Microsoft unveils Xbox Live Game Room

Microsoft has unveiled a new online Game Room enabling players to create their own arcade and then invite friends over to play retro-style titles.

During a presentation at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the firm showcased its new digital gaming space for PC and Xbox 360, which will officially launch in the spring.

The service, which bears some similarities to Sony's PlayStation Home, will enable players to "trick out" their own arcade and then compete with friends in Avatar form.

Around 30 games will be available at launch, mostly retro-style titles such as Millipede, Space Hawk, Sea Battle and Astrosmash. The range will expand to 1,000 different games over the next three years, with each priced at around 240-400 MS points (£2-3.50).

In a leaked video posted on Joystiq, Xbox president of entertainment & devices Robbie Bach said that Game Room will appeal to a generation of older gamers who grew up with retro titles such as Centipede.

"I think what we're gonna find is that when people can get 30 or more of these games, they're gonna love it for the experience. And it's not just you and I who are gonna love it, even the people who would call themselves 'hardcore gamers' are gonna say, 'Oh wow this is fun!" In a retro way," he said.

"It's sort of like my daughter going to watch [rock group] Journey. I'm like, this is a band that was playing when I was growing up. And she thinks it's a cool band and I like the music. And I think you're gonna have the same phenomenon with Game Room. We're gonna enjoy the games and they're gonna think it's cool. I think that's very powerful."

Any games purchased from the service will also be transferable between PC and Xbox 360 platforms, with shared leaderboards and Achievements.

> Click here to see a trailer for Xbox Live Game Room