Lazy Raiders (originally Dig It Up) is a video game developed by Sarbakan and published by Microsoft Game Studios for Xbox Live Arcade in 2010. It was later ported and published by Namco Networks for iOS in 2012, and for Android in 2013.

Lazy Raiders
Developer(s)Sarbakan (X360)
Namco Networks (iOS, Android)
Publisher(s)Microsoft Game Studios
Namco Networks (iOS, Android)
Platform(s)Xbox Live Arcade, iOS, Android
ReleaseXBLA
February 24, 2010
iOS
November 15, 2012
Android
May 11, 2013
Genre(s)Action/Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

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Lazy Raiders uses a "World-Flip" mechanic that allows the player to flip and spin the entire world, which allows gravity to move objects (such as Dr. Diggabone, boulders, minions and thieves) through mazes. The game has 80 levels set in three different settings: Seven Cities of Gold, Arctic Caves and Wild West.

Development

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Lazy Raiders was originally planned for both an XBLA and a WiiWare release, but the developers struggled to reach both demographics. Eventually they abandoned WiiWare as the multiplatform angle "resulted in design hazards that did nothing but dilute the whole game experience."[1] Likewise, the game was initially planned to include two multiplayer modes. These were scrapped as the team was already under heavy time constraints.[1] On June 7, 2016, it was announced that Lazy Raiders along with Anomaly: Warzone Earth and Aqua would be released for Xbox One Back Compat.[2]

Reception

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The Xbox 360 and iOS versions received "favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3][4] IGN described the former as "one of the most polished and good looking XBLA games we've played in a while."[8] Pocket Gamer called the latter "A priceless artifact."[11]

Since its release, the Xbox 360 version sold 13,063 units worldwide by January 2011.[13] Sales moved up to 14,876 units by the end of 2011.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b Ann Gauthier (June 9, 2010). "Postmortem: Sarbakan's Lazy Raiders". Game Developer. Informa. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  2. ^ Tatiana Morris (June 7, 2016). "Three more Xbox 360 games are heading to Xbox One via Backwards Compatibility". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Lazy Raiders for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Lazy Raiders for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on August 27, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  5. ^ Jan Wöbbeking (March 15, 2010). "Test: Lazy Raiders (X360)". 4Players (in German). 4Players GmbH. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  6. ^ Kristan Reed (April 23, 2010). "Download Games Roundup (Page 2)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  7. ^ Justin Calvert (March 3, 2010). "Lazy Raiders Review (X360)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on January 6, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Daemon Hatfield (February 22, 2010). "Lazy Raiders Review (X360)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  9. ^ Jihem (December 11, 2012). "Test: Lazy Raiders (iOS)". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on March 28, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  10. ^ "Lazy Raiders". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. May 2010. p. 73.
  11. ^ a b James Gilmour (December 20, 2012). "Lazy Raiders". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  12. ^ Gord Goble (February 24, 2010). "Lazy Riders Review (Xbox 360)". TeamXbox. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  13. ^ Ryan Langley (January 28, 2011). "In-Depth: Xbox Live Arcade's 2010 Sales Revealed". Game Developer. Informa. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  14. ^ Ryan Langley (January 20, 2012). "Xbox Live Arcade by the numbers - the 2011 year in review". Game Developer. Informa. Archived from the original on March 25, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
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