Developer: Krome Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Release Date: March 24th, 2010 exclusively on Xbox 360 and Games For Windows LIVE
Remember! Game Room is part of the hip and happening Block Party promotion on Xbox LIVE! Get 400 Microsoft Points by downloading the free Game Room app and purchasing Toy Soldiers, Scrap Metal and Perfect Dark in March!
Disclaimer: I work at Krome but am not on the Game Room team. I am just a huge fan of the project and have been lucky enough to witness it being developed by a tremendously talented, passionate and hard working bunch of people here at Krome (not to mention the equally great people at Microsoft who spearheaded this project). I want this thread to keep track of all the commonly asked questions and new game announcements in the one place. Oh, and for people to connect and challenge each other
What is Game Room?
From Xbox.com:
Remember pumping quarters into your favorite video games at the classic Arcade? Nothing would beat the colorfully-decorated cabinets, the smell of popcorn and candy and best of all, the endless hours of competition with friends, trumping the top score, and mastering the machine. This Spring, Game Room on Xbox LIVE lets you relive the glory days of the classic arcade. Play as your Avatar and enjoy the original sights, sounds, and gameplay that make these retro games come alive on Xbox 360 and Games for Windows LIVE.
tl;dr version: It's a giant virtual arcade that you fill with classic arcade and home console games and play them exactly like they were back in the day.
What makes Game Room different?
Leaderboards: Leaderboards are available for each game and are shared between the Xbox 360 Game Room and the Games For Windows LIVE Game Room. This means that no matter what system you play Game Room on, your scores are displayed to everyone. Of course, leaderboards are only available when you are playing a ranked game, which does not allow for rewinding or changes to dip switches. No more scores being lost forever when the power is turned off.
Challenges: These can be sent to people on your friends list to challenge them to beat a particular score, time or other metric that you have already accomplished. The things you can challenge each other on will be determined by the game. Taunts are attached to challenges, so you can celebrate your victory over your friend in style.
Rewind: I love this feature. Basically, at any time during the game you can go back in time and continue from the moment before you made that last costly mistake. It's important to note that this feature is not available in a Ranked game, so you can't use it to cheat your way onto the Leaderboards.
Create your own Game Room: The Game Room, a three story space with separate alcoves, is customizable in many ways. Of course, you can rearrange the games you have in your collection any way you want, so if you want an alcove devoted to vector graphics games, one for Konami games, another one devoted to shmups etc - go for it. Additionally you can collect decorative props to give each alcove a unique look. Mascots of various games will also be available (free if you purchase the game on release day) that will randomly move around the arcade, too. Your friends can visit your Game Room over LIVE and play your games. If you want to play a game they're playing, you can start up your own game - there is no queuing.
Range of games: The aim is to get a thousand games into Game Room over the next three years, and that means there'll be titles you haven't heard of or played in ages. There'll be a lot of rediscovering old classics! Also: Giantbomb's pick of the bunch Jungler is included so hey, good times for all.
Plus more to be revealed...
How much does it cost?
The Game Room application itself is free for all Xbox LIVE Gold and Silver members, and Games For Windows LIVE members.
It's 240
How about Demos?
You can play ANY game in Game Room for free - once. After that, you are given the option of dropping in some virtual quarters to continue playing (40
Will old arcade games I bought on XBLA appear in my Game Room?
No. The reasons for this are many, mostly to do with technical issues and rights management, but the short version is that it's like asking why the songs you purchased in Lips don't magically appear in your Rock Band setlist. Game Room is a framework for our emulation to run in, not a shell to launch other people's programs.
How is multiplayer handled?
Game Room supports same couch multiplayer for all games that had a multiplayer mode. Online multiplayer is handled via challenges only at this time.
How are Achievements handled?
Achievements are not tied to particular games. Instead, we have Medals that you earn by beating certain scores in a particular game, completing a certain number of games, winning challenges etc. These meta tasks earn you Achievements, and there are 60 Achievements in Game Room for a total of 1,000 Gamerpoints.
What games are out for it now?
I'll be updating this list as time goes on. Latest additions to the list are in bold.
Arcade:
Asteroids Deluxe by Atari
Battlantis by Konami
Centipede by Atari
Crystal Castles by Atari
Finalizer by Konami
Gravitar by Atari
Jungler by Konami
Lunar Lander by Atari
Rack 'Em Up by Konami
Red Baron by Atari
Road Fighter by Konami
Scramble by Konami
Shao-Lin's Road by Konami
Super Breakout by Atari
Tempest by Atari
Tutankham by Konami
Intellivision:
Armor Battle by Mattel
Astrosmash by Mattel
Basketball by Mattel
Mountain Madness Super Pro Skiing by Mattel
Night Stalker by Mattel
Sea Battle by Mattel
Space Armada by Mattel
Space Hawk by Mattel
Sub Hunt by Mattel
Atari 2600:
Combat by Atari
Football by Atari
Megamania by Activision
Millipede by Atari
Outlaw by Atari
Pitfall! by Activision
RealSports Tennis by Atari
RealSports Volleyball by Atari
Star Raiders by Atari
Yar's Revenge by Atari
What games are coming?
None have been announced - yet. I'm sure this will be the first line of the OP I'll end up changing
The team are working very, very hard on a lot of great games.That being said, your input is strongly encouraged to help determine what games should come to the service! Let Microsoft and the game's original publishers know you want their back catalogue available in your Game Room!
This also applies to systems. The Game Room project has a lot of room to grow. Personally I'd love to see Commodore 64 games on it one day down the road.
Hey, you didn't answer my question!
That's what this thread is about. Fire away!
MEDIA:
Gamerbytes Interview with Lead Designer Dan Hooley and Emulation Genius Barry Jones
Demonstration of Game Room at X10
Microsoft's media page
