http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/n-xbox-live-arcade/g-20071205144157614033 en http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-174187.aspx The first downloadble content pack for N+ is available right now from the Xbox Live Marketplace. This is the first of three DLC releases for possibly the most challenging Xbox Live Arcade game released to date. The First DLC Pack includes... news Jul 23, 2008 http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-172900.aspx DarkZero: According to the developers site the DLC will offer 150 easier Singleplayer levels and 50 regular difficulty Co-op Multiplayer levels when it get's released very very soon - by the end of July! news Jul 21, 2008 http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-164959.aspx Joystiq writes: A little ninja scampered across our screen to bring news that Metanet, developer of N+, has three level packs for the Xbox Live Arcade version of the game ready and waiting. According to a post on Metanet's blog, the downloadable content has already been submitted to Microsoft for certification, although it has yet to receive a release date. The post also reveals that one of the three packs will be free, and that, in total, the DLC-drop contains more than 750 new maps (roughly 300 of which are mutliplayer levels). The maps are reportedly a lot better than the ones that came with N+ due to the fact that Metanet has had more time to learn what works. We know what works: 750 more reasons to love the stylish and seductively simple ninja platformer. news Jul 3, 2008 http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-129272.aspx Myan-themed Puzzle Game 'TiQal' opens up with a horrible start, while Microsoft kills GamerScore cheaters, and 'Brain Training' stays on top with over 13,000 units sold this week. news Mar 30, 2008 http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/n-xbox-live-arcade/videos/g-20071205144157614033/v-2008032812484712018 video Mar 28, 2008 http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-127072.aspx N+ creators Raigan Burns and Mare Sheppard in their response blog titled In Defense of the Apparant Shitstorm write: Well, apparently our Gamasutra interview is controversial. Probably we should do what all the professionals have advised us to do, and just stop reading comments - it is the internet after all. But let's instead take one last stab at dialogue. We didn't intend to provoke outrage, we simply spoke candidly. Actually saying what you think rather than being fake in an interview situation is apparently just not done, but don't shoot the messenger - it's not our fault that the vast majority of XBLA games suck! Literally every single person we've ever spoken with is in agreement on this, and yet it's apparently shocking for gamers in general to hear (assuming that's who reads joystiq/kotaku). news Mar 24, 2008 http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-126526.aspx 'N+' finally gets toppled by surprising casual juggernaught 'Brain Challenge', debuting its first full week on the charts with 26,000 units - #3rd overall for best full weeks. FPS classic 'Doom' increases units sold strongly by 110%, and Assault Heroes does very similarly. news Mar 22, 2008 http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-122268.aspx Since the February release of N+ on Xbox Live Arcade, the developers at Metanet have apparently locked themselves away in a secret underground Toronto location, cranking out new levels like true design ninja. N+ co-creator Mare Sheppard told IGN today that Metanet plans to release three downloadable expansion packs, each containing about 200 levels, in the months ahead. The first pack will likely contain some easier levels and some co-op multiplayer levels and could hit Xbox Live Marketplace as early as three weeks from now. The second and third packs would follow soon after. news Mar 12, 2008 http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-121523.aspx These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade, full versions purchased this week. Here are the top 3 for each charts, see the source for the complete top 10 list. Xbox 360 Top Live Titles 1. Call of Duty 4 2. Halo 3 3. Guitar Hero III Top Arcade Titles 1. N+ 2. Rocketmen: Axis of Evil 3. Triggerheart Exelica Original Xbox Top Live Titles 1. Halo 2 2. Star Wars: Battlefront 2 3. Counter-Strike news Mar 11, 2008 http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-118730.aspx These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade, full versions purchased this week. Here are the top 3 for each charts, see the source for the complete top 10 list. Xbox 360 Top Live Titles: 1. Call of Duty 4 2. Halo 3 3. Guitar Hero III Top Arcade Titles: 1. N+ 2. Triggerheart Exelica 3. Worms Original Xbox Top Live Titles: 1. Halo 2 2. Battlefield 2: Modern Combat 3. Counter-Strike news Mar 4, 2008 http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-118646.aspx At the 2008 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Mare Sheppard (Metanet Software Inc.) and Nick Waanders (Slick Entertainment Inc.) gave a presentation about the development of N+ for Xbox LIVE Arcade. These are the slides used for the presentation. news Mar 4, 2008 http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-117797.aspx VGChartz reports that this week, Triggerheart Excelica launched to decent numbers. Triggerheart Excelica is the 2nd ever Dreamcast game to come to the XBLA Service, with Rez HD being the first. Excelica beats previous $10 Schmup recordholder, Omega 5's debut of 6,000 units by a decent 20% increase. However, like Omega 5, it was vastly frontloaded this week: it's debut sales on it's first day was almost 40% of the 3day week (which is rather high). Another major note: Japanese Xbox 360 users made up 40% of the entire Excelica userbase. In the case of Omega 5, it sold only to 14% Japanese users (which is well above the norm, as the JP userbase constitutes maybe 5% of the average XBLA purchase base). Other notes: -Sonic the Hedgehog reaches 250,000 Units -N+ increased very well -Rez HD finishes it's first month just shy of 100,000 units -Chessmaster LIVE ends it's first month with almost 28,000 units. -Poker Smash had a massive drop from last week: it shed 70% from last week. Fortunately, the game has still done very well with grossing $400,000 in 4 weeks. news Mar 1, 2008 http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-117615.aspx N+ always intended to let players upload custom levels for anyone to download, but Microsoft nixed the feature