Survey shows Xbox Avatar 'RetroCade'
by Christopher Grant 
{ Oct 7th 2009 at 11:58AM } 
If the proposed service sounds familiar, that's because it's nearly identical to PlayStation Home's arcade spaces – like Namco's virtual arcade – just replace the dead-eyed dopplegangers of Home with the scrunchable avatars of Xbox 360. The second survey question sent to us asks, "Which of the following names would most compel you to purchase the product?" indicating that the "Tower of ROM" might not be a free space but could instead have a fee associated with it.
While the survey doesn't give us much more to go on (besides a sinking feeling that we're not interested), we thought we'd ask you, Joystiq Biomass, to weigh in on the product's name. Let the fat cats in Redmond know what you think!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
DiamondXP @ Oct 7th 2009 12:04PM
Looks way too similar to home on the PS3. BUt at least they keep expanding the avatar experience.
SirFishouse @ Oct 7th 2009 12:21PM
I wonder if there will be glitching. Then it would be better than Home. 1.3 RIP Glitches :'(
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Oct 7th 2009 12:51PM
I havent updated since 1.3 so that's glitchy huh?
Tiptup300 @ Oct 7th 2009 1:37PM
This sounds okay if they removed the classics from the dash and made the arcade be a menu and not a retarded walk around thing.
SirFishouse @ Oct 7th 2009 1:42PM
On October 1st, they released update 1.3 for Home. Since then, there are only a handful of glitches available to do in Home. Most of them were removed due to the corrections made to how you stand up. No more bench or popup glitches. Redbull glitch was also corrected. That was a real shame BTW...
People look at home and see a big chat room. Glitchers look at home and it was a huge forbidden playground. Some of those glitches took real skill. There were some that I practiced for hours. All just to stand on top of a rock that no one else could. :::sigh:::
Long live the Homelings, Praise Mother!
Edge @ Oct 7th 2009 2:57PM
This is a great idea... a social gaming experience that's actually focused on real gaming. Home doesn't count... a collection of flash games shoehorned into a 3d world does not a gaming community make.
PR0F3TA (PSN - PROPHETA) @ Oct 7th 2009 5:02PM
"does not a gaming community make."
First off, Learn to make sence, second, you never been IN Home let alone know how the mini games work or how many they are or even what they are about. So shut the F up and go read a book. mkay
sudeshsookdeo @ Oct 8th 2009 1:15AM
"Which of the following names would most compel you to purchase the product?"
Purchase? I'm sticking with the free PS Home.
xenocidic @ Oct 8th 2009 8:36AM
Is that the one you have to wait in line to play the arcade games?
At least it's realistic =)
LySop @ Oct 9th 2009 1:43AM
Hey Pr0f3ta:
First off, learn to spell "sense". Second, "does not a gaming community make" is borrowed from Aristotle ("One swallow does not a summer make"). I thought he made perfect sence [sic]. Guess I need to read some books, too.
LySop
dark_inchworm (stronger than never, ever before) @ Oct 7th 2009 12:06PM
Pardon the callous bastard inchworm, but I miss video game consoles being strictly about games. I can do without extra avatar fluff, Mii fluff, Home stuff...
HedonisticKai @ Oct 7th 2009 12:07PM
no1 is forcing you to use the extra avatar fluff, Mii fluff, Home stuff....
its still the same for you:
insert disc and play
tadaa
Jose @ Oct 7th 2009 12:08PM
How the hell is an arcade with classic VIDEO GAMES in it, non-game related?
Solace @ Oct 7th 2009 12:12PM
it's not game related when you see some pedo humping some guy dressed up as a chick in the corner of the Home bowling ally which ends up turning into a virtual blowjob and dont even ask me how that works because I dont even know
dark_inchworm (stronger than never, ever before) @ Oct 7th 2009 12:16PM
Jose: Yeah, I was anticipating that about as soon as I posted the remark. Me, I'd be fine with a menu and a list of games. If it keeps people intrigued, though, good for MS.
Kai: also a valid point. I wish they'd focus their resources on more games though. Like Blinx.
