Microsoft to offer ’80s games on Xbox Live Arcade

Microsoft plans to offer users of its Xbox Live Arcade service, which allows Web surfers to test and buy a variety of video games for $5 to $15, a wider selection of downloadable classic games from the 1980s.

The software giant plans to offer a new game every Wednesday over the next five weeks, beginning with the popular Frogger. Some of the games will be updated to include graphics enhancements and add-ons that allow more people to play simultaneously.

An official at Xbox Live Arcade said that although Microsoft launched the Live Arcade service with the idea of drawing non-traditional Xbox users — like women, children and seniors — the service has proven to be extremely popular, even among Xbox loyalists. To date, some 5 mln free trial video games have been downloaded by Xbox users, and nearly a quarter of those people went on to buy full versions of the games.

There are already 20 arcade games available to Xbox 360 owners, and Microsoft hopes to double that number by the end of 2006.