With the highly anticipated Cloning Clyde expected in just a couple days, we took the opportunity to dig around and see if we could find out what the team at NinjaBee will be working on next. In a post on the NinjaBee forums Steve Taylor, Lead Programmer, let it known that the next project is known internally as "Swat". While I'm certainly happy to learn about another NinjaBee game, I think it's pretty safe to say that with the off beat story design behind their first two XBLA titles, speculating about what "Swat" could mean is most likely useless.

At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, but wait, there's more...

Not only are they working on a new title, but both the long awaited patch and new DLC are in the works for Outpost Kaloki X.

It certainly is a busy time for Mr. Taylor and the rest of the team at NinjaBee

Other than the next 4 announced Arcade games for this Summer:

Cloning Clyde - 07/19/2006, 800 Microsoft Points
Galaga - 07/26/2006, 400 Microsoft Points
Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting - 08/02/2006, 800 Microsoft Points
Pac-Man - 08/09/2006, 400 Microsoft Points

Could we be seeing an additional 4 Arcade games? A "Gamespot Gold Experience" trailer, a video of "Summer of Arcade", is now available to download from the Xbox Live Marketplace. While I have not personally taken a look at it , it is being said (By Greg Canessa, I assume) that they claim to have a total of 30 Arcade games by the end of Summer (09/23/2006), and another 20 titles on top of that to make 50 by the end of the year.

Just to throw a bit of hope out there: The last time a 'goal' was announced, which was 20 Arcade games by March - It was met. But we know to take all information with a grain of salt, right?

I know, I know... it is a slow news day. But, go ahead and take a gander at this video, and tell us what you think.

Texas Hold 'Em Poker now has a release date of August 23rd, 2006, according to Xbox.com. Which is exactly two weeks after Pac-Man, on a Wednesday. It seems 'believable' after the recent announcement.

I have said it before, and I'll say it again: Believe it when you see it. After all of the delays, and broken promises, it's hard to believe anything... However, I would forgive them for the rest of the year if Lumines did make it in July.

UPDATE: August 23, 2006 has now been replaced with Summer 2006. It comes to no surprise after what happened with the recent Frogger, Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting, or the entire Arcade in general.

Thanks again to Stoffs for all info.

Major Nelson has posted a 10 minute audio clip of Greg Canessa announcing the details for the 'Summer of Arcade' in San Francisco, CA.

Microsoft Representatives have stated that they can't make any guarantee that we will see a new title every Wednesday after Pac-Man on August 9th. However, it was said at the "Xbox Live Summer of Arcade" event, that they apologize for the lull of in Xbox Live Arcade, but they are stepping it up - Aiming for a total of 50 Xbox Live Arcade games by the end of the year, with each game to be released on a Wednesday at 12:01 Pacific Time.

Sources: PixelGamers , Jason Cross

It seems that along with Frogger being set loose, MS quietly released the long awaited patch to fix the match-making issues they've been having with Uno. When asked about the update on various forums this morning, Richard Thames Rowan, UNO Program Manager at Carbonated Games, had the following to say:
Yes, this update fixed the multiplayer matchmaking (both Quick Match and Ranked Match), along with another of other bugs, including better theme deck support (which is invisible until new theme decks are released).
When searching around for information about the fix, we also found that Richard has been working on two new theme decks since as early as Late May. Here is hoping that we get to see some new themes soon.

It looks like they kept their promise. Frogger was available first thing this morning! For a mere 400 Microsoft Points ($5), you can download the 'High - Def' frog with the usual 12 achievements, Vs. and Co - Op over Xbox Live, and much more.

It looks like we can expect Cloning Clyde in exactly one week.

* ... Thinks of the Seinfeld parody of Frogger *

Gamasutra is reporting that Microsoft has announced plans to start a program called "Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays" where they will be releasing new games every week starting tomorrow July 12 with the release of Frogger. The list the release schedule as such:

- July 12 – Frogger
- July 19 – Cloning Clyde
- July 26 – Galaga
- August 2 – Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting
- August 9 – Pac-Man

I can only imagine that this is the big news that Major Nelson was referring to when he talked about the Live Arcade Event going on in San Fran tonight. Personally I think it's great that we are finally getting firm dates, and with all the hassle MS has gotten about slipping dates, something tells me that all five of these are ready to go already so that none will miss there date. Also, it should be noted that they haven't mentioned if this will continue past Aug. 9th or if it's just for the Summer.

You can check out the whole story here.

Xbox.com has removed Frogger (Summer 2006) from the "recent addition" under Xbox Live Arcade today... and put it under a new category, "Coming soon to the Arcade". Along with 4 other Xbox Live Arcade games - Cloning Clyde (Summer 2006), Texas Hold 'Em Poker (TBD), Lumines Live (July 2006), and Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting (Summer 2006).

Who knows what to think? What to believe?

Kind of, but not quite.

It doesn't look like we'll see the frog hop onto the arcade today, but sometime soon. Xbox.com has added the words "Coming Soon..." to it's Frogger 'recent addition' description. But coming soon could also mean tomorrow (Hey, we can hope, right?). I suppose we are lucky the outcome was not that of the recent addition Texas Hold 'Em Poker. Either way, we think it's safe to say that Frogger will be the next Xbox Live Arcade game, since the release of Uno two months ago.

Wait, what? It is a recent addition to the arcade, but it's coming soon? We know, we know.