As a lot of you know, there have been some problems regarding delisting some XBLA games because they underperform. Microsoft has given out the criteria which they will use to decide which XBLA games will be removed. Mircosoft also answered some questions that consumers might have about the criteria. First of all, a game can only be delisted if it has been downloadable for six or more months, has a metacritic rating below 65 percent, and a conversion rating which has to be less than six percent. Read the quote below to find out more about the criteria and some questions that you might have.
Well, Microsoft has just given out the criteria that it will be using to decide which games will be removed as well as answered a few questions that consumers might have regarding it.
According to the post on Gamerscoreblog, a game can only be delisted if it has been downloadable for at least six months, has a metacritic rating below 65 percent, and a conversion rate of less than six percent.
Conversion rate? What's that? According to Microsoft, a conversion happens when someone downloads a trial XBLA game and then purchases it afterwards. This means that if less than 6 percent of the people who downloaded a demo of a game bought it, then it means that it already has one strike against it.
Some people may also be asking why Microsoft is even considering delisting the games in the first place. Microsoft pointed out that the Xbox Live Arcade already has a lot of games on it and that filtering out the games will make it easier for players to find the ones they want to play.
Next up is the part quite a number of gamers are worried about. Will they be able to play a game once it's delisted? What happens to its online features and the leader boards? Can they still play the game? Here's what Microsoft had to say:
The game will function normally even after being delisted. You can continue to play the game single and multiplayer, as well as use the leaderboards as you normally.
Finally, what happens to those who bought a game before it gets delisted and accidentally deleted it? Well, you'll be happy to know that players will still be able to download it through the download history tab (leftmost blade according to Microsoft's response).
Submit a Story
Register
Get Started
Webmaster Tools
Comments with -10 or lower "thumbs" are removed from display.
Microsoft should be *bleep*ing shot for putting in games older than my father, especially when the main character boasts an impressive 10 polygons of detail.
They need to keep bringing in decent games that have established their fanbase already. Castlevania rocked my pants in more ways than my hand could. DOOM was a nostalgic orgasm.
Marble Blast Ultra was jesus reborn. Why don't they bring in all of the other classics that don't belong in the corner of a pizza parlour??
What about the Commander Keen games?
What about the first two Duke Nukems?
Secret Agent?
Xargon?
God Of Thunder?
Hell, if they're lucky, they might be able to squeeze in the original HeXeN or Exhumed.
Instead, we get given Contra, Rush'n Attack, and who could forget the almighty Space Giraffe with it's Grade A Engrish, and visual effects capable of causing an epileptic fit.