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For the game room in a home, see recreation room.
Game Room
GameRoomBoxArt.jpg
Developer(s) Krome Studios
Publisher(s) Microsoft Game Studios
Designer
Engine
status Status Missing
Release date March 24, 2010
Genre Arcade
Mode(s)
Age rating(s) ESRB: E10+
Platform(s) Xbox 360, Games for Windows
Arcade system Arcade System Missing
Media Download
Input
Requirements
Credits | Soundtrack | Codes | Walkthrough

Game Room is a gaming service for the Xbox 360 video game system and Microsoft Windows PCs. Launched on March 24, 2010, Game Room lets players download classic video games and compete against each other for high scores.[1] Players on both Xbox 360 and Windows PCs access Game Room through their respective versions of Microsoft's Live online services (Xbox Live and Games for Windows – Live).

Format[ | ]

The Game Room front end can be downloaded at no charge from Microsoft's Marketplace online storefront. When launched, players are presented with a three-story virtual video arcade, each story containing four separate rooms. These rooms may be decorated however the player wishes, using the included themes and set pieces. The player can fill the rooms with virtual game cabinets that are used to play arcade and console games downloaded through the service, with each room holding a maximum of eight cabinets.

Games for Game Room are made available through downloadable "game packs" released from time to time. While the game packs are free to download, individual games must be purchased in order to be played fully.[1] Players may play each game in the game pack once without charge, limited to ten minutes of game time. Games may be purchased for unlimited use on one platform of the player's choosing (either Xbox 360 or Windows PC) or on both platforms. Players who purchase games for use on a single platform may upgrade them later to add the other platform. When a game is purchased, the player may stock their arcade with copies of the cabinets, which are then used to launch the games themselves.

Gameplay[ | ]

Games in Game Room are launched by selecting them while players browse through their arcade. Each game offers a number of gameplay options, dependent on its format. Arcade games have DIP switches that may be changed in order to increase difficulty or offer additional lives to the player, while console games have their original gameplay variations. Both are accessible using Game Room's on-screen interfaces. Also, most games can be played in "ranked mode," which allows scores to be posted to online leaderboards while limiting gameplay options to a single variation common to all players.

While browsing their arcades, players will see avatars of themselves and their online friends wandering around and playing the games; Xbox 360 players will see their console avatars, while PC players see generic avatars instead. Similarly, players may visit the arcades of their online friends as well as play the games found there. If a friend's arcade has a game that the player does not own, the player may purchase plays or may use their in-game "tokens." However, the player may play copies of a game they already own for free. Players may also challenge their friends at various games in both score-based and skill-based contests.

During gameplay, players win medals based on their score or how long they have played the game (both for that individual play and all-time on that game). Medals are offered in gold, silver and bronze, with each being worth a certain number of points. As players earn medals, they can advance in levels, which will unlock new themes and set pieces to be used in their arcades. Like other LIVE titles, players also earn achievements based on their gameplay.

Game selection[ | ]

The initial game pack releases for Game Room are a mix of arcade, Intellivision, and Atari 2600 games. Other arcade machines will also be covered with Microsoft promising at least 1000 virtual arcade cabinets over the next three years. Initially, Microsoft announced plans to release game packs weekly, starting on April 28, 2010, although the first new release did not take place until May 5, 2010. As of August 2011, there are currently 13 game packs to download.

