Game Room

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Game Room
GameRoomBoxArt.jpg
Developer(s) Krome Studios
Publisher(s) Microsoft Studios
Platform(s) Xbox 360, Windows
ReleaseMarch 24, 2010
Genre(s) Various
Mode(s) Single-player

Game Room was a video game compilation developed by Krome Studios and published by Microsoft Studios for the Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows and Windows Phone 7. Launched on March 24, 2010, Game Room let players download classic video games and compete against each other for high scores. [1] Players on both Xbox 360 and Windows PCs could access Game Room through their respective versions of Microsoft's Live online services (Xbox Live and Games for Windows – Live). The servers shut down on October 31, 2017.

Contents

At the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show, Microsoft announced a mobile version of Game Room for Windows Phone 7. [2] Asteroids Deluxe was the only game announced, but a show floor demo revealed working prototypes of Centipede and Shao-lin's Road . [3]

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. While the packs are free to download, individual games must be purchased in order to be played fully. [1] Players may play each game in the pack once without charge, limited to ten minutes of game time. Games are purchased on a game-by-game basis, which allows unlimited play of the game.

Previously, this was limited to Xbox 360 or Games for Windows, but a late update removed this distinction, defaulting the game purchases to the previous "Play Anywhere" model (a multiplatform spending model that would be expanded years later for Xbox One and Windows 10 as Xbox Play Anywhere).

Gameplay

Games in Game Room are launched by selecting them while players browse through their arcade. Each game offers a "classic mode", where one can set a number of gameplay options, dependent on the game's 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, some games can be played in a special "ranked mode," which allows scores to be posted to online leaderboards while limiting gameplay options to a single variation common to all players, as well as disallowing several Game Room options, seemingly to prevent falsifying rankings or other forms of cheating.

While browsing their arcades, players see avatars of themselves and their online friends wandering around and playing the games; Xbox 360 players 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 were a mix of arcade, Intellivision, and Atari 2600 games. Other arcade machines were also to be covered, with Microsoft promising at least 1000 virtual arcade cabinets over the subsequent three years. [4] Despite Microsoft's promise, there have not been any new games or other content since Game Pack 13 was released on December 22, 2010. Initially, Microsoft announced plans to release game packs weekly, starting on April 28, 2010, [5] although the first new release did not take place until May 5, 2010.

