Rumors have been kicking around about an XBLA/PSN release of Konami's sort of classic The Simpsons Arcade Game for a while now. Initially we all dismissed them given that EA most recently held The Simpsons license, and maybe wouldn't necessarily be so into that kind of thing, but the rumor persisted, and became more and more realistic. Once achievements started popping up, the rumor was all but sealed as truth.

Now Konami has finally gotten around to outright confirming the game's release, acknowledging that players will be able to download the arcade classic in the immediate future. How immediate? How about the day after tomorrow (February 3) for Xbox Live Arcade downloaders, and this coming Tuesday for PSN users?

Yes, Microsoft does have a bit of exclusivity on this one, but the bonus for PSN players is that if you happen to be a PlayStation Plus member, you'll get the game for free. Everyone else will have to pay $9.99, or 800 Microsoft Point Dollars.

For the uninitiated, The Simpsons Arcade Game was an early '90s beat-'em-up featuring up to four players taking on the roles of Homer, Marge, Bart, and Lisa as they tracked down the dastardly Smithers, who kidnapped Maggie for some reason. I think it involved a diamond of some kind. Anyway, the point is that you beat your way through the game's various levels, knocking around various grunts in suits, other grunts in suits that also had hammers for some reason, and the occasional bear. It was also really short and deeply repetitive, and existed more as an extension of the Simpsons merchandising blitz of the early '90s than anything else. It was still way better than Bart vs. The Space Mutants, at least.

Like most other four-player arcade games that have come to consoles as downloads, this port will feature online play. It also comes with a few pieces of extra content, including a Japanese version of the game that features some different scoring mechanics.

And also like most other four-player arcade games that have come to consoles as downloads, this port will undoubtedly seem like a really awesome idea until you and your friends beat it in less than an hour, and then immediately forget about it like those digital copies of X-Men Arcade, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Arcade Game, and Final Fight you still have on your hard drive, yet haven't touched since the week you bought them.

Look, I'm not judging you. I'm just saying, if there were such a thing as digital dust, downloadable ports of arcade beat-'em-ups would be the second best of all digital dust collectors, behind only all those Game Room games you remember only with scorn and disappointment. It's okay. You're not alone. We've all been there.

Rumors have been kicking around about an XBLA/PSN release of Konami's sort of classic The Simpsons Arcade Game for a while now. Initially we all dismissed them given that EA most recently held The Simpsons license, and maybe wouldn't necessarily be so into that kind of thing, but the rumor persisted, and became more and more realistic. Once achievements started popping up, the rumor was all but sealed as truth.

Now Konami has finally gotten around to outright confirming the game's release, acknowledging that players will be able to download the arcade classic in the immediate future. How immediate? How about the day after tomorrow (February 3) for Xbox Live Arcade downloaders, and this coming Tuesday for PSN users?

Yes, Microsoft does have a bit of exclusivity on this one, but the bonus for PSN players is that if you happen to be a PlayStation Plus member, you'll get the game for free. Everyone else will have to pay $9.99, or 800 Microsoft Point Dollars.

For the uninitiated, The Simpsons Arcade Game was an early '90s beat-'em-up featuring up to four players taking on the roles of Homer, Marge, Bart, and Lisa as they tracked down the dastardly Smithers, who kidnapped Maggie for some reason. I think it involved a diamond of some kind. Anyway, the point is that you beat your way through the game's various levels, knocking around various grunts in suits, other grunts in suits that also had hammers for some reason, and the occasional bear. It was also really short and deeply repetitive, and existed more as an extension of the Simpsons merchandising blitz of the early '90s than anything else. It was still way better than Bart vs. The Space Mutants, at least.

Like most other four-player arcade games that have come to consoles as downloads, this port will feature online play. It also comes with a few pieces of extra content, including a Japanese version of the game that features some different scoring mechanics.

And also like most other four-player arcade games that have come to consoles as downloads, this port will undoubtedly seem like a really awesome idea until you and your friends beat it in less than an hour, and then immediately forget about it like those digital copies of X-Men Arcade, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Arcade Game, and Final Fight you still have on your hard drive, yet haven't touched since the week you bought them.

Look, I'm not judging you. I'm just saying, if there were such a thing as digital dust, downloadable ports of arcade beat-'em-ups would be the second best of all digital dust collectors, behind only all those Game Room games you remember only with scorn and disappointment. It's okay. You're not alone. We've all been there.

