Microsoft Game Room Launches With 30 Free Games!

For some reason, every console has to copy each other. If the Wii has motion control, Xbox and PS3 need it. If Xbox has avatars, the Wii and PS3 need them too. If PS3 has an interactive world where youre avatar interacts with other people directly controlling their avatars, then hell, Xbox needs it as well! Basically, the Game Room is Microsoft’s equivalent of Home, a virtual “arcade” where you can walk around, interact, and play games with your friends from Xbox Live. It seems kind of dull, but who can deny anything free? I know I can’t!

Though the functionality is not really up to par with Home, Microsoft is giving you 30 free games to play on your system with friends. I know, you would think you have to pay for this, but nope! quoted from the Microsoft site:

At launch, Game Room brings you a library of 30 original arcade and console classics from Activision, Atari, Intellivision, Konami, Taito, and others, including Centipede, Asteroids Deluxe, and Super Cobra, shown in their original cabinets.

In gamer speak, that translates to, “If you have room on your hard drive, why the hell not?” And that is exactly my sentiments towards the service. Sure, it might not be as cool as Microsoft thinks it is, or as functional and interactive as PS3’s Home, but the fact that you get free games you can play online with friends or with another person on the same console makes anyone who criticizes the service just look stupid.

The catch is that Microsoft will be releasing “game packs” for the Game Room which will cost a certain number of Microsoft points per purchase, expanding your Game Room and making Microsoft a quick buck. I can’t say I am going to be buying those packs, but If I can play Centipede or Asteroids on my 360 for free and also on my PC simultaneously, why wouldn’t I download the free stuff?

You can find the link to download the service right from the Xbox 360 dashboard under Game Marketplace.