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CES: Xbox 360 Game Room

I

Iced_Eagle

Member
I was browsing Channel 9 roughly 45 mins ago, and there was an interview with Robbie Bach from CES (now pulled). I watched the entire 15 minute interview, and at the end for about two minutes they briefly discussed a new "Xbox 360 Game Room" that is going to be announced tonight.

Robbie compared it to trying to bring back that generation bridging that used to happen in gaming. For example, he compared it to people now-a-days still having fun playing centipede even though it was made years ago. Another comparison was with music and he compared on how he listened to Journey when he was younger, but now his daughter thinks it's a cool band.

They didn't discuss specific details on what the service is offering or anything like that (details to come tonight I"m sure), but merely the reasoning behind the service.

I'm not sure if anyone was able to catch the interview in time or was able to download it (in hind sight, I should have!). If anyone else watched it and could remember anything else, please do tell!

At the least, expect this to be announced tonight!

*Edit* Additional discussion on Team Xbox forums: http://forum.teamxbox.com/showthread.php?t=636761

*Edit2* Video download link (Thanks Microsoft! :D): http://ecn.channel9.msdn.com/o9/ch9/7/9/5/7/1/5/RobbieBCES2010_ch9.wmv

Update: Video trailer for Game Room located here: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/ces/VideoGallery.aspx

(scroll down in video list)

This spring, “Game Room” on Xbox LIVE lets you relive the glory days of classic arcade games in their original forms. Your avatar will take part in the original sights, sounds and gameplay that will make these retro games come alive on your Xbox 360 and Windows-based PC in one fast, fun experience.

Game Features
* Relive the glory days of the classic arcade. “Game Room” replicates the old-school look, sound and feel of a retro video game arcade. At launch, “Game Room” will bring you a library of 30 original arcade and console classics such as “Centipede®” and “Asteroids Deluxe®” from Atari Inc. and other favorites from Activision Inc., Intellivision, Konami Corp. and more, all shown in their original cabinets. Create a brand-new social environment* your avatar can explore, trick out your “game room” by arranging your cabinets, and decorate each room with themes and animated icons from your favorite games. With weekly new title releases, your arcade will soon be retrofitted to perfection.
* Prove you’re the arcade master. Think you have what it takes? Challenge friends to beat your high score by sending custom challenges and taunts across platforms, earn Achievements, unlock levels and climb your way to the top of universal leader boards. Compete in ranked mode, in which you play against other Xbox LIVE members on the world leader board, or challenge mode, in which you take turns playing a game.* “Game Room” also offers local Couch Play mode for up to two players — how will you duke it out for arcade supremacy? Enjoy a seamless experience across Xbox 360 and Windows-based PCs as you share games, track your progress and jump back into the game, no matter which of the two platforms you’re on. You can even invite friends into your custom arcade to check out your collection or visit their “game room” to demo games and scope out additions to your collection.
* Buy “Game Room” titles once and play on both your Xbox 360 and Windows-based PC. Enjoy the freedom of buying games for “Game Room” once and playing on both Xbox 360 and a Windows-based PC for about the same price as a DVD rental. Those who prefer to play on a single platform can purchase individual games for either Xbox 360 or a Windows-based PC at a lower price point, or even pay to play a single game just like in the old arcades. See how long you can last on a single token!

Retro games are shown in their original cabinets, which you can place anywhere in your personal arcade. Invite your friends in to check out your collection.

How Do I Play?
An Xbox 360 console or Windows-based PC and an Internet connection are all you need* to access “Game Room.” “Game Room” and associated games can be found on your Xbox 360 in the Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace or in the Games for Windows — LIVE client on your Windows-based PC.

How Much Does It Cost?
It is free to download “Game Room,” which you can then populate with classic arcade games available for individual purchase. Buy games once and play on both an Xbox 360 system and a Windows-based PC for 400 Microsoft Points. Or, to purchase a game for only one platform, each individual Xbox 360 or Windows-based PC title is 240 Microsoft Points. You also have the option to pay to play a single game, just like dropping two quarters in the slot in the old arcades, for 40 Microsoft Points. Visit your friends’ “game rooms” and try their games free before you buy.


“Game Room” Specifications
* One or two players
* HDTV 1080p
* In-game Dolby Digital
* Voice chat
* Avatar support
* Online multiplayer (one or two players)*
* Cross-platform leader boards
* Cross-platform Achievements
Click to expand...
 
E

Eggo

GameFan Alumnus
Wonder if it will be like a classic gaming version of Live Arcade. Give me classic arcade games or 16-bit games for a buck or two. Or a 'pay to play pass' to choose from a selection of old games.
 
D

Domino Theory

Crystal Dynamics
Could it be the "RetroCade" leak we saw a while back with the Avatars having a place to walk around, socialize and play a slew of old-school arcade games together?
 