Title Platform Release Date Pack Publisher
3-D Tic-Tac-Toe Atari 2600 02010-08-04August 4, 2010 Game Pack 008 Atari
A Game of Concentration Atari 2600 02010-09-01September 1, 2010 Game Pack 009 Atari
Activision Decathlon Atari 2600 02010-07-28July 28, 2010 Game Pack 007 Activision
Adventure Atari 2600 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 002 Atari
Air-Sea Battle Atari 2600 02010-06-16June 16, 2010 Game Pack 005 Atari
Amidar Arcade 02010-12-01December 1, 2010 Game Pack 012 Konami
Armor Battle Intellivision 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 001 Intellivision
Asteroids Arcade 02010-05-19May 19, 2010 Game Pack 004 Atari
Asteroids Atari 2600 02010-07-28July 28, 2010 Game Pack 007 Atari
Asteroids Deluxe Arcade 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 001 Atari
Astrosmash Intellivision 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 001 Intellivision
Auto Racing Intellivision 02010-07-28July 28, 2010 Game Pack 007 Intellivision
Barnstorming Atari 2600 02010-07-14July 14, 2010 Game Pack 007 Activision
Baseball Intellivision 02010-06-09June 9, 2010 Game Pack 005 Intellivision
Basketball Intellivision 02010-05-05May 5, 2010 Game Pack 003 Intellivision
Battlantis Arcade 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 001 Konami
Battlezone Arcade 02010-05-12May 12, 2010 Game Pack 003 Atari
Beamrider Atari 2600 02010-08-04August 4, 2010 Game Pack 008 Activision
Black Widow Arcade 02010-06-23June 23, 2010 Game Pack 006 Atari
Blades of Steel Arcade 02010-11-24November 24, 2010 Game Pack 012 Konami
Body Slam! Super Pro Wrestling Intellivision 02010-10-06October 6, 2010 Game Pack 010 Intellivision
Bowling Atari 2600 02010-09-22September 22, 2010 Game Pack 010 Atari
Boxing Atari 2600 02010-09-01September 1, 2010 Game Pack 009 Activision
Boxing Intellivision 02010-05-26May 26, 2010 Game Pack 004 Intellivision
Breakout Atari 2600 02010-10-27October 27, 2010 Game Pack 011 Atari
Bridge Atari 2600 02010-09-08September 8, 2010 Game Pack 009 Activision
Buzz Bombers Intellivision 02010-05-26May 26, 2010 Game Pack 004 Intellivision
Canyon Bomber Atari 2600 02010-05-12May 12, 2010 Game Pack 003 Atari
Casino Atari 2600 02010-06-23June 23, 2010 Game Pack 006 Atari
Centipede Arcade 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 002 Atari
Centipede Atari 2600 02010-08-04August 4, 2010 Game Pack 008 Atari
Checkers Atari 2600 02010-08-25August 25, 2010 Game Pack 009 Activision
Chip Shot Golf Intellivision 02010-08-18August 18, 2010 Game Pack 008 Intellivision
Chopper Command Atari 2600 02010-06-16June 16, 2010 Game Pack 005 Activision
Circus Atari Atari 2600 02010-06-09June 9, 2010 Game Pack 005 Atari
City Bomber Arcade 02010-08-25August 25, 2010 Game Pack 009 Konami
Codebreaker Atari 2600 02010-12-22December 22, 2010 Game Pack 013 Atari
Combat Atari 2600 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 001 Atari
Cosmic Commuter Atari 2600 02010-08-04August 4, 2010 Game Pack 008 Activision
Crackpots Atari 2600 02010-06-30June 30, 2010 Game Pack 006 Activision
Crystal Castles Arcade 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 001 Atari
Deep Pocket Billiards Intellivision 02010-09-29September 29, 2010 Game Pack 010 Intellivision
Demons to Diamonds Atari 2600 02010-05-19May 19, 2010 Game Pack 004 Atari
Desert Falcon Atari 2600 02010-12-22December 22, 2010 Game Pack 013 Atari
Detana!! TwinBee Arcade 02010-12-08December 8, 2010 Game Pack 012 Konami
Devastators Arcade 02010-12-22December 22, 2010 Game Pack 013 Konami
Dodge 'Em Atari 2600 02010-08-11August 11, 2010 Game Pack 008 Atari
Dolphin Atari 2600 02010-08-11August 11, 2010 Game Pack 008 Activision
Double Dunk Atari 2600 02010-10-27October 27, 2010 Game Pack 011 Atari
Dragster Atari 2600 02010-08-11August 11, 2010 Game Pack 008 Activision
