game-room posts

We admit it: We haven't been keeping up with reporting about the new releases for Microsoft's Game Room. The combo virtual room-retro game service has had three updates since the latest time we mentioned it last May. Today Microsoft released the seventh major content update to Game Room via the Games for Windows Live client.

This newest update, adds a number of classic arcade titles that you can either buy or rent. They include three titles from Konami, nine titles from the Atari 2600 library (including some from Activision) and three games from the Intellivision corner. With this newest update Game Room users now have just over 100 retro games to choose from to populate their virtual game room.

While the Games For Windows Live client hasn't put in any new AAA games for a while, the Microsoft Game Room has just added the fourth major game pack update for its Microsoft Game Room virtual arcade service. This new update adds five classic arcade games from Atari and Konami, alone with six Atari 2600 games from publisher Activision and three Intellivision-based games.

The Atari games include such classics like Asteroids, Battlezone and one of our personal favorite Time Pilot. Other games added to the pack include Demons to Diamonds, Grand Prix, Space Duel, Keystone Capers, Soccer, Shark! Shark! and Stampede.

For a little while it looked like Microsoft's Game Room project was in a bit of trouble as a planned update last week to the downloadable virtual arcade room had been delayed until further notice. Some speculated that layoffs at the game's developer Krome Studios were to blame. Now Microsoft's community guru Larry "Major Nelson" Hyrb has announced on his Twitter page that Game Room will in fact be updated on Wednesday with new titles.

Some of the classic arcade games that you can add to your swag virtual arcade room will likely include Pitfall, Super Breakout, Megamania, Night Stalker, Rack 'Em Up, Realsports Volleyball, and Basketball.

It was announced with much fantare at Microsoft's CES press conference but it looks like future plans for their downloadable Game Room are now up in the air. The service allows PC gamers that have the Games For Windows Live client to download a virtual game arcade and play classic game titles. It launched his past March with a number of game titles.

While Microsoft said new games would be added to Game Room by the end of April it appears that won't be happening after all. A "tweet" from a European Microsoft rep stated that updates for Game Room have "been delayed until further notice." Big Download contacted Microsoft directly and they responded with this statement: "We're working to bring you additional Game Room titles as soon as possible! We appreciate your patience, and we've been thrilled by the community response so far. We want to provide you with the best experience possible, so stay tuned!" It's possible the delay may be related to Game Room's developer Krome Studios' recent layoffs.

[Via Kotaku]

Last November, Australian-based game developer Krome Studios admitted that it was forced to lay off an unannounced number of its team members. Now rumors have hit the Internet that even more team members have been given their walking papers by the company. Ausgamers.com claims the number could be over 50 team members.

Krome's last PC project was the release of the downloadable Microsoft Game Room for the Games For Windows Live service which went live last month. AusGamers claims via unnamed sources that Krome is suffering from "poor internal management and decision-making." There's no word on how many team members are currently left at the developer following these latest layoffs.

[Via Joystiq]

Last week's launch of the Microsoft Game Room for Xbox 360 and PC was a little rocky at first with some technical issues that were later fixed the same day of the launch. While the virtual game arcade had quite a few classic 80s arcade titles from Konami, Atari and Intellivision to choose from it looks like the inital launch list will have to keep players busy for a little while.

A post from a Microsoft rep on the Xbox.com message boards states that players will have to wait until sometime in the end of April before any new game are added to the Game Room's selection. However once that happens, there will be new games added to the line up every week.

[Via Kotaku]

There wasn't much in the way of PC gaming news at Microsoft's recent X10 press event but there was one minor detail that slipped out during the mostly Xbox 360 media get-together. The company announced that Game Room, their downloadable virtual space, will be made available for both the PC and Xbox 360 this March.

Just a reminder for those of us who came in late: Game Room, from developer Krome Studios, will give players a chance to create their own virtual space (complete with your own virtual you) where you can put in arcade machines and play the classic games of old. You can either own the games outright or even play per session just like putting in a quarter in an arcade machine. Our question: will our virtual game room have virtual cigarette smells like the 80's arcades?

Last month, Microsoft announced plans for Game Room, a virtual place for Games For Windows Live and Xbox 360 users where people could play classic arcade game via their avatars in customized environments. However, if you thought you might be playing Mortal Kombat in your virtual arcade, you might have to look elsewhere.

GamerBytes reports that the entire Game Room application has been rated E10+ by the ESRB and that a Microsoft spokesperson has told them, "Games available for download within "Game Room" will carry either E or E10+ ratings. We currently have no plans to feature titles of those [higher Teen and Mature] ratings." It's possible Microsoft went this route to save some money by not having to rate every game they plan to put into the Game Room, although this has not been confirmed.

A few months ago, the Consumer Electronics Show was trying to promote the fact that their annual massive gadget fest was going to have a bigger PC game presesne for its 2010 edition. Now that CES 2010 is officially over the truth has come out. While there were a few interesting PC game related announcements and reveals, CES won't be replacing E3 or PAX in our minds anytime soon.

Still there were enough interesting hardware gadget announcements and PC gaming reveals this past week that we decided to go back and give our opinions on what was shown at the show. While we didn't attend ourselves our sister sites like Joystiq and Engadget did get a chance to look at a ton of stuff at CES. As you can see there were several hardware reveals, the first public look at a long awaited MMO and a product that, well, we pretty much pegged from the start as a non-starter.

Click on the image above to continue reading PC Gaming at CES 2010

Last night's big reveal at Microsoft's CES keynote was the upcoming Game Room for both Xbox 360 and Games For Windows Live. Now Microsoft has revealed some more info on their plans for the new casual game feature via a CES fact sheet (in .doc format). The actual game room itself will be a free download (it's being developed by Krome Studios).

Each classic game that you put in the virtual room will cost 240 Microsoft points (about $3) if you just buy it for use on your Games For Windows Live client. If you have both Xbox Live and Games For Windows Live accounts you can purchase classic games that can be used in both settings for 400 Microsoft points each ($5). If you just want to have one game session with a title (just like putting in quarters in an arcade machine) you can do so for just 40 Microsoft points (about 50 cents). You can also go to the game rooms of your friends and try out their games for free.

There will be over 30 classic games available for the Game Room launch from publishers like Activision, Konami and others. Online play will include ranked and challenge modes and you can also unlock Achievements in each title. You can also decorate your room with various custom arcade cabinets and themes (there's no word yet on the pricing for those items).

[Via Joystiq]