... kidding
Jose @ Oct 7th 2009 12:17PM
Ew... Point taken. Admittedly, the seven minutes I spent inside home consisted of watching the making of Killzone 2 on the big screen in the plaza. Thanks for reminding me to never go back, Solace.
Jose @ Oct 7th 2009 12:23PM
Double Post!
But darkie, I agree. I'd like to avoid Home altogether, and just skip to playing some Centipede or other classics from my XMB. When I get a 360, I hope for the same thing.
Although I do with that they could turn EyePet and Milo into active themes, instead of full on games releases. If I could ask Milo to launch a movie for me, or ask my little helper monkey to fetch me some Ratchet and Clank, I might fiend for them just a little more.
protofunc @ Oct 7th 2009 12:29PM
inchworm..
You say that now, but just wait until you gain the ability to teabag.
XBL: xGeneral DEATHx PSN: Deeth82 [Planeteer | Power of General Hostility and Angst] @ Oct 7th 2009 1:16PM
Insolent worm! Tonight you dine with cROM!
HedonisticKai @ Oct 7th 2009 12:06PM
blows home out the water, and tower of rom sounds lame.. Retrocade ftw
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Oct 7th 2009 12:16PM
how exactly does it do that? if you had said the Arcade games in Home then I would agree.....but as this is just a SINGLE room/space then it damn sure doesn't blow shit out of anything....
Jose @ Oct 7th 2009 12:24PM
Blows your mother's huge penis, Kai.
HedonisticKai @ Oct 7th 2009 12:44PM
qq
nerd rage much guys?
of course i was talking about the games.. why the hell would i care about the virtual environment...
jose.. yes
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Oct 7th 2009 12:55PM
Well you should have said that. Home is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more than JUST an Arcade section dude. Thats like saying "MTV Network blows Disney out of the water" when MTV is a Few Channels under Viacom and Disney is an ENTIRE CORPORATION....
dantebk @ Oct 7th 2009 12:06PM
Will there also be the same virtual scarcity as Home? Hope they don't rip off the bad parts too. (BTW I voted for Game Preserve because I think that's pretty clever)
deaftly (PSN,LIVE,STEAM) @ Oct 7th 2009 12:07PM
Video Armageddon
Tony @ Oct 7th 2009 12:08PM
Pretty neat. I'd like if they could work in some of the classic arcade titles they've released on XBLA. Playing Robotron with someone in there would be fun... I bet it'd build up some interest in those games again so I can finally play someone online too.
Shagittarius @ Oct 7th 2009 12:09PM
Let's keep it true to the arcade spirit...I vote for Chi-mocade.
Archon (PSN: Archonik, XBL: DarkARHN) @ Oct 7th 2009 12:09PM
How about "Playstation Home". Sounds like a fitting name. *Hugs his Galaga machine yet again*
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio [Planeteer | Power of the Anti-Fanboy Bitch Slap] @ Oct 7th 2009 12:34PM
How is Hugh doing?
Jose @ Oct 7th 2009 12:09PM
I think it's my inner hippie, but I really do like the name "Game Preserve."
Maybe it's just because the exceptional Ken Burns National Parks: America's Best Idea aired on PBSHD all last week.
Snowblind @ Oct 7th 2009 12:10PM
Call it Tower of ROM.
Please.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 7th 2009 12:11PM
THE TOWER OF ROM COMMANDS OBEDIENCE
Mr.ESC @ Oct 7th 2009 12:12PM
Tower of Rom sounds unappealling but I had to vote for it.
It is not much of a ROM if you have to pay for it by the other hand.
ytilanigiroon @ Oct 7th 2009 1:08PM
ROM = Read-Only Memory
What does the acronym have to do with not paying money for it?
Mr.ESC @ Oct 7th 2009 2:07PM
Nothing,nothing at all.
Right Gentlemen...Arrrgh!
( Let me clear I do own all the ROMS I have downloaded although I'm tempted to download Mother 3 plus the English patch,seriosuly Nintendo what is wrong with you? are you afraid of making money now?)
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio [Planeteer | Power of the Anti-Fanboy Bitch Slap] @ Oct 7th 2009 4:11PM
Download it now, if you like Earthbound it is a must. Seriously one of the best games I've played this year.
