Earlier in the day, Xbox Game Room was revealed to be a real thing. Microsoft's Robbie Bach did a video interview with On10.net that was accidentally put up a little too soon. The video was taken down, but nothing ever really disappears from the grasp of the Internet!
So what is this all about? Game Room will have over 1000 old school classic games such as Centipede, Adventure and more being released over the next three years. You'll be able to create a custom arcade rooms and challenge your friends in a number of games.
It's odd that Microsoft is creating another channel for retro games when we already have Xbox Live Arcade. Perhaps Microsoft thinks the new channel will be more appealing to casual players. Game Room will be out this Spring for both the Xbox 360 and Games for Windows Live.
[Update: Game Room will launch this Spring with 30 arcade classics. Kotaku says games will range from 240 to 400 Microsoft points. Or, you can pretend it's the '80s all over again and buy the arcade games for just 40 Microsoft Points. And just like the '80s, once you die, you'll have to insert another 40 Points to play the game again.]
Hamza Aziz, Destructoid's Community Director, has been here since day one. He was born when a tiger coughed up a hairball into a pool of ooze. He was one of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles before budget cuts. Hamza works as a previews editor and manages a team in San Francisco. To date he has given away tens of thousands of dollars in prizes to readers. What a dick. Actually, Hamza is as kind as he is hairy.
Likes
Super Mario RPG, Halo, iPhone, Videogame cover bands, Super Nintendo
Meet the rest of the team
RIMoonlight said:
"I'm wondering if they're going to include exciting features such as 'waiting in line to play'"
fucking awesome man..love the sarcasm.
@HEL105
agreed, 1000+ old school arcade games would make paying for live much less painful.
Although amazon did have 12 month live cards for only $34.99 today.
Also, the pricing scheme. $0.5 / 34p for 1 play $3 / £2.04 to buy game for 1 platform $5 / £3.40 to buy game for both platforms Or play friends' games for free
Of course they're charging for it. They're acting like this is some new groundbreaking thing that will pull in all the casual gamers, yet they plan on charging $3 a game for old Atari games. I think Microsoft is to busy believe its own hype and drinking its own kool-aid here to know what's what these days.
They're acting like this, and Natal is going to change gaming forever. Give me a break, its some freaking old ass arcade games, and a supped up eye-toy. Its not going to change the world of gaming in the slightest and this is coming from a 360 owner. I'm just not impressed in the least by either of them!
I was hopeful and skeptical before I saw the video but even though the price is a bit steep, I can't wait to play some of my favorite old arcade games again. The arcade might be on death's door, unfortunately, but at least it will live on virtually. I love the added touch of hearing all the noises coming from the arcade cabinets as you walk around it. Ahhh...memories.
I almost always have 3 bucks laying around (Thank you XZyliac and power-glove for the info) on my account because of their crazy points system so in a way it'll be a good chance to spend it on something I'll enjoy.
Now all that's left for me to wonder is how long they'll support it. I guess that's up to how well it does :).
And PEICanada7...trust me, I was a HUGE skeptic of Natal up until I saw the feed. I was worried about how motions would translate onto the screen, and I doubted that it would work as well as the videos claimed. But seeing it work so well has convinced me it works well enough to get it when it releases. Although I'm still skeptical and have a huge number of questions about it, at least I know it's leagues ahead of what I was originally envisioning.
@mistic: ;-) I already have years ago. I guess I just usually like it when a company embraces retro.
@Qraze: To be fair, you pretty much have to open your virtual wallet to do anything in Home anyways, so I don't see much difference. Plus, you'll actually be able to play fun games. All to their own though! :) I just didn't find any of the games all that entertaining.
Will i be able to unfairly win due to player twos Lightgun being badly calibrated, his joystick always leaning to the left or someone has spilt coke on his A button so it sticks down everytime he presses it?
2) Besides the obvious cost of the games, themselves, it isn't likely to cost.. (AFAIK, it will be alot like 1vs100 which is free to all gold subs).. unless you make or design your own customized area.
I'm stoked. XBLA has been in need of something more than just a listing of XBLA (retro) games you've purchased for quite some time. I hope they implement it properly, as, the main reason that this is needed is it is two-fold:
A) With a few games it can be almost impossible to use the custom/private matchmaking options with some of the older games now. Sure, you can have a chat party and begin the game, but, these older games don't work well with that unless the game has the right private room option/party support, as it has been, almost anyone can just pop in your multiplayer game, and once that happens, the matchmaking is usually closed (in 2P esp.)
