During CES this year Microsoft announced the second annual Xbox Live House Party, aka the winter equivalent to the Summer of Arcade. We knew the line-up, which included a sequel to Alan Wake and a long awaited title from Ubisoft, but we’d yet to get prices and specific dates. This morning Microsoft took the wrapping off that last bit of info, revealing the weekly schedule for the games that begins the day after Valentine’s.
February 15 – Warp (800 Points)
A promising indie-ish puzzle title being published by EA, on the surface Warp reminds us of a mix between Portal and ‘Splosion Man, but with M-rated explosions of blood. There’s even a nice dose of Metal Gear Solid style stealth elements.
February 22 – Alan Wake’s American Nightmare (1200 Points)
The exciting follow-up to A. Wake’s 2010 adventure, this one replaces a sleepy Twin Peaks vibe with pulp fiction and the Twilight Zone. Boosting the action while keeping the unique storytelling, we look forward to seeing where the troubled writer goes next.
February 29 – Nexuiz (800 Points)
In the works for some time, Nexuiz harkens back to a simpler era in FPS games, when marksmanship and quick reflexes ruled the day instead of perks and prestige. This multiplayer-focused title wants to be a modern day Quake or Unreal, but can the devs pull it off?
March 7 – I Am Alive (1200 Points)
Announced years ago, Ubisoft’s I Am Alive looks like a downloadable with impressive retail-level production values. The story of a man trying to survive in a ruined world, the title looks exciting, though we wonder if it can come together in the end after such a difficult development.
Lastly, if you buy all four games for a total of 4000 points ($50), Microsoft will give you 800 points ($10) free, so long as you buy them all before March 13.
