How to Make a Mini Arcade

You can apply a Konami theme to the arcade if it suits your room.

If you want to make a small-scale arcade packed full of classic titles from Intellivision, Atari, Konami and others, there is no better place to start than Microsoft's "Game Room." The "Game Room" software is available for both the Xbox 360 and PC systems, and allows you to customize a multilayered arcade. You make your personal avatar character walk through the arcade to play hits such as "Astrosmash," "Frog Bog" and "Shark! Shark!" in "Game Room."

Things You'll Need

• Xbox Live account
• Microsoft Points

Instructions

1. Log into your Xbox Live account on either a PC or Xbox 360 console.

2. Download the free "Game Room" software and several Game Packs. Each Game Pack contains new arcade games to try in "Game Room."

3. Start "Game Room" and go to the Showcase Arcade to try arcade games before buying them.

4. Spend Microsoft points to buy arcade games you particularly enjoy.

5. Select the My Arcade option to enter your personal arcade. Move the cursor to empty spots in the arcade rooms while in Edit Mode to place the arcade cabinets you have bought as well as decorative items. More decorative items and arcade themes become available to you when you play more games in the "Game Room."

6. Leave Edit Mode to move your Avatar between the arcade cabinets you've bought. You play arcade games in this mode.

Tips & Warnings

• Note that you can pay more to apply these arcade games to both the PC and Xbox 360 versions of "Game Room" under your account.

References

• Xbox: Game Room
• Games for Windows: Game Room
• PC World; Microsoft's Game Room; The Arcade, Reborn?; Jared Newman; 2010