Microsoft Confirms 'Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays'

Microsoft has confirmed a new program called 'Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays', which features a regular weekly launch schedule for new Xbox Live Arcade games over the Xbox 360 online service, seemingly addressing multiple recent game delay issues for the much-vaunted service. Starting today, Xbox Live Arcade users will now go live on Wednesdays at 0800 GMT (Midnight Pacific) to download the first in what will be a series of new releases. The program will start with a release of Konami's 1981 arcade classic Frogger. Other Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays titles debuting in the coming weeks include Cloning Clyde, Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting, Galaga and Pac-Man. Details on pricing for each game were not immediately released. Xbox Live Arcade's Frogger has been enhanced for the Xbox 360, and features new, enhanced artwork that matches and complements the original style. In addition, according to Microsoft, the game's audio, including sound effects and music, has been modernized to sound crisp and clear on today's high performance sound systems. The complete schedule is announced as follows: - July 12 – Frogger - July 19 – Cloning Clyde - July 26 – Galaga - August 2 – Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting - August 9 – Pac-Man "There's no better way to revisit the 80s than to throw a retro-themed Gold Experience party - complete with the right classic arcade games, music, and pizza," said Ami Blaire, Global Marketing Director for Xbox Live. "So this summer, live it up on your Xbox 360 and enjoy our new twists on the old classic faves." [UPDATE: 07/11/06, 9.26pm PST - re-published the press release, now Microsoft's embargo is lifted, following the company's request to remove the information because it was accidentally provided to Gamasutra early.]