14 DAY TRIAL // Game Room from Microsoft Game Studios could be the cure for a severe case of classic Arcade melancholia. In fact, this is precisely the purpose of the new Game for Windows title, to revive retro arcade games, while preserving the old-school feeling of titles such as Centipede, Asteroids Deluxe, and Super Cobra. Of course, users will have to do without pumping quarters into video-game cabinets, but the promise from Microsoft is that the look, sound and feel of the games are otherwise replicated in detail. The initial launch of Game Room offers players a total of 30 original arcade and console classics from various producers including Activision, Atari, Intellivision, Konami, Taito, etc.
“Enjoy the freedom of buying Game Room titles once and playing on your platform of choice, whether it's Games for Windows — LIVE or Xbox LIVE. Purchase a classic arcade game you can enjoy on both your Windows PC and Xbox 360 platforms for less than the price of a movie ticket. If you prefer to play on one platform, you can purchase individual games for either your Windows PC or Xbox 360 at a lower price, or even pay to play a single game, just like in the old arcades. See how long you can last on a single token,” an invitation for gamers reads.
PC users can play Game Room on Windows 7, Windows Vista or Windows XP. In this regard, Microsoft revealed that players had at their disposal a range of enhancements that would boost the experience associated with arcade titles. Gamers can personalize their game room, but, at the same time, invite friends to check it out and play. The social networking experience is a new addition to classical arcade games, but undoubtedly a detail that can only improve the gaming experience.
“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 leaderboards. Compete in Parallel mode, in which you and your friend play the game at the same time, or Round Robin mode, in which you take turns playing a game. Game Room also offers local couch play for up to two players - how will you duke it out for arcade supremacy? Enjoy a seamless experience across your Windows PC and Xbox 360 as you share games, track your progress, and jump back into the game no matter what platform you're on. You can even invite friends into your custom arcade to check out your collection,” Microsoft added.