Microsoft just does not get its Xbox Live Indie Game community, or the developers who, you know, actually spend time to create games for them. I’ve gone on and on about this issue so many times on this site that I’m not really sure I know what to say anymore. But I’ll give it a go, once more, for the good fight.

What can’t you say about Microsoft’s Xbox Live Indie Games channel these days? It certainly has its high points, but it’s also reached some incredible lows. It’s unfortunate but it’s actually one of the most difficult distribution channels to actually make money on. But, for whatever reason, developers keep making amazing games for the channel. Case and point? Orbitron: Revolution.

I’m not really sure if we can consider this “indie” or not considering that it’s Stardock which is a rather large company (I think). But regardless, they released a game onto Xbox Live Indie Games and, well, that’s good enough for me dammit!

First allow me to apologize for the week-long break. Last week I was tied up in motorcycle classes for the entire weekend and was absolutely exhausted at the end of each day to work functionally. As such, today’s Xbox Live Indie Picks will consist of the last two weeks. It actually worked out quite nicely because, well, there weren’t that many games released…

Earlier this year I wrote about Oozi: Earth Adventure, a gorgeous Xbox Live Indie Game platformer that brought not only shiny, modern graphics but some really great platforming mechanics. Seriously, it is still probably one of the best platformers on XBLIG, if you’re interested in that sort of thing (I am!).

Oh no another Minecraft “clone!” Or so I expect to hear from various fans at some point with regards to CastleMiner Z. The fact is, however, that CMZ is actually a bit different than most Minecraft-likes and it’s for that reason that I’ve decided to highlight the game for this week’s Xbox Live Indie Picks.

Big haul this week for you Xbox Live Indie Gamers out there. Not only did we have DLC Quest come out (which I reviewed yesterday) but also MagicalTimeBean’s newest XBLIG hit Escape Goat which actually takes “Pick of the Week.”

I honestly thought about giving PotW to DLC Quest again, but figured it was probably better to highlight another fantastic indie title… Anyway, enjoy this week’s picks!

MagicalTimeBean, developer of such Soulcaster and Soulcaster 2, has already established itself on the market as being one of the best developers making Xbox Live Indie Games. Soulcaster and its sequel are easily two of the best games available on the service and if you haven’t tried them then you’re missing out.

This post, however, is not about Soulcaster, this post is about MagicalTimeBean’s next XBLIG title: Escape Goat.

Apologies for the delay on getting this article out. Typically Xbox Live Indie Picks will come out every Sunday, however, due to the holiday madness I was consumed with over the weekend I was unable to get to it. No matter because here are all of last week’s freshest Xbox Live Indie Games.

This week is dedicated to Castle of Pixel Skills, a delightful retro platformer. I figured given that I’m partial to platformers in general and that today is officially Halloween it would make a good fit!

Another week, another round of Xbox Live Indie Games to sift through! This week we’ve got a considerably larger haul than last week. Also some of you will probably notice that more and more games are focused around Halloween. I expect the trend to continue through this upcoming week as well.

Anyway, this week I’ve chosen Grand Class Melee as the Pick of the Week due to its quirky Zelda-esque stylings mixed with four player co-op and a staggering amount of characters to choose from. Check it out below!

ARP Halloween Edition
(80 MS Points)

Avoid the obstacles that lie on the train cars. Jump the barrels of the right color, break the boxes and you will make more points! More barrels you will jump in sequence and multiply your score much more! Challenge your friends trying to make the highest record!

[Link]

Avatar Punch
(80 MS Points)

Compete with your avatar to manage to be the best boxer of all times across his 4 game modes or fight against a friend!

[Link]

Platform Hack
(80 MS Points)

Platform Hack is mashup of a hack and slash RPG with a platform jumper. Explore massive maze-like worlds to slay enemies, find keys and unlock doors, all while jumping, dodge and swinging over chasms and past traps.

[Link]

Hell’s House
(80 MS Points)

A girl alone in a haunted house … will you be able to make her survive unharmed? Francesca Mamo, the same actress of “Bloody Death” lend her interpretation into the last nightmare from Brave men games.

[Link]

Final Failure
(80 MS Points)

Final Failure is an action platformer where the players have to choose between the sniper, the gunner, the defender or the medic to defeat a group of evil robots. Each class has a unique weapon and a special ability. The game supports up to 4 players in local coop.

[Link]

Grand Class Melee
(80 MS points)

Grand Class Melee is a 4-player action game centered around multiplayer combat. Advance through 8 different rounds of combat and 60 unique character classes to achieve victory. Combine your class’s ability with abilities you’ve gained in previous rounds to create hundreds of ability combinations and strategies to suit your combat style!

[Link]

Glowbz
(80 MS points)

The year is 6,000,004. Earth has depleted its energy reserves as a result of leaving appliances on stand-by 24/7. A new source of energy has been discovered in the form of Glow Power contained in a nice crispy outer shell called Glowbz. However, the only source of Glowbz is located in a remote sector of the galaxy inhabited by the Blatnokz. They don’t like humans.

[Link]

Milie & Telly
(80 MS Points)

After an emergency landing, Telly’s spaceship has been stolen by a strange and dark professor. As Milie, a young mechanic girl, help him to find it back. Ride your motorbike, fight against a whole army of robots and defeat the professor in this scrolling shooter.

[Link]

Lumberjack
(80 MS Points)

Hippies and treehuggers stay out! Enjoy our beautiful nature like real men do – with a shotgun! Put yourself to the ultimate lumberjack challenge, to find and cut down the 1000year old magic oak. This is a top view, classic style shooter for one or two players. Join the epic fight of man against nature, now!.. Oh, and watch out for Rambi, he is pissed off since you killed his mom.

[Link]