Microsoft announced tonight that they will launch Game Room on Xbox Live and Games for Windows Live this Spring. Game Room allows you to play original arcade classics from companies like Atari and Activision.

"Wait, how's this different from Xbox Live Arcade?" you might ask. Well, for starters, these games will have their original graphics and sound. Also, you'll be able to play them in a virtual, custom arcade that you design. You place the cabinets of the games you own wherever you want within the arcade and walk up to them with your Avatar to play. Cross-platform leaderboards will show you how you stack up against the rest of the world. You can also invite a friend into your arcade and take turns playing in an online or off-line "Challenge Mode."

You'll need an Internet connection to download Game Room and an Xbox Live Gold subscription to play online with your Xbox 360. Room itself is free but the games will cost you. If you pay 400 MS Points ($5) for a game, you'll be able to play it as much as you like on both the Xbox 360 and PC. Buying the game for a single platform will cost 240 Points ($3). Paying 40 Points ($0.50) will allow you to play a game once. You can try out titles in your friends' arcades for free before you buy them, too.

Microsoft promises that 30 games will be available for the service at launch, such as Centipede and Asteroids Deluxe. More games will be added weekly. The goal is to have over a 1000 games available through the service.