In May this year, Microsoft caused some uneasiness when it announced that 'under-performing' Xbox Live Arcade titles would be de-listed.
The criteria for 'under-performing' would be based on sales, Metacritic reviews, etc.
In an interview at the Tokyo Games Show (TGS) earlier this week, John Schappert, Microsoft's corporate VP contradicted this information, saying it had been taken out of context.
According to Schappert, the company has simply 'set parameters' by which games could be de-listed. If the number of titles on the service becomes 'cumbersome'.
The forthcoming update to the Xbox Live dashboard promises to make browsing and searching online content a great deal simpler and may make the de-listing plans irrelevant.
You can read a summary of the interview over on IGN.
Oddly, this is exactly the same problem facing the Apple App Store, which mobile networks have been dealing with for the last several years and which Steam and other digital download services (including casual games portals) all have to deal with.
Once any online/mobile service starts to build up a sizeable catalogue on content, making it navigable, searchable and convenient for users becomes a far greater issue. Indeed highlighting your game within a huge portfolio of games, each of which has a standard template to fit within, is going to be a major issue for developers and publishers alike over the next few years.
Of course, the key differentiator will be buiilding a profile for your individual titles - and your company brand as a guarantee of quality. [obvious plug warning] the best way of doing this, by far - is through marketing and public relations. Decent up-front coverage, good reviews and a high profile all make a huge difference to the overall performance in the market.
Or you can stick a brand on it and hope for the best...