Available games

TitlePlatformRelease datePackPublisher
3-D Tic-Tac-Toe Atari 2600August 4, 2010Game Pack 008 Atari
A Game of Concentration Atari 2600September 1, 2010Game Pack 009Atari
The Activision Decathlon Atari 2600July 28, 2010Game Pack 007 Activision
Adventure Atari 2600March 24, 2010Game Pack 002Atari
Air-Sea Battle Atari 2600June 16, 2010Game Pack 005Atari
Amidar ArcadeDecember 1, 2010Game Pack 012 Konami
Armor Battle IntellivisionMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 001 Intellivision
Asteroids ArcadeMay 19, 2010Game Pack 004Atari
Asteroids Atari 2600July 28, 2010Game Pack 007Atari
Asteroids Deluxe ArcadeMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 001Atari
Astrosmash IntellivisionMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 001Intellivision
Auto Racing IntellivisionJuly 28, 2010Game Pack 007Intellivision
Barnstorming Atari 2600July 14, 2010Game Pack 007Activision
Baseball IntellivisionJune 9, 2010Game Pack 005Intellivision
Basketball IntellivisionMay 5, 2010Game Pack 003Intellivision
Battlantis ArcadeMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 001Konami
Battlezone ArcadeMay 12, 2010Game Pack 003Atari
Beamrider Atari 2600August 4, 2010Game Pack 008Activision
Black Widow ArcadeJune 23, 2010Game Pack 006Atari
Blades of Steel ArcadeNovember 24, 2010Game Pack 012Konami
Body Slam: Super Pro WrestlingIntellivisionOctober 6, 2010Game Pack 010Intellivision
Bowling Atari 2600September 22, 2010Game Pack 010Atari
Boxing Atari 2600September 1, 2010Game Pack 009Activision
Boxing IntellivisionMay 26, 2010Game Pack 004Intellivision
Breakout Atari 2600October 27, 2010Game Pack 011Atari
BridgeAtari 2600September 8, 2010Game Pack 009Activision
Buzz Bombers IntellivisionMay 26, 2010Game Pack 004Intellivision
Canyon Bomber Atari 2600May 12, 2010Game Pack 003Atari
Casino Atari 2600June 23, 2010Game Pack 006Atari
Centipede ArcadeMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 002Atari
Centipede Atari 2600August 4, 2010Game Pack 008Atari
CheckersAtari 2600August 25, 2010Game Pack 009Activision
Chip Shot GolfIntellivisionAugust 18, 2010Game Pack 008Intellivision
Chopper Command Atari 2600June 16, 2010Game Pack 005Activision
Circus Atari Atari 2600June 9, 2010Game Pack 005Atari
City Bomber ArcadeAugust 25, 2010Game Pack 009Konami
Codebreaker Atari 2600December 22, 2010Game Pack 013Atari
Combat Atari 2600March 24, 2010Game Pack 001Atari
Cosmic Commuter Atari 2600August 4, 2010Game Pack 008Activision
Crackpots Atari 2600June 30, 2010Game Pack 006Activision
Crystal Castles ArcadeMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 001Atari
Deep Pocket BilliardsIntellivisionSeptember 29, 2010Game Pack 010Intellivision
Demons to Diamonds Atari 2600May 19, 2010Game Pack 004Atari
Desert Falcon Atari 2600December 22, 2010Game Pack 013Atari
Detana!! TwinBee ArcadeDecember 8, 2010Game Pack 012Konami
Devastators ArcadeDecember 22, 2010Game Pack 013Konami
Dodge 'Em Atari 2600August 11, 2010Game Pack 008Atari
Dolphin Atari 2600August 11, 2010Game Pack 008Activision
Double Dunk Atari 2600October 27, 2010Game Pack 011Atari
Dragster Atari 2600August 11, 2010Game Pack 008Activision
Enduro Atari 2600July 21, 2010Game Pack 007Activision
Finalizer: Super Transformation ArcadeMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 001Konami
Fishing Derby Atari 2600July 14, 2010Game Pack 007Activision
Flak Attack ArcadeSeptember 15, 2010Game Pack 009Konami
Food Fight ArcadeDecember 15, 2010Game Pack 012Atari
Football Atari 2600December 22, 2010Game Pack 013Atari
Freeway Atari 2600August 18, 2010Game Pack 008Activision
Frog Bog IntellivisionJune 2, 2010Game Pack 005Intellivision
Frostbite Atari 2600July 28, 2010Game Pack 007Activision
Galactic Warriors ArcadeSeptember 22, 2010Game Pack 010Konami
Golf Atari 2600November 10, 2010Game Pack 011Atari
Grand Prix Atari 2600May 19, 2010Game Pack 004Activision
Gravitar ArcadeMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 002Atari
Gravitar Atari 2600July 21, 2010Game Pack 007Atari
Gyruss ArcadeJuly 14, 2010Game Pack 007Konami
H.E.R.O. Atari 2600June 23, 2010Game Pack 006Activision
Hard HatIntellivisionSeptember 8, 2010Game Pack 009Intellivision
Haunted House Atari 2600May 26, 2010Game Pack 004Atari
HockeyIntellivisionAugust 11, 2010Game Pack 008Intellivision
Horse Racing IntellivisionSeptember 22, 2010Game Pack 010Intellivision
Hover Force IntellivisionJuly 14, 2010Game Pack 007Intellivision
Human Cannonball Atari 2600November 10, 2010Game Pack 011Atari
Hyper CrashArcadeSeptember 29, 2010Game Pack 010Konami
Ice Hockey Atari 2600July 21, 2010Game Pack 007Activision
Iron HorseArcadeDecember 22, 2010Game Pack 013Konami
Jackal ArcadeOctober 27, 2010Game Pack 011Konami
Jail BreakArcadeJuly 28, 2010Game Pack 007Konami
Jungler ArcadeMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 002Konami
Juno First ArcadeJune 30, 2010Game Pack 006Konami
KabobberAtari 2600November 3, 2010Game Pack 011Activision
Kaboom! Atari 2600June 30, 2010Game Pack 006Activision
Keystone Kapers Atari 2600May 12, 2010Game Pack 003Activision
Kitten KaboodleArcadeSeptember 15, 2010Game Pack 009Konami
Konami GT ArcadeOctober 6, 2010Game Pack 010Konami
Konami's Ping Pong ArcadeJune 16, 2010Game Pack 005Konami
Laser Blast Atari 2600June 23, 2010Game Pack 006Activision
Liberator ArcadeJune 16, 2010Game Pack 005Atari
Lunar Lander ArcadeMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 001Atari
M.I.A.: Missing in Action ArcadeDecember 15, 2010Game Pack 012Konami
The Main Event ArcadeDecember 22, 2010Game Pack 013Konami
Major Havoc ArcadeJuly 7, 2010Game Pack 006Atari
Maze Craze Atari 2600August 18, 2010Game Pack 008Atari
Mega Zone ArcadeMay 12, 2010Game Pack 003Konami
Megamania Atari 2600May 5, 2010Game Pack 003Activision
Millipede ArcadeMay 26, 2010Game Pack 004Atari
Millipede Atari 2600March 24, 2010Game Pack 002Atari
