Xbox Live to Get Original Xbox Games

Microsoft is bringing original Xbox games to the Xbox 360 via its Xbox Live online service, including hits like the original version of Halo.

In conjunction with celebrating the fifth anniversary of its Xbox Live service, Microsoft has announced that it will begin selling games developed for the original Xbox game console via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Dubbed Xbox Originals, the availability will be tied to the upcoming December 4 update to the Xbox 360 Dashboard, and games will be on sale for 1,200 Microsoft points each, or about $15.

Titles scheduled for the initial rollout of Xbox Originals include Halo,Fable,Psychonauts, and Crimson Skies, with additional games scheduled to appear in the upcoming months. Microsoft hasn’t specified whether the games are significantly re-engineered for distribution and play via Xbox Live; for instance, the original version of Halo had its own online features.

The December 4 firmware update will also include new parental control capabilities, including a Family Timer feature that will enable parents to limit the total amount of time a child can play each day or each week.