Retro XBLA games must be repurchased for the Xbox Game Room


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Bad news for those of you who have picked up some classic arcade titles on Xbox Live and can't wait to play them in Microsoft's new Game Room: It looks like you will have to repurchase anything you want to play with your avatar in the 3D environment. Game Informer learned this recently from a Microsoft rep, who went on to say that it's because the Game Room titles are different from the XBLA versions -- in fact, it sounds like they're more old-school and not "revamped," as the rep puts it. Fortunately, you will get a small price break: As previously announced, the games will sell for 400microsoftpointslogosmall.gif ($5) to play on Xbox 360 and PC, 240microsoftpointslogosmall.gif ($3) for the game on one platform or 40microsoftpointslogosmall.gif ($0.50) for "two quarters'" worth of playtime. But for those of us who've already shelled out 400microsoftpointslogosmall.gif for the Centipede/Millipede combo, it looks like we'll have to pull out the wallet yet again.

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It will be a cold day in hell before I buy my retro titles AGAIN. realmad.gif

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To be honest, I expected that. I knew they were supposed to be versions created specifically for Game Room with no changes made like what is usually done to the XBLA versions of the classics.

It would make sense to pay for them again in that case.

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To be honest, I expected that. I knew they were supposed to be versions created specifically for Game Room with no changes made like what is usually done to the XBLA versions of the classics.

It would make sense to pay for them again in that case.

Perhaps I would agree, but almost all versions of retro games that have been remade also have the option to play the original untouched version as well. At least the ones I have checked out.

So to me you can just add this as yet another example of how MS likes to rip people off and get as much money possible out of "early adopters."

If you have already purchased the same game that is offered in the Game Room, you should own it. I really think it is that simple.

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If I really want to play a retro game in the Game Room as opposed to just going into XBLA, I won't have a problem shelling out $3 for it, though I do understand those that aren't pleased by this. It does seem rather ridiculous.

-Spenser

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Even if Microsoft wanted to let you keep your $3 (which they probably don't), it might not even be possible. If Stainless Games or any of the other developers licensed the rights to the classic arcade games and then published the games on Xbox Live there is no existing copy of the game attached to your Gamertag to transfer over, you bought what Stainless was selling which happened to be based on a licensed property, not a license from the original IP holder to play their game across every platform it will ever be available on.

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Yeah, why would people think that this would be possible. They aren't the same games at all. If you want Microsoft to give them away to you for free because you already bought something similar on arcade then I think you're being a bit unrealistic.

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Well, I have Joust. And say Joust comes on the Game Room, I have to buy Joust again. So now I have 2 Joust titles in my XBLA. Another example is Asteroids. Asteroids comes with the classic asteroids as it was made originally, as well as 3 other versions of Asteroids. Now they are going to release classic Asteroids in Game Room. That means I have two copies of classic Asteroids on my account, and I have to pay for it twice.

I understand why it might be the way it is, but I would have tried to find a way to connect our accounts to allow us at least to download the game free of charge. I am fine with having two copies on my HDD.

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