Rhamsey @ Oct 7th 2009 12:13PM
If it is free (at least for gold members), and I dont have to wait in line than I may be interested, especially if it offers achievements. But I can see myself playing this maybe once just to try it out, as I thought that home was stupid as well, and this is very similar.
Ashitaka @ Oct 7th 2009 12:59PM
Are you daft?
"If it is free (at least for gold members)"
lol, I know that microsoft likes to ripoff people but it sure is intelligent enough not to charge any more than what it is charging already. Of course it will be free for gold members which means that it won't be free.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Oct 7th 2009 12:14PM
Tower of ROM for me....
too damn Bad Sony is dragging their ass on this...They were talking about "Classic Arcade" titles being in Home a LONG time ago. They damn sure better hurry up before some dumbass says "Sony's just copying MS"
Bluemanrule @ Oct 7th 2009 12:14PM
Shameful if this is true. I really like the idea Sony has with home but making it so similar on the 360 is rather shameless on Microsoft's part. I wonder if this is Live Gold exclusive?
NaeemTHM @ Oct 7th 2009 12:16PM
Yeah because Sony never borrowed an idea. Dude seeing what the other guy is doing and putting your own spin on it is what makes the video game industry great. Sony took analog sticks, rumble, achievements, and Live and made it into their own thing for the PlayStation. Soon they'll release their own spin on the the Wii-remote.
deaftly (PSN,LIVE,STEAM) @ Oct 7th 2009 12:16PM
Sooooo Sony trying to copy and still playing catch up with just about every feature on XBLive must be innovation on their part, right?
Archon (PSN: Archonik, XBL: DarkARHN) @ Oct 7th 2009 12:23PM
Jesus, guys, chill.
- So Microsoft is ripping off something to look EXACTLY like So...
- OH YEAH! ITS LIKE SONY NEVAH COPIED ANYTHING IN THEIR LIVES! OMGSD!
- But it's EXACTLY the same. It's not a similar feature or anything. It's not like a console you can play games on or a PC or a virtual helmet. It's an arcade cabinet that your avatar can use. EXACTLY like in...
- SHUT THE HELL UP! SONY LIKE... MADE THEIR CONTROLLERS WIRELESS! JUST LIKE THE XBOXEN! AND, AND... LIKE... THE NEW XMB IS EXACTLY LIKE THE NXE! ALSO TROPHIES...
- Whatever... I'll just go play my Uncharted 2 Demo...
- OMFG! GEARS OF HALO UNCHARTED YOU MEAN! LOLZOLZ!
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Oct 7th 2009 12:24PM
its nothing wrong with it. I see what MS is doing....they are going to have a Home like system eventually as well...but from the looks of it they are doing it one at a time...the party system for Netflix will be made into a theater, Arcade room expanded into a FULL game room and they will have Apts/Houses that you can waste all kinds of moon bucks on as well....thing is will people Rag on the MS version of Home like they do Sony's...
NaeemTHM @ Oct 7th 2009 12:31PM
Archon you come off as a very defensive Sony fan.
If you're going to play the middle ground, at least capslock everything. Capslock means serious business.
Alright enough poking fanboys with a stick...I have to get back to work.
Archon (PSN: Archonik, XBL: DarkARHN) @ Oct 7th 2009 12:42PM
@NaeemTHM: Sorry, I will be capslocking Sony when they release a Twitter/Facebook app.
Actually, the Video Store is scheduled for November in the UK, might get a chance then in a similar post.
NaeemTHM @ Oct 7th 2009 12:53PM
Awww...you're no fun.
*poke poke*
Anything?
Snowblind @ Oct 7th 2009 1:07PM
@Chris D.
I have to agree here.. As soon as I saw the Avatars, I assumed we'd be getting some kind of Second Life type environment to explore, it's a natural progression.
Of course, the fact Home is becoming more popular and many developers are supporting it with exclusive content is probably pushing them in that direction more so.
Space @ Oct 7th 2009 2:32PM
I just think it's funny that microsoft would put the effort in to create something so similar to home. I mean do they not see how boring it is?