Omfg

I piss myself with joy.

Everything about this article is truth.

meh

I dunno, I paid $10 for that X-Men arcade game, and that was fine.

But since PlayStation Plus users are getting The Simpsons Arcade for free anyway, that's fine by me. I'll get it, no worries.

Screw you Alex, I loved Bart vs The Space Mutants.

Ah, nostalgia. It really is a cruel bitch.

marge with a vacuum.

MARGE WITH A VACUUM!

Alright now, play nice!

Nice. I thought it would only be in Japanese.

@Alex: Hey! I s-ranked both Final Fight and Game Room...

Glad it's coming to Plus for free.

I don't care if I don't touch this after the first week, I will still be buying this day one. Been waiting years for this game.

This release looks shitty though.

Actually, I won't pay anything. I'll just download it from PSN for free and THEN forget about it. lol

It's like I'm Homer, trying to get with Marge (the video game), and Alex is being all Patty and Selma trying to bring me down. This analogy works!

"'Tis a fine enough beat-'em-up, but sure 'tis no classic, English."

I got that reference instantly, one of my favourite lines from any Simpsons episode ^^

They should just go the whole way and release an XBLA port of Gauntlet Dark Legacy. Not only is that beat-em-up repetitive and four player, it's also like 20+ hours long.

@GaZZuM said:

"'Tis a fine enough beat-'em-up, but sure 'tis no classic, English."

I got that reference instantly, one of my favourite lines from any Simpsons episode ^^

It's also how I instantly knew Alex wrote this article.

@GaZZuM said:

"'Tis a fine enough beat-'em-up, but sure 'tis no classic, English."

I got that reference instantly, one of my favourite lines from any Simpsons episode ^^

Alex rules.

They fooled me with Ninja Turtles, they fooled me with X-Men and they're going to fool me again. God damn it 90's beat-em-ups, why do you have no much nostalgia?!

Day one purchase.

@ArbitraryWater said:

They should just go the whole way and release an XBLA port of Gauntlet Dark Legacy. Not only is that beat-em-up repetitive and four player, it's also like 20+ hours long.

QUOTED FOR TRUTH. That said, I'm seriously considering picking this one up. Serious nostalgia factor here.

Its like that Alex....Damn you for being right....

@GaZZuM said:

"'Tis a fine enough beat-'em-up, but sure 'tis no classic, English."

I got that reference instantly, one of my favourite lines from any Simpsons episode ^^

D'OHETH!

oh man! finally!! i was just reminicing a few days ago about this game with a buddy of mine. crazy coincidence that its getting rereleased so soon! im definitely getting this. :D

@JTMosh said:

They fooled me with Ninja Turtles, they fooled me with X-Men and they're going to fool me again. God damn it 90's beat-em-ups, why do you have no much nostalgia?!

yep. has no else learned their lesson? these games are not fun anymore.

the danger of losing a quarter was practically a game mechanic for these, with out that it falls apart.

I think playing the demo is more than enough to scratch that old itch.

I like my beer cold, my beat-em' up's emulated and my homosexuals fah-laming!

Played it on MAME last week and it still holds up. Won't buy it unless the extra content is different enough, though.

Glad I got paid today.  @VinceNotVance buy it on the 360, so we can play together.

Come on now Alex, don't be hating on Bart vs The Space Mutants!

It is a bummer that these games don't translate as well due to unlimited continues.

$10 is kinda ballsy for such an old and short game.

I have fond memories of it from the arcade, but I'm not going to waste that money on something I know I'll finish quickly.

Finally!!!

800 msp is too much for game with so repetitive gameplay.

I don't care if it's short or repetitious. I've been waiting for this game for so long.

Definitely buying this on PS3.

I almost hope it will sell bad

YES

Sure it was a blast to play in the arcades years ago, but do i really wanna play it again? Ehh, i dunno bro.

Yep, paid for the Turtles in Time arcade game. Never buying another beat-em-up arcade game again. I made some people play through it and it ended up in disappointment all around.

I actually really enjoyed this game back in the day.

TMNT, Smash TV, Final Fight, X-Men, and now the Simpsons? SWEET!!

Give me Sunset Riders, Punisher and Alien VS Predator and I'll never have to go to an arcade again.

This game is much better than X-men. Also I can't stand the condescending bullshit that seems to be the defining characteristic of everything Alex does. Also A.I. and Biutiful are fantastic films.