B) While waiting for someone to join your retro game, there's been no way to actually tell how long (if ever) an XBLA arcade game has had a multiplayer game recently played, open or available. In other words, especially lately, noone wants (or is willing) to join a game that there's no way to see if people are actually playing it whatsoever.
as much as I like xbox live, it has become quite bloated location. Finding something I really want has become a chore and if it doesn't stick on the front page, I often forget that I have whatever (halo waypoint comes to my mind...). So this approach makes a lot of senses. It should also appeal to casual gamers who care about stuff like retro games.
It's gimmicky. It is probably going to rip off Home at some point. But god damnit, I am going to lay my Microsoft Spacebucks down on this when it comes out. I am that big of a tool.
Wow, its like Home, but without the worthless dancing, plus games. At least these are actual games and do actual things, unlike every paid avatar item.
HAHAHA!!! I think I'll stick to PSHome. If anyone has played Saltshooter in PSHome I think you know what I mean. Oh yeah, and why do all the MS avatars look like they have down syndrome?
So basically you pay Microsoft to take turns playing a single player game you probably already have a copy of with a friend and then Microsoft tells you both who go the higher score? Can't we already do this for free online legally with many of those games?
Once again Microsoft copy off one of the other two (better) video games console companies <_< Can Microsoft never come up with their own ideas for the Xbox 360?? This is a blatant rip off of the Arcade games found in Playstation Home lol.
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
9:45 PM on 01.06.2010
| 
*pulls out wallet*
*cuts self*
"I'm wondering if they're going to include exciting features such as 'waiting in line to play'"
fucking awesome man..love the sarcasm.
They'll probably create a Retro Social to go with it.
THAT WOULD BE AWESOME DO IT NOW.
You're probably right, but I wish they would add this or something else to the gold membership to give it some more tangible value.
agreed, 1000+ old school arcade games would make paying for live much less painful.
Although amazon did have 12 month live cards for only $34.99 today.
Also, the pricing scheme. $0.5 / 34p for 1 play $3 / £2.04 to buy game for 1 platform $5 / £3.40 to buy game for both platforms Or play friends' games for free
They're acting like this, and Natal is going to change gaming forever. Give me a break, its some freaking old ass arcade games, and a supped up eye-toy. Its not going to change the world of gaming in the slightest and this is coming from a 360 owner. I'm just not impressed in the least by either of them!
It's a perfect plan.
I almost always have 3 bucks laying around (Thank you XZyliac and power-glove for the info) on my account because of their crazy points system so in a way it'll be a good chance to spend it on something I'll enjoy.
Now all that's left for me to wonder is how long they'll support it. I guess that's up to how well it does :).
And PEICanada7...trust me, I was a HUGE skeptic of Natal up until I saw the feed. I was worried about how motions would translate onto the screen, and I doubted that it would work as well as the videos claimed. But seeing it work so well has convinced me it works well enough to get it when it releases. Although I'm still skeptical and have a huge number of questions about it, at least I know it's leagues ahead of what I was originally envisioning.
well, why don't you download them for free? ;-)
maybe this can kickstart ps home to where it was said to go.
@Qraze: To be fair, you pretty much have to open your virtual wallet to do anything in Home anyways, so I don't see much difference. Plus, you'll actually be able to play fun games. All to their own though! :) I just didn't find any of the games all that entertaining.
This.
Nonsense.
That's the authentic arcade experience isnt it?
1) I somewhat predicted this..
2) Besides the obvious cost of the games, themselves, it isn't likely to cost.. (AFAIK, it will be alot like 1vs100 which is free to all gold subs).. unless you make or design your own customized area.
I'm stoked. XBLA has been in need of something more than just a listing of XBLA (retro) games you've purchased for quite some time. I hope they implement it properly, as, the main reason that this is needed is it is two-fold:
A) With a few games it can be almost impossible to use the custom/private matchmaking options with some of the older games now. Sure, you can have a chat party and begin the game, but, these older games don't work well with that unless the game has the right private room option/party support, as it has been, almost anyone can just pop in your multiplayer game, and once that happens, the matchmaking is usually closed (in 2P esp.)
B) While waiting for someone to join your retro game, there's been no way to actually tell how long (if ever) an XBLA arcade game has had a multiplayer game recently played, open or available. In other words, especially lately, noone wants (or is willing) to join a game that there's no way to see if people are actually playing it whatsoever.