Last year XBLArcade.com reported that the Develop mentioned that XBLA developer MumboJumbo was working on a casual title based on the US version of the hit series The Office.  The title was slated for DS, PSP and PC with an option for XBLA.  The Xbox 360 community hasn't heard a peep about this game in almost a year now... until yesterday.  Valve's Steam digital distribution channel released the game chock full of Steam achievements.  12 achievements to be exact.  A limit that is only imposed in our favorite downloadable store.  Coincidence?!?  The title is currently running for $9.99 on Steam, so if this does in fact follow my far flung reach of the immagination expect the title to come in at 800 MS Points.  Just for the record the title is not yet listed on the ESRB for the Xbox 360.

It's that time again when the "rumor" list of changes for the spring dashboard update leaks out.  Is it true?  Who knows, but it looks like the direction Microsoft has been heading the 360 for some time.  The full list of changes can be read here; however, I will go more in depth into the Xbox Live Arcade specific changes.  I have split it into five sections DRM, Integrated File Sharing, Achievements, Speed/Usability Improvements and Game Updates.

DRM Woes Are Gone?
Rejoice!  The spring update brings many updates to the DRM that put it leaps ahead of anything that has been done in the console world before.  First up is the ability to automatically associate new DRM to items downloaded for free.  I scratched my head on this one for a bit, but since it is after the "ability to see what items will not work offline due to DRM license changing" I'm wondering if this gives us the ability to make the console the primary console for the items?  What do you think as it could be read a million ways?

Integrated File Sharing
File sharing for selected titles on Xbox Live will be integrated into the system.  One can only assume this will be similiar to the way that Halo 3 had it's file sharing system setup.  This may broaden the ability for this to more titles like Band of Bugs and N+, which had no way of distributing their user generated content.  This could represent a step forward in Microsoft's stance on user generated content.

Achievements
In the fall update Microsoft stopped Xbox Live Arcade trial games from being added to our gamertag.  Now the rumor is that we will be able to delete games with 0 achievements and 0 gamer score.  This should relieve some of the clutter.

Xblah has uncovered that the latest GamesTM Magazine (Issue 69) has an extremely short blurb about the popular rhythm/puzzle title Audiosurf is coming soon to Xbox Live Arcade.  This is an amazing feat as Audiosurf is currently one of the most popular titles on Valve's Steam service.  The real question though is how is this game going to be released on XBLA?  On Steam the title was released with a free soundtrack because the game ships with no music, yet it is a rhythm game.  The game plays similiar to E4 letting users play the game to their own custom music, but how can the developer be sure that everyone has music on their Xbox 360 (or streamable)?  Perhaps a free Halo or Gears of War soundtrack with purchase?  We'll keep you up to date on the progress of this news, but seriously go download the PC demo.

[Update: Joystiq has found out that this is not true.]

Almost two years ago, we brought you rumors the indie darling Introversion would be bringing their hit Darwinia to our beloved service.  Well it may have taken it's time, but if the ESRB is to be believed, the rumors were right.  While being rated by the board doesn't mean that we will be playing the game anytime soon, it's certainly a step in the right direction.

You can expect that the entry will be taken down pretty soon though as tends to be the case with unannounced titles that make it to the ESRB web site.

You almost start to feel sorry for the PR folks...Almost.

[UPDATE] Seems that introversion has finally admitted that the game is real, and will be coming out this fall.  Not only that, but it will include both Darwinia and Multiwinia: Survival of the Flattest, can't wait

Xbox360Fanboy reports that the April issue of the Official Xbox Magazine (OXM) has some new info regarding the highly anticipated shoot-em-up Ikaruga.

Looks like the game will be out very, very soon, as the magazine states the game release date as "Out Now". However this is the April issue being released in March, so the actual release date is anyone's guess (but one can assume it will be released before the end of April).

OXM gave Ikaruga a very awesome score of 9 out of 10.

From: Xbox360Fanboy

Rumors say that the sequel to the "not that well received" Rocketmen: Axis of Evil will be called It Came From Uranus (now that's an awkward sounding title). Let's just hope that this game can actually deliver what its predecessor didn't.

From: Kotaku

Xbox360Fanboy has declared the latest addition to the ESRB website to be XBLA bound.  What's the game?  Why it's Wits and Wagers, a trivia board game that levels the playing field by allowing you to bet on other's answers.  According to boardgamegeek.com, "you can win by making educated guesses, by playing the odds, or by knowing the interests of your friends."

The board version also accommodates up to 20 people so perhaps we've got another party game on our hands.  Development is being handled by Hidden Path Entertainment.

Which is better for you?  Knowing useless stuff, knowing (and having) friends, or betting big?  Me, I'm all about useless knowledge.

[via X3F]

Rare's #1 mascot is now rumored to be coming to XBLA. No, not Banjo. Not Conker. Not Joanna Dark (at least in this post). It's Mr Pants!!! Surfer Girl has revealed that one of the Rare XBLA games that is coming will feature Mr Pants. That's all we know for now. Given the fact that Mr Pants has only starred in one game 2005's It's Mr Pants (GBA, 76%), it may be a safe bet to think that that may be the game. It's Mr Pants was a puzzle game which forced you to create large groups of blocks of the same color (check out this YouTube video for more information).

What do you think? Will be seeing Mr Pants in his "classic" puzzle game, in something new, or will this stay just a rumor?

The ESRB has countered the Australian invasion with a massive counter-punch.  Ikaruga has been rated making fanboy's hearts collectively skip a beat and then go searching for the crazy ambidextrous savant video on YouTube.  Okay, maybe that was just me.  But it gets better.  Ikaruga is not the only game that's been added to their list.  The new additions are here, and the oldies are after the break.

I am already having trouble just imagining the wait for these games to arrive.  Grr.

Additions since last time: (It's clearly been too long.)
Ikaruga
Frogger 2
Brain Challenge
TiQal
Shred Nebula
Shotest Shogi
Rocket Bowl
Triggerheart Exelica
N+
Chessmaster Live
Bliss Island
Poker Smash
Aces of the Galaxy
Cosmic Osmo's Hex Isle

[via ESRB]

Our ratings coverage has been dominated by a backyard brawl between the plucky German USK and the juggernaut American ESRB.  Well, another challenger has entered the ring: The Australian Classifications Board.  Maybe that name lacks a certain sex appeal (especially compared to their former title as The Office of Film and Literature Classification) but the ACB perseveres on raw power.

Over the past month they have slowly leaked a nice list of recently rated but still unreleased XBLA titles.  Many of them are even unannounced which makes things even more exciting.  Below, they are presented in an attractive list format for your reading enjoyment.  If you want to know more, you will be forced to click the Read More button.  That's just how I roll.

"Old News" Ratings:
Rocky and Bulwinkle
Shred Nebula
Rocketmen: Axis of Evil
Brain Challenge
Rez HD

"Shhhh, It's a secret" Ratings:
Frogger 2
Coffeetime Cross Words
Assault Heroes 2
TiQal
Shotest Shogi

Now technically some of those unannounced games could skip XBLA entirely or even be full retail releases.  So, keep your expectations in check while you get some idea of the games after the break.  But while you're doing that, let me know if the Aussies have gotten you excited at all.

[via the ACB, thanks to all for the tips!]