Microsoft has officially announced another addition to the XBLA experience that will surely hook fans.

The Game Room is being described as a modern and virtual take on classic video game arcades. The Game Room will seek to replicate the look, sound and feel of a video game arcade. It will be virtual place that your avatar can visit and play in.

At launch, the Game Room will feature a library of 30 arcade and console classics, among them Centipede and Asteroids Deluxe. The games will be shown in their original arcade cabinets. You can the games yourself or challenge friends in beating your high score. The Game Room can be personalized — you can move and rearrange the cabinets, decorate the room with carious themes and icons from classic video games. And every week, a new title will be released to add to your Game Room experience. What’s more You can enjoy the Game Room not only on the Xbox 360 but also on your Windows PC. Yes, the Game Room is a cross platform virtual room where you can play the games your purchase on either platform.

Microsoft has been playing with the Game Room idea since early last year so it’s a good thing that they have finally pushed through with the project. I think this will be a great way to make the kids today better appreciate the history of gaming by giving them the opportunity to play classic games where gameplay is the most important aspect of a game and not the graphics. Although PS3’s Home also offers free games, I think the Game Room is a much more fully realized concept. It will be interesting to see how Sony will react to the Game Room announcement.