Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays

Microsoft held a party in San FranciscoTuesday to announce the implementation of a new program called Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays. Beginning with the release of Konami's arcade classic Frogger today, Xbox Live Arcade will deliver a new title every Wednesday at 0800 GMT (midnight Pacific). Each new release will be made available worldwide simultaneously. The first five titles were confirmed on the following schedule (click each link to read our hands-on preview):

July 12 - Frogger
July 19 -Cloning Clyde
July 26 -Galaga
August 2 -Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting
August 9 -Pac-Man

In announcing the highly anticipated Street Fighter II, Group Manager for Xbox Live Arcade Greg Canessa said, "I apologize for those of you who have been waiting around - we wanted to make sure we got it right." The confirmed release date was met with cheers by fans in attendance. In addition to the release of Frogger (check back tomorrow for our review),surprise hit Uno received a minor upgrade today that should improve matchmaking.

Microsoft was not ready to discuss release dates for previously announced games like Contra, Cyberball, and Texas Hold 'em, but Canessa promised 50 games on Xbox Live Arcade by year's end, saying this was "just the beginning."

July 12, 2006