Marathon: Durandal and Spyglass Board Games on Xbox LIVE Arcade

Whether you like first person shooters or classic board games, start the last month of summer vacation with two new releases coming up on Xbox LIVE Arcade, Marathon: Durandal and Spyglass Board Games. Both games will be available for download Wednesday, August 1.

I’m looking forward to seeing Durandal  which is the inspiration for the Halo series. I’ve also enjoyed the board games available for play over Xbox LIVE so Spyglass looks like a good investment. Just one word of caution; be wary of using the video feature, especially if you are letting your kids play. You never know what you’ll see on Xbox LIVE.

Marathon:Durandal (ESRB rated M, 800 MS points, available worldwide)

Seventeen years ago, you survived a vicious Pfhor assault on the U.E.S.C. Marathon. Now you have been awakened by the enigmatic, sentient A.I. called Durandal and sent to an alien world to uncover the mysteries of their advanced technology. In Marathon: Durandal, armed with only a pistol, you are humanity’s last champion!

• Epic story: Exclusive to Xbox LIVE® Arcade, Marathon: Durandal is a cult classic first-person shooter (FPS) that continues the tradition of great gameplay while remaining faithful to the spirit of Bungie lore as the predecessor to the Halofranchise.
• Upgraded visuals: All images in the game have been redrawn in high definition.
• Modern networking: Marathon: Durandal features a new modern networking layer built with Xbox LIVE in mind.
• Superior control: The redesigned controls take full advantage of the Xbox 360 Controller and enhance playing a first-person shooter on a home console.
• For more details on “Marathon: Durandel”, please visit http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/m/marathondurandalxboxlivearcade/.

Spyglass Board Games (ESRB rated E, 400 MS points, available worldwide)

Spyglass Board Games offers a fun new take on classic board games, like Chess, Checkers, Mancala, and Reversi. Play and chat socially on Xbox LIVE®, or play against the computer. Use the Xbox LIVE Vision camera to personalize the game board, playing pieces, and video effects. Each game has custom pieces to choose from, such as a rook made of stone, or a furry checkers piece with cute gleaming eyes. Make each game your very own!

• Full featured games: Four classic board games to choose from. Play Chess, Checkers, Mancala, or Reversi.
• Video integration with Xbox LIVE Vision camera: Fully integrated video chat lets you see your opponent. Use the video effects to personalize your game.
• Customizable pieces: Choose custom game pieces that range from traditional marble, to metallic silver, to fuzzy and wiggling gel.
• Twelve achievements: Twelve achievements are offered ranging from easy, such as playing all four games, to more challenging, such as taking all four corners in Reversi.
• For more game details on “Spyglass Board Games”, please visit http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/s/spyglassxboxlivearcade/.

via Press Release

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