GDC 08: Xbox Live, Windows Live Games Coming To Zune
After using a cute vertical shooter to demonstrate taking XBLA play to and from Windows Live, Microsoft's hunky Chris Satchell kept the Microsoft keynote abuzz by wondering aloud what XBLA portability might look like on, say, a handheld device. With a great screen. And a great touch interface. And great network integration. (NB: "Greatness" subject to individual approval/scorn.) Any guesses?
Soon, apparently, you'll be able to play the same game on your Zune as you will on your 360 and your PC (via Windows Live) - not only that, but with the Zune's wireless capabilities and XNA's multiplayer functionality, you'll be playing wireless multiplayer on games designed by players like you.
So tell me: is this a pipe dream or a "killer app" for the Zune? Would ye XBLA-loving iPod owners make the switch if Zune gaming took off big time? I might. Might.
tiny dancer
Posted to GDC, Hot Stuff, Miscellany on 20 February 2008
· Comments (6)
Other stuff like this: gdc 2008, microsoft, xbla, xna, zune
I already have one and think it is so much better than the ipod(and I did own them for a while). So adding gaming to it, especialy homebrew, will just be another reason I think I made the better choice.
I can't imagine gaming with a single touchpad on a low-power processor is going to be any more fun than it is on the iPod, regardless of what the game is, so I'll stick with my DS and PSP for now.
@Spaz
I will agree that the DS is better for gaming than the zune. What is most exciting about this is the fact that because it is homebrew there is a chance for "hacks" or apps to now be put on the zune. And with some clever coding someone could make an addon for a computer game and give you a portable version on your zune... Sims 2 anyone?
Awesome.^_^ I don't expect to be able to do much with gaming on my Zune, but it would be a fun diversion.^^
They'll have some watered down, insanely expensive version of it working in four years on whatever unfamiliar hardware revision of Zune is out then. That's how Microsoft vapor works.
@jon: Any supposed advantages of the Zune as a product are canceled out by its severe platform dependence. I keep Windows installations running for games, but I'm certainly not going to store my music library on such a partition.
@Andy
That depends on who you talk to. Assuming you are comparing it to mac. I don't think many people right now who would run a mac as their main platform would buy a zune, no matter how much better it is than an ipod. And what are you talking about watered down version, version of what.
If you are talking about linux, then that is different.
And at least Microsoft actually knows how to treat their customers unlike charging for a freaking service pack or introducing search to gen 5.5 and not giving it to gen 5 people. With Microsoft on most cases it doesn't hurt to be an early adopter, at least not when it comes to how you are treated down the road.
And at least Microsoft doesn't release something and call it their own idea(iphone... looking at you).