1. So the bloodletting continues.

You think Microsoft is canning someone every week that there's no new XBLA game?

Posted at 12:39PM on Feb 20th 2007 by J.Goodwin

2. #1

There's something going on or this is an almighty coincidence. I'm sure that the powers that be would like a QUALITY game to be out each week that enhances the platform and generates lots of nice cash.

If that's not happening on a regular basis and people start leaving for "new opportunities", I hope the replacements can get things rolling like they should be by now. There's been no friction between Arcade and full-priced games so the lack of quality releases is a real puzzler.

I've long stopped bothering checking that part of the dash given that the affordable 400 point games are garbage and anything higher has been of questionable value.

And there hasn't really been a "hit" since Geo Wars has there? I don't know the numbers but I bet most games are just doing ok business, nothing more.

Posted at 1:52PM on Feb 20th 2007 by Deano

3. They need to shake things up at XBLA. It has such potential, but they are doing nothing with it.

Posted at 1:58PM on Feb 20th 2007 by Hoffer

4. Never question Ross Erickson, err...Bruce Dicksinson.

Posted at 2:35PM on Feb 20th 2007 by Whopping Wombat

5. It just seems like the evidence leads you to one of two conclusions:

1. Microsoft is firing people or pressuring them to leave so that they can do a handoff of XBLA because the current team isn't getting things done.

2. XBLA is such a mess that it's impossible to turn around, and the people responsible for running it are rats jumping off a sinking ship.

The second option makes no sense, since both of these guys have gone to casual games companies that intend to publish on XBLA, so we're left with the impression that these guys were given window seats and not just a little bit of a push to the backside.

Posted at 2:47PM on Feb 20th 2007 by J.Goodwin

6. "As the Portfolio Manager, it was Erickson's job to find good candidates for Xbox Live Arcade and decide which ones were right for the service."

Can I have his job?

Posted at 2:55PM on Feb 20th 2007 by polly

7. Give me LodeRunner or give me dea...well, on second thought, just give me LodeRunner.

Posted at 11:28PM on Feb 20th 2007 by LunarDuality

8. "Erickson assures us that his departure does not signal a shakeup of Live Arcade."

If he's telling the truth, then something is wrong. That area of the XBox platform needs a complete overhaul. J. Goodwin's post above pretty much nailed it, I'm assuming it's choice #1. Microsoft has unlimited resources, there's no way it would ever be "impossible to turn around."

Hopefully they will keep dumping off inept higher-ups until changes start to happen. I'm almost willing to give them the benefit of the doubt for the next month or so, since they at least are initiating some change in management.

Posted at 10:18AM on Feb 21st 2007 by KaneRobot