C

clashfan

Member
Domino Theory said:
Could it be the "RetroCade" leak we saw a while back with the Avatars having a place to walk around, socialize and play a slew of old-school arcade games together?
Click to expand...

yep, that rumor has been floating around for awhile. Let's see tonight if they announce it.
 
I

Iced_Eagle

Member
Kagari said:
So this is what they're announcing tonight.
Click to expand...

Well the interview merely asked "So tonight you're announcing the new Xbox 360 Game Room. Can you tell us about that?"

It's the only announcement that they talked about, so there could be more surprises that Robbie could talk about, but only Game Room was discussed in the interview.

I posted this in the Natal thread, but Robbie did also confirm that Project Natal was coming out in 2010 (no other details, and it's not like anyone had any doubts either).
 
A

AndyD

aka andydumi
Sounds like arcade room style access to a bunch of older classic games. Probably avatar based and subscription for unlimited play on a number of classic games.

Like domino and gowans above. That is what I am thinking.
 
V

V_Ben

Banned
Domino Theory said:
Could it be the "RetroCade" leak we saw a while back with the Avatars having a place to walk around, socialize and play a slew of old-school arcade games together?
Click to expand...

that was a room of games. Sounds perfect!
 
B

Baker

Banned
Gowans007 said:
Ug they are making the arcade in Home? :(
Click to expand...
Yeah, I thought they mentioned something like this a long time ago (apparently RetroCade according to this thread, hehe).

It was like the arcade in Home.
 
I

InaudibleWhispa

Member
xbox-live-retrocade.jpg
 
S

Skilotonn

xbot xbot xbot xbot xbot
Yeah, sounds exactly like that thing that was mentioned sometime back then with pics along with it - nice...

Ah, there you go, InaudibleWhispa posted the pics...
 
N

Neuromancer

Member
Question is, if these rumors prove true, will people behave as creepily as they do on Home? Or even creepier? On the one hand Xbox avatars are more childish and cartoonlike than the Home avatars. On the other hand, NXE avatars are more childish and cartoonlike than the Home avatars.
 
A

Arnie

Member
If it's anything like HOME I'll pass. I want to spend my gaming time playing games, not handing out virtual high fives to a collection of digital people.
 
J

Jtrizzy

Member
I don't mind these types of lobbies in games, Mod Nation Racers for example. Stuff like this and Home are totally pointless imo.
 
D

Diablohead

Member
Jtrizzy said:
I don't mind these types of lobbies in games, Mod Nation Racers for example. Stuff like this and Home are totally pointless imo.
Click to expand...
Agreed, maybe fun for a day or two to adventure about in but when not tied to hardly anything other then chat or... well if it's not heavily related to playing party games or something why bother.

I'm thinking this will allow people to play special games inside the program as a party, like say planet ring on the Dreamcast or bowling on Home?
 
G

Gowans

Member
I'd rather have some people, time & money spent on improving xbox live.

These please:

- larger friends list
- friends list sorting (messeger style groups etc.)
- more profile info (favourite games, proudest achievements, top 5 friends etc.)
- facebook/steam community style friends news feed (No friends in common etc)
- community groups / clans
- overall games list see people no playing smaller games
- sort friends option to people who have/played your current played game
- fix or remove player/ranked match splitting online player base when searching for games
- cloud saves/settings
- family gold account (gold also per console not user)
- private video chat with positionable video overlay
- xbla & point gifting
- NXE categorys streamlines & reorganised
- Universal Screenshot, Video Recording
- Stream Last.fm while playing game or on dashboard
- News feed on My Xbox of latest new games/demos on genres I favor
- Personal Organisation/Filter Dashboard or SORTING IT OUT
- NUMBER of friends playing the game your playing alert
- Achievement image in Achievement Unlocked popup
- Gamerscore to Rewards Programme
 
K

komarkaze

Member
When MS originally announced Xbox Live Arcade about 5 years, having a virtual arcade with your character playing games was how I originally imagined it to be. It would be awesome if free to Gold members, though I wouldn't mind a pay-to-play model of one spacebuck per play for access to the full game, just like the old arcades.

How would it handle Arcade games that people have already bought? Would your old scores merge into the Game Room, or would they be kept separate?
 
N

Neuromancer

Member
komarkaze said:
How would it handle Arcade games that people have already bought? Would your old scores merge into the Game Room, or would they be kept separate?
Click to expand...
My guess is they would be totally separate games you could only play in the Gameroom. Who knows though.
 
G

ghst

thanks for the laugh
i always thought xbl avatars were useless, creepy child molester effigies with a look that says "i groom kids with a sack full of quarters".

i guess they aren't so useless anymore.
 
A

AndyD

aka andydumi
Why For? said:
Sounds like their 'Home' rip-off thing.

Not sure why you'd want to rip off Home in ANY form, but whatever.
Click to expand...

Especially since they bashed it a whole lot early on as not their thing, they are all about games, not social worlds and avatars.

Then they came with avatars. Now maybe a place for those avatars to walk around in and god forbid socialize!
 
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