Now that I've taken advantage of the [POST=10291393]2 months of Gold for $2[/POST] when my account dropped to silver, the savings on Deal of the Week better cover the costs for the next couple months

. This past week of deals was a wash for me, and I'll have about 8 or so more chances for some fine deals from my Gold Membership. Although new XBLA titles were discounted for the first time ever this past week, but I've evaluated the titles based on my level of interest, price, likelihood of completion from my backlog with respect to the potential of EA server shutdown.
[quote name='eastx']There are definitely good and bad Achievements. Frankly, nobody likes the ones for winning X number of online games, especially when X is greater than 10. It gets even worse when the publisher might shut the servers down as EA loves to do. But like you said, some devs think of really creative ones that get you to play in fun ways or encourage you to try modes that you might otherwise overlook.[/QUOTE]
Even if it appears the earlier retail disc release of
NBA Jam will have its servers shut down, I really got to put the XBLA
NBA Jam: On Fire Edition towards the top of my priorities in my backlog just in case EA intends on shutting it down as well in the relatively near future (some EA titles had their servers shut down, within a short time without a proper replacement game). EA's frequent server shutdowns compels me to get the online achievements while they are still available, even when I am not much of an achievement whore (I will try to be an achievement hunter, achievements can be fun goals as eastx describes, but I will not stress if I do not get achievements), but that's the thing: I just don't like the idea of potential game-playing fun to be taken from me.
With the possibility of the Durango, Xbox 362, or whatever you want to call it for now, on the horizon, Live support for my current XBLA and 360 titles are all probably numbered. I had no idea original Xbox titles could still be played on Live at one time since most backwards compatible titles logged me out of Live when played on the 360 so I assumed online was unavailable, until I got word the service was to be discontinued (I imagine
Burnout 3 would have been great). So not only EA server shutdowns (along with NBA 2k games,
Chromehounds,
Phantasy Star Universe, and others) the thought extends to the rest of the Xbox 360 titles on my backlog. I will never get to have my one remaining Low Rider achievement on
1 vs. 100, and that makes me sad about a missed opportunity

.
With all the achievement and backlog talk, don't worry, I am constantly working slowly through my backlog. [On a side note, I almost got the Lunar Eclipse achievement for the Moon Knight table on
Pinball FX2, until I hit 42 of 50 and went full retard; I did notice on the
Pinball FX2 table selection screen, 4 of the PS3 tables from
Zen Pinball got released as a pack, and would love to add to my backlog if those will ever get a discount on 360.] I don't mind adding more to my backlog with great games at great prices. I'm just concerned for the titles I do have may have features taken away due to a lack of online servers in the future.
[quote name='FriskyTanuki']Got an email about new screenshots for Zeno Clash 2 that also mentions Zeno Clash UE on XBLA will be 50% off this week:
[/QUOTE]
I didn't get that e-mail so was the offer for
Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition the deal for last week or this upcoming week? It had been offered at a discount price before, and I passed up on it because I felt like it did not appeal enough to my tastes on initial impressions (it is ugly, not technically wrong, just not aesthetically pleasing to my eye; it is like looking at all the fugly of default 360
Oblivion/
Skyrim NPCs: they hit every branch of the ugly tree on the way down, then the developers say "you are ready" - but the game can still be fun). I hope there is more tomorrow for me to get.
Without reliance on Deal of the Week, the Sales & Specials + app also offered some repeat discounts. I maintain my purchasing decision to stick with just the first
Puzzle Quest on the 360 (and it was wonderful at 400MSP), but I still crave a discount for The Revenge of the Plague Lord DLC which clings to that 700MSP price point like it doesn't want me to play it. Every time any of the Puzzle Quest games goes on discount, it always comes to my mind and I am always disappointed by the DLC's absence.
Here's hoping to a good upcoming week of deals. The week is already looking up with
Max Anarchy to be out today at a base price of $30USD (normally I'd wait for disc titles to go cheaper, but I figure a

Gamestop preorder also includes the Bayonetta character and a couple of game modes DLC, which will probably sell later on the Xbox marketplace for I estimate about 240MSP, has enough value for me even without a discount). I'll be paying attention to this thread for all the updates.
EDIT: Since there is no new DotW thread for the new year, I'll just tack on an early year hope for this year on XBLA. I've already covered what I am looking forward to in 2013 on XBLA along with the titles I still want on discount in previous posts, so I would like to just add to my wall of text by asking you to imagine. Imagine a GigaWing collection on XBLA; Capcom and Takumi, make it happen. Capcom already does quite a few fighting game collection re-releases on XBLA, I'm looking forward to
Darkstalkers Resurrection as mentioned before, but I've had great memories with
GigaWing (1)'s ridiculously large numbers for scores (somehow large numbers are fun) and
GigaWing 2 characters yelling "reflect force" and "reflect lazer" (all the time especially when played 4-players, where I start feeling bad for the games bosses). Granted I've not played
GigaWing Generations, but I imagine that'd be really great in addition to the rest of the collection with the side accomplishments, art galleries, and maybe developer insights as an XBLA title, that one I imagine I could even pay a whole 1200MSP for! [also, I know of
Mars Matrix's greatness too, tack that on and yep definately 1200MSP for me] End imaginationland edit =P