Enduro Atari 2600 02010-07-21July 21, 2010 Game Pack 007 Activision
Finalizer Arcade 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 001 Konami
Fishing Derby Atari 2600 02010-07-14July 14, 2010 Game Pack 007 Activision
Flak Attack Arcade 02010-09-15September 15, 2010 Game Pack 009 Konami
Food Fight Arcade 02010-12-15December 15, 2010 Game Pack 012 Atari
Football Atari 2600 02010-12-22December 22, 2010 Game Pack 013 Atari
Football Intellivision 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 002 Intellivision
Freeway Atari 2600 02010-08-18August 18, 2010 Game Pack 008 Activision
Frog Bog Intellivision 02010-06-02June 2, 2010 Game Pack 005 Intellivision
Frostbite Atari 2600 02010-07-28July 28, 2010 Game Pack 007 Activision
Galactic Warriors Arcade 02010-09-22September 22, 2010 Game Pack 010 Konami
Golf Atari 2600 02010-11-10November 10, 2010 Game Pack 011 Atari
Grand Prix Atari 2600 02010-05-19May 19, 2010 Game Pack 004 Activision
Gravitar Arcade 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 002 Atari
Gravitar Atari 2600 02010-07-21July 21, 2010 Game Pack 007 Atari
Gyruss Arcade 02010-07-14July 14, 2010 Game Pack 007 Konami
H.E.R.O. Atari 2600 02010-06-23June 23, 2010 Game Pack 006 Activision
Hard Hat Intellivision 02010-09-08September 8, 2010 Game Pack 009 Intellivision
Haunted House Atari 2600 02010-05-26May 26, 2010 Game Pack 004 Atari
Hockey Intellivision 02010-08-11August 11, 2010 Game Pack 008 Intellivision
Horse Racing Intellivision 02010-09-22September 22, 2010 Game Pack 010 Intellivision
Hover Force Intellivision 02010-07-14July 14, 2010 Game Pack 007 Intellivision
Human Cannonball Atari 2600 02010-11-10November 10, 2010 Game Pack 011 Atari
Hyper Crash Arcade 02010-09-29September 29, 2010 Game Pack 010 Konami
Ice Hockey Atari 2600 02010-07-21July 21, 2010 Game Pack 007 Activision
Iron Horse Arcade 02010-12-22December 22, 2010 Game Pack 013 Konami
Jackal Arcade 02010-10-27October 27, 2010 Game Pack 011 Konami
Jail Break Arcade 02010-07-28July 28, 2010 Game Pack 007 Konami
Jungler Arcade 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 002 Konami
Juno First Arcade 02010-06-30June 30, 2010 Game Pack 006 Konami
Kabobber Atari 2600 02010-11-03November 3, 2010 Game Pack 011 Activision
Kaboom! Atari 2600 02010-06-30June 30, 2010 Game Pack 006 Activision
Keystone Kapers Atari 2600 02010-05-12May 12, 2010 Game Pack 003 Activision
Kitten Kaboodle Arcade 02010-09-15September 15, 2010 Game Pack 009 Konami
Konami GT Arcade 02010-10-06October 6, 2010 Game Pack 010 Konami
Konami's Ping Pong Arcade 02010-06-16June 16, 2010 Game Pack 005 Konami
Laser Blast Atari 2600 02010-06-23June 23, 2010 Game Pack 006 Activision
Liberator Arcade 02010-06-16June 16, 2010 Game Pack 005 Atari
Lunar Lander Arcade 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 001 Atari
M.I.A. Arcade 02010-12-15December 15, 2010 Game Pack 012 Konami
Major Havoc Arcade 02010-07-07July 7, 2010 Game Pack 006 Atari
Maze Craze Atari 2600 02010-08-18August 18, 2010 Game Pack 008 Atari
Mega Zone Arcade 02010-05-12May 12, 2010 Game Pack 003 Konami
Megamania Atari 2600 02010-05-05May 5, 2010 Game Pack 003 Activision
Millipede Arcade 02010-05-26May 26, 2010 Game Pack 004 Atari
Millipede Atari 2600 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 002 Atari
Miniature Golf Atari 2600 02010-11-10November 10, 2010 Game Pack 011 Atari
Missile Command Arcade 02010-06-02June 2, 2010 Game Pack 005 Atari
Missile Command Atari 2600 02010-09-29September 29, 2010 Game Pack 010 Atari
Motocross Intellivision 02010-06-16June 16, 2010 Game Pack 005 Intellivision
Mountain Madness: Super Pro Skiing Intellivision 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 002 Intellivision
Mr. Goemon Arcade 02010-06-02June 2, 2010 Game Pack 005 Konami
Night Driver Atari 2600 02010-05-12May 12, 2010 Game Pack 003 Atari
