In exciting news exclusively released in Major Nelson’s blogcast today, he reveals that there are six new XBLA games that will be out “this holiday season”, including Contra that will be released this Wednesday. He also adds that six Atari classics will be released in 2007.

The guys at Gamerscoreblog have even been kind enough to list exactly what games are to be released from Atari:

• Centipede/Millipede: defend your village against an onslaught of centipedes, spiders, army ants and more. In addition to the classic mode, the evolution mode offers high definition graphics and special effects like motion blur, trails and particle-based explosions to make the experience as enjoyable today as it was decades ago.
• Battlezone: the original tank vs. tank action classic has received an Xbox Live overhaul, adding in exciting new multiplayer modes including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag. This updated version is truly a must-have for any fan of the original, which is also included. Additionally, players can use the Xbox Live Vision camera to watch live video of their opponents. Combine these features with new special effects for weapon firing, impacts and explosions and you have one killer classic as you’ve never experienced it before.
• Asteroids/Asteroids Deluxe: rotate, thrust, flip, fire and jump to hyperspace as you blast oncoming asteroids to smithereens just like in the 1979 original, but in updated, beautifully rendered, high definition graphics that complement the classic original.
• Missile Command: protecting your city from alien missile attacks has never looked better now that this classic has been overhauled with updated graphics and 3D rendered vistas. Choose from the evolved mode or the timeless original gameplay.
• Tempest: clear a web of enemies before time runs out and advance to the next stage, using an arsenal of weapons at your disposal. This evolved version features a graphics overhaul while maintaining the same addictive gameplay of the original.
• Warlords: a multiplayer classic that resurrects the competitive spirit of arcade games from years gone by. Knock out the other kings in their castles while keeping yourself protected at the same time. Up to four players can join the action with the game taking control of any vacant castles allowing for a variety of single- or multiplayer experiences. Gamers can also import their own pictures to their castles for an extra personalization.

Imagine that in High Definition!

Some of them are not surprising, like Asteroids. Tempest had already been announced at Xboxic a few months ago, but we now know it is coming in 2007, not 2006, so we will have to wait a bit longer so we can finally find out exactly what it is that goes on! And, in fairness to Atari, they haven’t just ported the classics, but updated them too. Like the personalisation of Warlords that is on offer; making your own castle unique to you sounds excellent, and Missile Command has had a graphics upgrade. Even asteroids has “high definition graphics”. Is that backgrounds, or the actual game?!

The games that are being released “this holiday season” include four that are totally original, and two classics, of which one is Contra:

• Small Arms (Gastronaut Studios) – an indie-developed original title designed specifically for Xbox Live Arcade, featuring frantic multiplayer brawling combined with action and precision shooting.
• Novadrome (Buena Vista Games) – originally developed futuristic racing on Xbox Live Arcade.
• Assault Heroes (Wanako/Vivendi Games) – blast waves of formidable foes in this originally developed top-down shooter, single player or two player co-op action.
• Heavy Weapon (PopCap Games) – experience this irreverent, original side-scrolling action game that supports up to 4 players simultaneously.
• Defender (Midway) – space combat classic updated for this generation.
• Contra (Konami) – the seminal side-scrolling shooter that started it all will be launching on Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday, November 8 at 0800 GMT

Contra from the NES

We’ve all heard of Small Arms, and are all excited about that. Now we will also be getting a new futeristic racer (my mind immediately jumped to something like POD or Wipeout), Assault Heroes sounds like something we’ve probably all played before but better, and Heavy Weapon sounds intriguing for the simple fact that it’s four player.

All in all, it’s going to be a pretty exciting end to the year if you love Arcade games like me, and the original games sound excellent. Of course, we will do our very best to review each and every one, so stayed tuned for our verdict over the coming months.

Unfortunately no release dates (apart for Contra) have been released, but there is only eight more Wednesdays this year, so, with five more released between now and then, expect a sudden onslaught of titles!