In the latest Microsoft press release, the platform publisher talks massive about the success of Xbox LIVE Arcade this summer. People downloaded the 1 vs. 100 clients like crazy and, overall, the publisher saw a 200 percent monthly revenue growth from last year’s Summer of Arcade program. Tucked away at the bottom of the release is a mention of the XBLA title Joy Ride, an Avatar-infused kart racing title with a twist — a light free-to-play MMO twist, we should add.

In the official release, Joy Ride is stated to debut “an innovative free-to-play business model on Xbox LIVE.” This is the second time we’ve noticed this sort of wording from Microsoft in regards to this game on Xbox LIVE as a whole, and it’s nice to see it again in such a prominent place.

Joy Ride will be a free download this holiday and the stream of paid content — stuff like tracks, cars, Avatar costumes, etc., — will, in theory, be supporting the title. More importantly, this “free-to-play business model on Xbox LIVE” stuff makes us think Joy Ride will play a role in the future of MMOs in the LIVE space, specifically with whatever Turbine plans to dish out in 2011. Weird that an XBLA title might be the flag-bearer.

Via Destructoid

You might not give much of a crap about 1 vs. 100, but there are three million people out there who do. Microsoft’s Xbox Live gameshow has been downloaded three million times in the thirteen weeks it’s been up, making it a top ten Xbox Live property. Yeah.

Microsoft has also been boasting about the success of its “Summer of Arcade” promotion. Despite last year having a much higher profile, this Summer saw Xbox Live revenue jump 200% over last year. Shadow Complex, Trials HD and Marvel vs. Capcom 2 have all been named among the huge sellers, with all three of them joining the opening week sales top five for XBLA.

So yeah. Microsoft has plenty to be smug about. Hit the jump for the press release, which I copypasta’d like a professional.

You might be feeling the fall breeze in the air, but Xbox LIVE is still smoking from one hot summer.

Beginning with the first “1 vs 100” trivia question on June 1, 2009 and continuing through the launch of revolutionary Summer of Arcade title “Shadow Complex” on August 19, 2009, Xbox LIVE has delivered brand new ways to access, play and share games on Xbox 360.

“It’s clear that we’ve had an incredibly successful summer, and the Xbox LIVE community cares about the innovative gaming experiences we deliver” stated Scott Austin, director of digitally distributed games on Xbox LIVE. “We are the leader in digitally distributed games, have the ideal partners in the industry and work closely with them to offer the best in downloadable content and entertainment.”

Xbox LIVE delivers a new genre of entertainment: “1 vs 100”

A pioneering accomplishment in interactive entertainment, “1 vs 100” was downloaded nearly three million times during the 13 week pilot season, making it one of the top 10 most downloaded pieces of gaming content on Xbox LIVE to date. In fact, on average, more than half a million very special contestants competed in “1 vs 100” each week. And, up to 114,000 people in North America and 81,000 people in the UK and Republic of Ireland competed simultaneously in “1 vs 100 Live” shows. Featuring a live host, real prizes and regularly-scheduled programming, “1 vs 100” is a brand new genre of entertainment on Xbox LIVE.

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