Night Stalker Intellivision 02010-05-05May 5, 2010 Game Pack 003 Intellivision
Off the Wall Atari 2600 02010-12-01December 1, 2010 Game Pack 012 Atari
Oink! Atari 2600 02010-05-12May 12, 2010 Game Pack 003 Activision
Outlaw Atari 2600 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 001 Atari
Pinball Intellivision 02010-08-25August 25, 2010 Game Pack 009 Intellivision
Pitfall! Atari 2600 02010-05-05May 5, 2010 Game Pack 003 Activision
Pitfall II: Lost Caverns Atari 2600 02010-11-24November 24, 2010 Game Pack 012 Activision
Plaque Attack Atari 2600 02010-09-22September 22, 2010 Game Pack 010 Activision
Pooyan Arcade 02010-12-08December 8, 2010 Game Pack 012 Konami
Pressure Cooker Atari 2600 02010-09-29September 29, 2010 Game Pack 010 Activision
Private Eye Atari 2600 02010-10-06October 6, 2010 Game Pack 010 Activision
Quadrun Atari 2600 02010-07-14July 14, 2010 Game Pack 007 Atari
Rack 'Em Up Arcade 02010-05-05May 5, 2010 Game Pack 003 Konami
Radar Lock Atari 2600 02010-10-13October 13, 2010 Game Pack 010 Atari
RealSports Baseball Atari 2600 02010-12-22December 22, 2010 Game Pack 013 Atari
RealSports Tennis Atari 2600 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 002 Atari
RealSports Volleyball Atari 2600 02010-05-05May 5, 2010 Game Pack 003 Atari
Red Baron Arcade 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 001 Atari
Reversi Intellivision 02010-09-08September 8, 2010 Game Pack 009 Intellivision
River Raid Atari 2600 02010-05-26May 26, 2010 Game Pack 004 Activision
River Raid II Atari 2600 02010-06-09June 9, 2010 Game Pack 005 Activision
Road Fighter Arcade 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 002 Konami
Scooter Shooter Arcade 02010-07-07July 7, 2010 Game Pack 006 Konami
Scramble Arcade 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 001 Konami
Sea Battle Intellivision 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 001 Intellivision
Seaquest Atari 2600 02010-08-18August 18, 2010 Game Pack 008 Activision
Shao-Lin's Road Arcade 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 002 Konami
Shark! Shark! Intellivision 02010-05-19May 19, 2010 Game Pack 004 Intellivision
Sharp Shot Intellivision 02010-10-06October 6, 2010 Game Pack 010 Intellivision
Skiing Atari 2600 02010-06-02June 2, 2010 Game Pack 005 Activision
Skiing Intellivision 02010-11-17November 17, 2010 Game Pack 011 Intellivision
Sky Diver Atari 2600 02010-07-07July 7, 2010 Game Pack 006 Atari
Sky Jinks Atari 2600 02010-06-09June 9, 2010 Game Pack 005 Activision
Slam Dunk Basketball Intellivision 02010-12-22December 22, 2010 Game Pack 013 Intellivision
Slap Shot: Super Pro Hockey Intellivision 02010-11-17November 17, 2010 Game Pack 011 Intellivision
Snafu Intellivision 02010-08-18August 18, 2010 Game Pack 008 Intellivision
Soccer Intellivision 02010-05-12May 12, 2010 Game Pack 003 Intellivision
Space Armada Intellivision 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 001 Intellivision
Space Battle Intellivision 02010-11-17November 17, 2010 Game Pack 011 Intellivision
Space Cadet Intellivision 02010-11-03November 3, 2010 Game Pack 011 Intellivision
Space Duel Arcade 02010-05-19May 19, 2010 Game Pack 004 Atari
Space Hawk Intellivision 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 002 Intellivision
Space War Atari 2600 02010-11-03November 3, 2010 Game Pack 011 Atari
Spider Fighter Atari 2600 02010-05-26May 26, 2010 Game Pack 004 Activision
Spiker! Volleyball Intellivision 02010-12-15December 15, 2010 Game Pack 012 Intellivision
Sprint Master Atari 2600 02010-11-03November 3, 2010 Game Pack 011 Atari
Stampede Atari 2600 02010-05-19May 19, 2010 Game Pack 004 Activision
Star Raiders Atari 2600 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 002 Atari
Star Ship Atari 2600 02010-12-22December 22, 2010 Game Pack 013 Atari