Miniature Golf Atari 2600November 10, 2010Game Pack 011Atari
Missile Command ArcadeJune 2, 2010Game Pack 005Atari
Missile Command Atari 2600September 29, 2010Game Pack 010Atari
Motocross IntellivisionJune 16, 2010Game Pack 005Intellivision
Mountain Madness: Super Pro Skiing IntellivisionMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 002Intellivision
Mr. Goemon ArcadeJune 2, 2010Game Pack 005Konami
NFL Football IntellivisionMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 002Intellivision
Night Driver Atari 2600May 12, 2010Game Pack 003Atari
Night Stalker IntellivisionMay 5, 2010Game Pack 003Intellivision
Off the Wall Atari 2600December 1, 2010Game Pack 012Atari
Oink! Atari 2600May 12, 2010Game Pack 003Activision
Outlaw Atari 2600March 24, 2010Game Pack 001Atari
PinballIntellivisionAugust 25, 2010Game Pack 009Intellivision
Pitfall! Atari 2600May 5, 2010Game Pack 003Activision
Pitfall II: Lost Caverns Atari 2600November 24, 2010Game Pack 012Activision
Plaque Attack Atari 2600September 22, 2010Game Pack 010Activision
Pooyan ArcadeDecember 8, 2010Game Pack 012Konami
Pressure Cooker Atari 2600September 29, 2010Game Pack 010Activision
Private Eye Atari 2600October 6, 2010Game Pack 010Activision
Quadrun Atari 2600July 14, 2010Game Pack 007Atari
Rack 'Em Up ArcadeMay 5, 2010Game Pack 003Konami
Radar Lock Atari 2600October 13, 2010Game Pack 010Atari
RealSports Baseball Atari 2600December 22, 2010Game Pack 013Atari
RealSports Tennis Atari 2600March 24, 2010Game Pack 002Atari
RealSports Volleyball Atari 2600May 5, 2010Game Pack 003Atari
Red Baron ArcadeMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 001Atari
ReversiIntellivisionSeptember 8, 2010Game Pack 009Intellivision
River Raid Atari 2600May 26, 2010Game Pack 004Activision
River Raid IIAtari 2600June 9, 2010Game Pack 005Activision
Road Fighter ArcadeMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 002Konami
Scooter Shooter ArcadeJuly 7, 2010Game Pack 006Konami
Scramble ArcadeMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 001Konami
Sea Battle IntellivisionMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 001Intellivision
Seaquest Atari 2600August 18, 2010Game Pack 008Activision
Shao-lin's Road ArcadeMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 002Konami
Shark! Shark! IntellivisionMay 19, 2010Game Pack 004Intellivision
Sharp Shot IntellivisionOctober 6, 2010Game Pack 010Intellivision
Skiing Atari 2600June 2, 2010Game Pack 005Activision
Skiing IntellivisionNovember 17, 2010Game Pack 011Intellivision
Sky Diver Atari 2600July 7, 2010Game Pack 006Atari
Sky Jinks Atari 2600June 9, 2010Game Pack 005Activision
Slam Dunk BasketballIntellivisionDecember 22, 2010Game Pack 013Intellivision
Slap Shot: Super Pro HockeyIntellivisionNovember 17, 2010Game Pack 011Intellivision
Snafu IntellivisionAugust 18, 2010Game Pack 008Intellivision
Soccer IntellivisionMay 12, 2010Game Pack 003Intellivision
Space ArmadaIntellivisionMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 001Intellivision
Space BattleIntellivisionNovember 17, 2010Game Pack 011Intellivision
Space CadetIntellivisionNovember 3, 2010Game Pack 011Intellivision
Space Duel ArcadeMay 19, 2010Game Pack 004Atari
Space Hawk IntellivisionMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 002Intellivision
Space War Atari 2600November 3, 2010Game Pack 011Atari
Spider Fighter Atari 2600May 26, 2010Game Pack 004Activision
Spiker! Super Pro VolleyballIntellivisionDecember 15, 2010Game Pack 012Intellivision
Sprint Master Atari 2600November 3, 2010Game Pack 011Atari
Stampede Atari 2600May 19, 2010Game Pack 004Activision
Star Raiders Atari 2600March 24, 2010Game Pack 002Atari
Star Ship Atari 2600December 22, 2010Game Pack 013Atari
Star Strike IntellivisionJune 30, 2010Game Pack 006Intellivision
Starmaster Atari 2600July 7, 2010Game Pack 006Activision
Strategy X ArcadeMay 26, 2010Game Pack 004Konami
Street Racer Atari 2600October 13, 2010Game Pack 010Atari
Sub Hunt IntellivisionMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 002Intellivision
Submarine Commander Atari 2600October 13, 2010Game Pack 010Atari
Super BasketballArcadeSeptember 1, 2010Game Pack 009Konami
Super Breakout ArcadeMay 5, 2010Game Pack 003Atari
Super Breakout Atari 2600September 1, 2010Game Pack 009Atari
Super Cobra ArcadeMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 002Konami
Super FootballAtari 2600November 10, 2010Game Pack 011Atari
Super Pro DecathlonIntellivisionAugust 11, 2010Game Pack 008Intellivision
Surround Atari 2600December 22, 2010Game Pack 013Atari
Tempest ArcadeMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 002Atari
Tennis Atari 2600August 25, 2010Game Pack 009Activision
TennisIntellivisionDecember 22, 2010Game Pack 013Intellivision
Thin IceIntellivisionAugust 4, 2010Game Pack 008Intellivision
Thunder Castle IntellivisionSeptember 8, 2010Game Pack 009Intellivision
ThwockerAtari 2600December 8, 2010Game Pack 012Activision
Time Pilot ArcadeMay 19, 2010Game Pack 004Konami
Tower of DoomIntellivisionJuly 21, 2010Game Pack 007Intellivision
Trick TrapArcadeNovember 24, 2010Game Pack 012Konami
Triple Action IntellivisionJune 23, 2010Game Pack 006Intellivision
Tutankham ArcadeMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 001Konami
TwinBee ArcadeDecember 1, 2010Game Pack 012Konami
Utopia IntellivisionJuly 7, 2010Game Pack 006Intellivision
VectronIntellivisionNovember 24, 2010Game Pack 012Intellivision
Venetian Blinds Atari 2600December 22, 2010Game Pack 013Activision
Video Chess Atari 2600September 8, 2010Game Pack 009Atari
Video Hustler ArcadeJune 9, 2010Game Pack 005Konami
Video Pinball Atari 2600June 2, 2010Game Pack 005Atari
Warlords ArcadeJune 30, 2010Game Pack 006Atari
Warlords Atari 2600December 15, 2010Game Pack 012Atari
Yars' Revenge Atari 2600March 24, 2010Game Pack 001Atari
Yie Ar Kung-Fu ArcadeJuly 21, 2010Game Pack 007Konami

