It's sort of like Summer of Arcade, but not in the Summer!
Microsoft's promotional blocks for Xbox Live Arcade games, like Summer of Arcade, always feel like a success for Microsoft and the developers that are selected to release their games within. So, you'll have to excuse our utter lack of surprise upon hearing the news that another XBLA promotional series is coming to promote four more titles outside of the Summer (or the Spring). It's called Game Feast, and it kicks off this Fall.
The last game to be released in Game Feast will be Team Meat's indie-developed platformer Super Meat Boy on October 20. Big on difficulty and style, it's one of those XBLA titles you'd expect to love just from viewing a smattering of footage.   The rest of the games to appear in Game Feast? According to Major Nelson, the block kicks off September 29 with Hydrophobia. Twisted Pixel's Comic Jumper will follow that on October 6, and the hotly-anticipated Pinball FX 2 will appear on October 13. A quick note about Pinball FX 2: it's not a game so much as a platform (and a free download as a result). If you're a proud owner of Pinbal FX 1, all your tables will import into the new game. Subsequent tables will be sold separately. Â
 Super Meat Boy looks crude, but it's great.  == TEASER ==News of Game Feast leaked out (before Microsoft had a chance to acknowledge its existence) when Team Meat blasted a radical promotional image to other blogs, showcasing the fact that its game was headlining the then-unannounced Fall series. There was also a Twitter announcement from Team Meat, too, but it seems as if that was pulled (via Joystiq). Â
I still don't fully comprehend this apprehension to pay $15 for an Arcade game. I just went back through my list and tried to find any game that wasn't $15 that I spent any decent amount of time in.
What I found were: Geometry Wars, Worms, Bomberman, Uno, and Texas Hold 'Em. I've also spent a great deal of time with Mega Man 9, but I still have 0/200. >=(
My point is: while there were some decent games released at 800 MS points, not many of them are as in-depth or close to touching the time you could delve into a Shadow Complex or the like. That doesn't mean all 1200+ point games are good, as there are plenty of crap 400-800 point games and $60 retail releases taking up shelf space in stores.
Yes, the price increase means more money from you, but there has also been a substantial increase in both the quality and scale of these download-able games. If we were paying $15 for an XBLA Bomberman or Outpost Kaloki X quality game every week, I'd be on your side of the fence. Instead, we're getting Shadow Complex, Castle Crashers, great multiplayer shooters, and inventive indie games.
" yay Edit: I already have gotten first. Sorry about that. Edit 2: Sounds cool, but I am not sure about Comic Jumper being $15. (Ign article stated this) "
Twisted Pixel always have put a lot of value into their games. After the Maw and 'Splosion Man, it's not surprising we're seeing a bit of an increase of price. But as well as the game which is sure to be great, there will be avatar awards themes, and new levels for 'Splosion Man.
" Block Party Summer of Arcade Game Feast (hope fully they do one for winter also.) "
This just seems like an excuse to slap a $15 price tag on some games, give it a Microsoft knows we like holidays so they just give it a holiday name and we forget the price tag because we think it's rare or special.
If I hadn't heard of a Meat Boy game before I'd call it out right now for being a cheap attempt to make another game that looks like Limbo just cause it sold well.
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