Star Strike Intellivision 02010-06-30June 30, 2010 Game Pack 006 Intellivision
Starmaster Atari 2600 02010-07-07July 7, 2010 Game Pack 006 Activision
Strategy X Arcade 02010-05-26May 26, 2010 Game Pack 004 Konami
Street Racer Atari 2600 02010-10-13October 13, 2010 Game Pack 010 Atari
Sub Hunt Intellivision 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 002 Intellivision
Submarine Commander Atari 2600 02010-10-13October 13, 2010 Game Pack 010 Atari
Super Basketball Arcade 02010-09-01September 1, 2010 Game Pack 009 Konami
Super Breakout Arcade 02010-05-05May 5, 2010 Game Pack 003 Atari
Super Breakout Atari 2600 02010-09-01September 1, 2010 Game Pack 009 Atari
Super Cobra Arcade 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 002 Konami
Super Football Atari 2600 02010-11-10November 10, 2010 Game Pack 011 Atari
Super Pro Decathlon Intellivision 02010-08-11August 11, 2010 Game Pack 008 Intellivision
Surround Atari 2600 02010-12-22December 22, 2010 Game Pack 013 Atari
Tempest Arcade 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 002 Atari
Tennis Atari 2600 02010-08-25August 25, 2010 Game Pack 009 Activision
Tennis Intellivision 02010-12-22December 22, 2010 Game Pack 013 Intellivision
The Main Event Arcade 02010-12-22December 22, 2010 Game Pack 013 Konami
Thin Ice Intellivision 02010-08-04August 4, 2010 Game Pack 008 Intellivision
Thunder Castle Intellivision 02010-09-08September 8, 2010 Game Pack 009 Intellivision
Thwocker Atari 2600 02010-12-08December 8, 2010 Game Pack 012 Activision
Time Pilot Arcade 02010-05-19May 19, 2010 Game Pack 004 Konami
Tower of Doom Intellivision 02010-07-21July 21, 2010 Game Pack 007 Intellivision
Trick Trap Arcade 02010-11-24November 24, 2010 Game Pack 012 Konami
Triple Action Intellivision 02010-06-23June 23, 2010 Game Pack 006 Intellivision
Tutankham Arcade 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 001 Konami
TwinBee Arcade 02010-12-01December 1, 2010 Game Pack 012 Konami
Utopia Intellivision 02010-07-07July 7, 2010 Game Pack 006 Intellivision
Vectron Intellivision 02010-11-24November 24, 2010 Game Pack 012 Intellivision
Venetian Blinds Atari 2600 02010-12-22December 22, 2010 Game Pack 013 Activision
Video Chess Atari 2600 02010-09-08September 8, 2010 Game Pack 009 Atari
Video Hustler Arcade 02010-06-09June 9, 2010 Game Pack 005 Konami
Video Pinball Atari 2600 02010-06-02June 2, 2010 Game Pack 005 Atari
Warlords Arcade 02010-06-30June 30, 2010 Game Pack 006 Atari
Warlords Atari 2600 02010-12-15December 15, 2010 Game Pack 012 Atari
Yars' Revenge Atari 2600 02010-03-24March 24, 2010 Game Pack 001 Atari
Yie Ar Kung-Fu Arcade 02010-07-21July 21, 2010 Game Pack 007 Konami

Development[ | ]

On the release date of Game Room, Xbox 360 and PC users were having difficulty accessing it due to overwhelming demand.[1] Xbox 360 users, after they had installed two game packs, couldn't load the Game Room, users were stuck on the loading screen. The Games for Windows version was likewise broken, users attempting to install received the error message "Install of item failed".[1] These two problems were fixed soon after.[1]

Game Pack 003, the first new game pack offering for the service since launch, was announced for April 28, but hours before the new game downloads were to be released, Microsoft stated that newer game downloads were on hold until further notice.[2] The company released the software the following week, and since then has released new packs periodically.

References[ | ]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Fried, Ina (2010-03-24). Xbox Game Room launches, but with issues. CNET News. Retrieved on 2010-03-25
  2. http://twitter.com/LIVEGameRoom

External links[ | ]

Template:Microsoft video gaming

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