Xbox Live Recommendation Of The Week: Game Room

Released back in 2010, this multi-platform (available for Xbox 360, PC and Windows Phone 7) download is an absolute essential for retro gaming fans, especially since it is free.

The concept is really quite simple, and very social. Each player has their own unique 'Arcade' where they can install various games machines from the ones available, and wonder around the arcade playing these games as their Xbox Live Avatar. Winning at these games, or even on the games machines in friend's Arcades, will earn you “Medals”, customizations for your Arcade, and of course, place you on the Leaderboards to compete with your Xbox Live Friends.

A fully customized Arcade

There are literally hundreds of games available, and they really are as retro as they can be; the graphics have not been updated and the machines are designed to recreate the classic systems perfectly, with some even having 'DIP Switches', so you can truly enjoy a classic experience. One modern addition, however, is a “Rewind Time” feature which allows you to rewind the game that you are playing to an earlier point, a little 'cheat' if you will, for players that want to make the gaming experience a little easier or get through those frustratingly difficult levels.

A retro game, as played in Game Room's Arcade

Though the initial download is free, there are additional costs for games machines to be purchased for your arcade (a minimum of 240MS Points). If you have friends that are fans of retro gaming, you can play on each others machines, though, and you can 'Demo' any game available, so there is lots of re playability here, no matter your budget. For those wanting an easy Gamerscore boost, ten minutes and very little effort will also get you 85G.

A lot of fun if you enjoy some serious retro gaming.

For a full list of the games available, visit this Wikipedia Entry, and to download the game and all the Games Packs (there are 13 in total!) to play them on your console, visit the Xbox Live website or your Games Marketplace on your Dashboard.