screen, and vector math still isn't cheap.

With all due respect, you must be kidding. Next youre going to tell me street fighter 2 hyper fighting with spectator mode uses three cores to the max. Were talking about the sequal to a mini game in an xbox 1 title for christ sakes.

http://worldofstuart.excellentcontent.com/geowars.htm

[Vandenh]

Dude...

http://www.bizarreonline.net/page.php?p=cakeyinterview&f=gwre

The grid itself is made up of 60,000 points, each one exerting a small amount of force on its neighbour. The simulation itself sits on the edge of stability which is what causes it to swing about so much when one of the game objects gives it a small push!

Only a few types of object affect the grid. As the grid system is rather expensive to calculate, it actually runs on the second core along with the audio system, (the first core being dedicated to gameplay and particles, the third is used to render the audio).

[Morratut]

Oh, so you mean a PS3?

Best comeback ever!

To be honest it makes me laugh when people try to put down the 360. It's just a excellent all round system. It's only going to get better. It has good games already, good online multiplayer, arcade, demos and downloads. It has everything.

This game is very good i'm a fan and of it. I just wish I could break the 300k barrier :D

[overdrivechao]

Best comeback ever!

To be honest it makes me laugh when people try to put down the 360. It's just a excellent all round system. It's only going to get better. It has good games already, good online multiplayer, arcade, demos and downloads. It has everything.

This game is very good i'm a fan and of it. I just wish I could break the 300k barrier :D

i'm no sony or nintendo fanboy, but imo microsoft is fighting uphill froim the start. The hardware (when it works) is fine. the ps3 will be no more powerful. its all about the development teams and the games they create to harness the power they are given. The same box gave us Aquaman and Halo in the first year. My beef with the Xbox and the 360 is the aversion *** has to original titles and taking chances in favor of the gamer. They are just way too obvious about it.