at the last second. The decision was so last second, in fact, the version of N+ available on Partnernet, a test version of Xbox Live that publishers and select media can access, actually includes this feature. MTV Multiplayer wondered why a small studio like Metanet Software would bother investing in such an ambitious feature if they had any suspicions it wouldn't make the cut. news Mar 1, 2008 http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-117580.aspx PS3Fanboy reports that N+ creators Metanet confirmed a PSN version of N+ (recently released on Xbox 360) is definitely in the works. However, it will not appear on the service any time soon. Yes, however due to an exclusivity clause in our XBLA contract, it may not be for a while. A producer at Atari noted that they are excited to work on PSN in the future. He pointed out the freedom developers have to create games on the Network. The PSN has fewer restrictions on their incoming content (likely because it's struggling to catch up to the well-established XBLA) but again, on the PSN right now the indie designer has far more freedom to create the game that they imagine, whatever the size and shape. This kind of flexibility, we hope, is what will draw new exclusive content to the Network. news Feb 29, 2008 http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-116036.aspx Kotaku writes: When I first heard that Metanet's minimalist ninja game N was going to be released on Xbox Live Arcade as N+, I have to say I was skeptical. An excellent free game for the PC, why would I want to spend my hard-earned monies on a game that uses a mere fraction of the power of my Xbox 360, filling up my widescreen TV with a game that looks like it could have been made 15 years ago? The answer, in short, is that it completely kicks ass. news Feb 27, 2008 http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-115922.aspx These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade, full versions purchased this week. Here are the top 3 for each charts, see the source for the complete top 10 list. Xbox 360 Top Live Titles: 1. Call of Duty 4 2. Halo 3 3. Guitar Hero III Top Arcade Titles: 1. N+ 2. UNO 3. Rez HD Original Xbox Top Live Titles: 1. Halo 2 2. Star Wars: Battlefront 2 3. Counter-Strike news Feb 26, 2008 http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/n-xbox-live-arcade/review/n-xbox-live-arcade/a-20080225114335818024/g-20071205144157614033 Hot Cyber Ninja Love review Feb 25, 2008 http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-113720.aspx As well as today's previously announced XNA game demos, there's also some more content available to download from the XBOX Live Marketplace. Here is the full list: Content: N+ Theme Pack - Gold Price: 150 Microsoft Points Availability: All regions except Hong Kong Dash Text: 4 images featuring N+'s gold and unparalleled minimalist style. Helps quench your thirst for tasty gold. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts. Content: N+ Theme ¿ Ninja Price: 150 Microsoft Points Availability: All regions except Korea Dash Text: 4 images featuring N+'s iconic ninja and style. Minimalist, inspiring, exciting -- just like N+! There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts. Content: Ninja Gaiden 2 Gameplay Video - GDC Highlights (HD) Price: Free Availability: Not available in Germany Dash Text: [ESRB: RP (Rating Pending)] Highlights from GDC gameplay that include new level, new weapon and new enemies. Coming June 2008, Ninja Gaiden 2 will debut exclusively on Xbox 360 as the blockbuster action-packed sequel to Ninja Gaiden. NG2 will feature an all-new gameplay engine with auto-health regeneration system, new levels & adventures, new enemies and thrilling combat with an extensive assortment of ninja weaponry, representing a true evolution of the highly popular franchise. Continued at the source. news Feb 20, 2008 http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-113379.aspx VIA Majornelson- Price: 800 Microsoft Points Availability: Not available in Korea Dash Text: [ESRB: E10+ (EVERYONE 10+) ANIMATED BLOOD, MILD VIOLENCE] Single Player, Local Multiplayer 2-4, HD (High Definition). Upgrade now, and quench that aching thirst for more intense platformer action! The full version features more than 400 levels, a custom level editor so you can build your own challenges and share them with friends, access to leaderboards, achievements, the ability to upload your high-score runs, several delicious flavors of multiplayer, several new enemies, and the ultimate test of your amazing ninja skill. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see news Feb 20, 2008 http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/n-xbox-live-arcade/screenshots/g-20071205144157614033 screenshot Feb 19, 2008 http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/n-xbox-live-arcade/screenshots/g-20071205144157614033 screenshot Feb 19, 2008 http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/n-xbox-live-arcade/screenshots/g-20071205144157614033 screenshot Feb 19, 2008 http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-112621.aspx From the developer's blog: Seriously, it's been killing us to keep all the news about N+ quiet. We have really big mouths, and it's hard to shut that down. But, finally, we're FINALLY allowed to share the good news with everyone. N+ will be available for download for 800 points on this Wednesday, February 20th, at 9am PST. Yay! We feel like maybe there's not as much buzz as there could have been, but the orders to keep it all under our collective hat came from Microsoft's marketing department, and presumably they know a lot more about this sort of thing than we do. news Feb 18, 2008 http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-110875.aspx UGO Gamesblog's Russell Frushtick writes: As big, big fans of the freeware charmer, N, we've been waiting with bated breath on the release of N+ for XBLA. The game finished certification a couple weeks back, so now it's only a matter of Microsoft slotting it into the XBLA release queue. The game developer's blog, at MetaNet Software's site, has been a good source for the comings and goings of the title, and the developers have been very willing to speak to fans on the game's intricacies. In a comment dated on February 1st, by Mare Sheppard and Raigan Burns (aka M&R in the blog), the pair had this to say on the release date... news Feb 13, 2008 http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/n-xbox-live-arcade/videos/g-20071205144157614033/v-2008013013222719098 video Jan 30, 2008