Additional themes

Along with the several pre-loaded themes available at the start in Game Room, Microsoft has added other themes in the game packs. Unlike many of the pre-loaded themes, which require the player to have attained a certain level in order to be used, these themes are available to be used immediately.

Theme NameRelease DatePack
Activision May 5, 2010Game Pack 003
Activision ShowroomNovember 24, 2010Game Pack 012
ArcticAugust 25, 2010Game Pack 009
Atari ShowroomNovember 24, 2010Game Pack 012
CavemanSeptember 22, 2010Game Pack 010
FantasyMay 19, 2010Game Pack 004
Intellivision ShowroomNovember 24, 2010Game Pack 012
Konami ShowroomNovember 24, 2010Game Pack 012
LaundromatNovember 24, 2010Game Pack 012
Lost TempleMarch 24, 2010Game Pack 001
Old WestJune 2, 2010Game Pack 005
PirateJuly 14, 2010Game Pack 007
TikiOctober 27, 2010Game Pack 011

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Fried, Ina (March 24, 2010). "Xbox Game Room launches, but with issues". CNET News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  2. ↑ Cohen, D.S. (January 9, 2011). "CES 2011 – Microsoft's Retro Game Room Announced for Windows Phone 7". About.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  3. ↑ frankcifaldi (January 8, 2011). "Game Room for Windows Mobile 7 Demonstration from CES 2011". 1Up.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  4. ↑ Plunkett, Luke (January 6, 2010). "Xbox Game Room To Feature "Over 1000" Classic Arcade Games". Kotaku.com. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  5. ↑ "No New Titles for Game Room Until Late April". March 30, 2010.
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