Switchball now available on XBLA

by: Chuck - posted: 11/7/2007 7:10:00 PM

Sierra sends word that Switchball is now available on Xbox Live for 800 points.  Here's the description of the game from Sierra (I didn't get a chance ot see it at E3)

"The Switchball game challenges players to guide a transformable ball along extensive maze-like courses suspended in midair and set in stunning, expansive worlds."

Sounds like it might be worth at least checking out the free demo.

SWITCHBALL ROLLS ON TO XBOX LIVE® ARCADE

TeamXbox.com’s Best Downloadable Game of E3 Now Available

Los Angeles – Nov. 7, 2007 – Sierra Online, a division of Vivendi Games, has released Switchball™, a new puzzle game for Xbox LIVE® Arcade. The Switchball game challenges players to guide a transformable ball along extensive maze-like courses suspended in midair and set in stunning, expansive worlds. The game has already received critical praise, winning TeamXbox.com’s “Best Downloadable Game of E3” and “Editor’s Choice” awards, as well as a 9.4 out of 10 rating from the site.

“Switchball exemplifies the innovation and level of quality we are bringing to Xbox LIVE Arcade,” said Nicole Perez, vice president of marketing, Sierra Online. “Switchball’s striking graphics, as well as the physics-based gameplay, advances the genre.”

Developed by Atomic Elbow, the Switchball game features an advanced Ageia-based physics engine, making the physical puzzles intuitive and allowing players to interact with objects just as they would in the real world. Players solve their way through challenging levels packed with tricky obstacles, traps and mazes using a rolling ball that can be morphed four different ways – Marbleball, Airball, Powerball and Metalball - each with its own physical characteristics.

The 30 levels of labyrinths are set in five different beautifully rendered 3D environments. Set on docks hovering among the clouds, Skyworld requires players to switch between the Marbleball to balance and manipulate objects and the Metalball to ram heavy boxes off the path. The Airball easily floats over gaps in the course of Iceworld. Caveworld is set in the dark with glowing crystals and introduces players to the Powerball, which can be charged with different powers to solve a variety of dexterity challenges. The challenges become more complex in Cloudworld, which is set inside a large cloud of colorful gas. The most challenging level, Lavaworld, is set inside a huge volcano with fiery explosions – if players get one puzzle wrong they must start from the beginning!

In addition to the single-player game, players can team up online to solve complex puzzles in co-op mode or can go head-to-head with up to seven other players in race mode.

The Switchball game is rated E for Everyone and is available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 800 Microsoft points. A Windows PC version of the game is available at retail outlets nationwide, as well as top online gaming portals and the official game website at www.switchball.com. For more information on Switchball or to download a free trial visit www.switchball.com.


About Sierra Online
Sierra Online, a division of Vivendi Games, creates and publishes quality short- and mid-session, casual online games for all viable gaming platforms. Sierra Online’s titles include Assault Heroes™, an award-winning game for Xbox® LIVE Arcade, 3D Ultra™ Minigolf Adventures, also available for Xbox LIVE Arcade and Windows PC, and FreeStyle Street Basketball™, an online Windows-based PC game from leading Korean developer JC Entertainment, Inc. The division is also developing a variety of other Xbox LIVE Arcade and Windows-based PC online games targeting the mass-market audience.