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Game Room

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Game Room
DeveloperKrome Studios
TypeOnline service
Launch dateMarch 24, 2010
Platform(s)Xbox 360, Windows

Game Room was a social gaming service for the Xbox 360 video game system, Microsoft Windows PCs, 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.

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

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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

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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

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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

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

Additional themes

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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 Name Release Date Pack
Activision May 5, 2010 Game Pack 003
Activision Showroom November 24, 2010 Game Pack 012
Arctic August 25, 2010 Game Pack 009
Atari Showroom November 24, 2010 Game Pack 012
Caveman September 22, 2010 Game Pack 010
Fantasy May 19, 2010 Game Pack 004
Intellivision Showroom November 24, 2010 Game Pack 012
Konami Showroom November 24, 2010 Game Pack 012
Laundromat November 24, 2010 Game Pack 012
Lost Temple March 24, 2010 Game Pack 001
Old West June 2, 2010 Game Pack 005
Pirate July 14, 2010 Game Pack 007
Tiki October 27, 2010 Game Pack 011

References

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  1. ^ a b Fried, Ina (2010-03-24). "Xbox Game Room launches, but with issues". CNET News. Archived from the original on 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  2. ^ Cohen, D.S. (9 January 2011). "CES 2011 – Microsoft's Retro Game Room Announced for Windows Phone 7". About.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
  3. ^ frankcifaldi (8 January 2011). "Game Room for Windows Mobile 7 Demonstration from CES 2011". 1Up.com. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
  4. ^ Plunkett, Luke (6 January 2010). "Xbox Game Room To Feature "Over 1000" Classic Arcade Games". Kotaku.com. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  5. ^ "No New Titles for Game Room Until Late April". 30 March 2010.
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