Wow, that is awfully exciting.  Does that just prove my nerd quotient?!  One thing that I think that you HAVE to bend someone's ear on is coordinating something similar to Folding@Home's client for PS3:  http://science.slashdot.org/science/06/08/24/129244.shtml

Think of putting together the computing power of the 360, PCs AND PS3 for a noble cause?  I can't think of better PR for Microsoft, or a better way to step above the fray of the console wars than that.

Well, these are on my must-buy list.  The first two are lunch-time favorites at work (Settlers is a little too long for lunch).  I hope to see more.

Any release schedule? (3rd Quarter??)

Carcassone has 2 "n"s. So it's Carcassonne

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/822

Really looking forward to these.  Always wanted to get the Settlers boardgame, but with it being a 3-player game min., it would be really difficult to arrange regular games (especially with no euro-boardgame fans in my area that I know off), and this is where Live comes into play.  Hope they don't take too long to be released.

Hot.

Sweet, I've never played these games before but they look pretty schnazzy.

Anyone with any interest in these games should head on over to boardgamegeek.com and check out the entries for each game.  I'm looking forward to playing these on Live, but will always prefer the "board" version if I can round up a couple friends and table space.  Here's hoping these meet with success and Microsoft decides to expand their online board and card game offerings.

Re: "Carcassone has 2 "n"s. So it's Carcassonne

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/822"

Thanks for the catch - fixed!

Djeez, I really liked Settlers of Catan when I played it on the board game... although me and my friends turned its original cooperative play into a war between us, something I do not expect to be reproduced on the live arcade version...

I need sheep.  Let's see.  I have wood for sheep.  Anyone?  

Why's everyone laughing?

Man, I can't wait for these!  :)

Well... There is already a good version of Settlers of Catan available online for PC play.  http://www.s3dconnector.net  Nice thing is that it is not like the MS version that you have to pay for, but it is FREE!!

In the Carcassonne picture, it appears that the player placing a tile (two cities seperated by a field) while in the top right it show the next tile (city and 3 roads).

Err.. since when do you see what the next tile is before its drawn?

Re: "In the Carcassonne picture, it appears that the player placing a tile (two cities seperated by a field) while in the top right it show the next tile (city and 3 roads).

Err.. since when do you see what the next tile is before its drawn?"

Sorry, can't help you on this one. Remember it's early, so who knows what this is showing... could be a bug, alternate play mode, who knows? <shrug> :)

It would be a bug if it were our turn but, it is Babette's turn. So, it does not matter if we are looking at the next tile.  

Read on some other site today (computerandvideogames.com) that these games are being developed by Bizarre Creations - Must admit, that sounds promising.

SOC looks dope. I have played the board game (like most everyone here), and I look forward to that one.

Hopefully, since it is Bizarre, they will be 400 points like Geometry Wars.

I'm looking forward to these a lot.  I have some of the Catan games, but it's hard to find people to play locally :(

Seems like the story of board games these days.  It sounds like a really stupid thing to pay $400 for a system and then use it to play board and card games, but people pay a thousand or more for a computer and then play solitaire on it.

At least in a few years, the 360 will still be capable of playing retail games that are brand new.

These look fantastic.

Looking forward to their release.

I'm really hoping that they do a version of the card game "Citadels" (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/478) This would make a fantastic online game due to the character selection and their special abilities throwing up some amusing "friendly" backstabbings.

Fingers crossed

Re:Next tile.

I think that this would be to speed gameplay up.

Whilst babette is placing her tile the next player can see their tile and plan wherethey are going to put it.

This is great, my fiancee and I love this type of stuff and it's exactly the type of game that's going to make her a new Xbox addict.

Look a bit boring to me!

Does anyone know if this is going to have the Cities & Knights expansion available for Settlers? I feel that is the best way to play Settlers.

hopefully get a 8 player live version of Monopoly...that alone would waste many a peoples lives hehe