Microsoft has "Game Room" up and running on a 360 on the floor of CES, which has allowed intrepid gamers the chance to go hands-on with the product and just how closely it mimics the feel of a real arcade.
Sadly I wasn't able to make the trip this year, but thanks to some shaky cam from the guys over at Kotaku, we have a more concrete concept on how achievements and game browsing works in "Game Room."
First of all, achievements appear to be across all games, not individual games. You can earn up to three "medals" in any given game, based on your high score and survival time, to name a few. Medals will apparently be counted towards larger achievements (for example: Earn 50 medals across all games).
Browsing games is also a bit different than some of the announcement media might imply. You're not actually walking your avatar around the arcade. Instead the experience is more "on-rails," as the camera will fly to different sections of the arcade, whereupon you'll choose from a variety of games.
Despite my earlier impressions, "Game Room" is looking less and less like "Home" and more like a glorified browser for Xbox Live Arcade.
I was, however, wrong again about Microsoft not going the "branded spaces" route. It's just an example, but it seems that Microsoft made up a Pitfall-themed arcade as a sample of what could be done. Are you prepared to play your heart out in the "Game Zone Powered By Enzyte"?
Lastly, here's a full list of the games that'll be available at its spring 2010 launch:
Centipede (arcade)
Asteroids Deluxe (arcade)
Tempest (arcade)
Crystal Castles (arcade)
Lunar Lander (arcade)
Jungler (arcade)
Road Fighter (arcade)
Scramble (arcade)
Finalizer (arcade)
Tutankham (arcade)
Shao-Lin's Road (arcade)
Super Cobra (arcade)
Red Baron (arcade)
Gravitar (arcade)
Battlantlis
Astrosmash (Intellivision)
Mountain Madness Super Pro Skiing (Intellivision)
Armor Battle (Intellivision)
Space Hawk (Intellivision)
Sub Hunt (Intellivision)
Sea Battle (Intellivision)
Space Armada (Intellivision)
Astrosmash (Intellivision)
Star Raiders (Atari 2600)
Outlaw (Atari 2600)
Yar's Revenge (Atari 2600)
Millipede (Atari 2600)
Football (Atari 2600)
RealSports Tennis (Atari 2600)
Combat (Atari 2600)