Microsoft reiterates interest in Zune gaming

It's a long way from a portable Xbox (others' best efforts notwithstanding) but it looks like Microsoft has at least one form of portable gaming in mind if this latest word from the company's European Chief Chris Lewis is any indication. Commenting on the Zune's potential game playing abilities in an interview with TotalVideoGames.com, he says that "gaming is certainly something we're considering for the device." Unfortunately, that's about all he said on the subject, although if we had to guess, we'd expect the games to be more in line with the iPod's offerings than a shrunken-down version of Gears of War. Some form of Xbox 360 connectivity would seem to be a definite possibility, however, given that it's already able to share other content with the console. It also seems likely that this won't be the full extent of Microsoft's foray into portable gaming, in light of some of the earlier indications we've heard.

[Via Joystiq]

[Forrest @ Dec 21st 2006 4:03PM]

I'd love to see the Zune tied in with the XNA framework somehow too. That could provide an incredible amount of content once the community expands.

Though with DRM being such an important part of this device, something tells me that Microsoft isn't gonna be real gung-ho about allowing homebrew content to be dumped on the machine.

[lt.milo @ Dec 21st 2006 4:33PM]

Do you really think Microsoft wants the DRM? They hate it, its the RIAA that wants it, Microsoft is waiting for a way around it.

[Todd @ Dec 21st 2006 4:33PM]

I don't care if they add gaming, the Zune just sucks!

Here, let Leo Laporte explain it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZXiLY4bo80

[Forrest @ Dec 21st 2006 4:59PM]

They probably don't like it, although I'm sure they can understand it as their livelyhood too depends on intellectual property. But if they want to continue selling music they've got to do their best to keep the DRM scheme intact.

Officially allowing homebrew apps to run on the Zune is likely a security risk the bastards at the RIAA wouldn't allow Microsoft to take. Microsoft DID have a way around DRM - they could have chosen not to open a music store, or at least chosen to open a non-traditional one. Content provision is too integral a part of the business model these days though.

I can't wait to see a *true* competitor to the iPod - one that makes a lot of people want to switch. I'm not sure the average person really understands that all that music they bought from iTunes won't come with them to their new differently-branded player. Oh, how lovely the backlash against the RIAA will be...

[Bill M @ Dec 21st 2006 4:59PM]

It would be excellent to have multi-player Zune games using the wi-fi capabilities.

[Pedro @ Dec 21st 2006 5:12PM]

To be honest, I think our man, Ben Ben Heckendorn's offerings would be far superior to an official Microsoft product - that man is a genious!

However, back to the Zune... why are people lo longer happy to have a portable music player that simply plays music!?

[Forrest @ Dec 21st 2006 5:21PM]

Maybe it's the same reason people are no longer happy to have cell phones that just make calls? :) I could care less that my phone takes pictures and plays movies and music. The games are nice, but I could do without those, too. But good luck trying to find a decent phone anymore that doesn't do all that crap.

Eventually we'll probably all have devices that do everything whether we want them to or not. Sadly they'll probably do everything poorly as a result :(

[Ben Smith @ Dec 21st 2006 6:18PM]

Not only has Microsoft released the best portable music player ever, but now they are adding gaming as well!? This truly shows that Microsoft truly cares about the consumer, and I personally will be picking up a Zune for every member of the family this holiday season.

[pixelbender @ Dec 21st 2006 6:49PM]

Ben, DUDE, you're so right!

Microsoft LOVES the consumer so much they are actually paying Universal (out of their own pocket, no less) royalties for every Zune sold so that we can put pirated music on it and it's ok!

Hrmm... ummm... wait.... n/m.

[glacia00 @ Dec 21st 2006 7:12PM]

"Here, let Leo Laporte explain it:"

Like others he acts as though MS invented DRM. Gates has even said DRM sucks and people should buy CDs until it goes away. But you want to play the music download game you have to follow the existing rules which were written by who, RIAA & Apple. Why doesn't Laporte say don't buy an ipod since Apple paved the original DRM road?

[Cardbored @ Dec 21st 2006 7:58PM]

That'd be awesome if they somehow fused this with XBLA id love see some of my favorite like Murble Blast Ultra be available to be transfered onto my Zune! Now if they made me pay again, thatd b another story >:(

[SimbaDogg @ Dec 21st 2006 8:15PM]

Todd, i just viewed that "review" by that guy Leo Laporte that i guess you like. He's a fu3king moron.
1) "it has wi-fi, i bet you can surf the internet, WRONG !"
what good would it be to surf the internet, when you dont have a useful input device (keyboard/touchscreen display). I mean, what are you gonna do? scroll through web addresses one character at a time, then click them in using the enter key? i mean, being realistic here...thats just plain stupid. i dont think the zune can sync with a computer wirelessly now, but i'm sure thats an update or two away...
2) "after 3 days, it goes by bye, 3 play 3 days?"
its a hell of a lot beter than ipod which doesn't allow you to share any music at all. i mean, this is a great feature because it allows you to at least SHARE PURCHASED MUSIC WITH OTHER PEOPLE. again, i'm calling Leo out, he's an idiot.
3) "it has a click-wheel, that doesn't TURN"
JESUS H. CHRIST...like, seriously is this a legitimate complaint, or is he just saying this because everyone is familiar w/ the click wheels of the ipod...wow

I'm not even a zune fanboy, i have my ipod, i like it...i'm sticking with it. i only use it in my car, so features in the zune/ipod dont really attract me much, i just like it because i have my entire library or songs in my car with me at all times. i really wish there were less idiots/jokers like this guy on the internet, because for every one you find, you're probably going to find 10 more who will gladly take in their BS

[Nubaeus @ Dec 21st 2006 8:16PM]

Sounds like Sega Dreamcast...

[_man1c_ @ Dec 21st 2006 9:09PM]

just wondering how great the games will be. most likely just flash games which in this case other mp3 players already do. cant see this thing turning games like Gears of War etc. id just wait till their true portable game device comes around. till then my iriver clix plays flash games just fine.

[Christian @ Dec 21st 2006 10:32PM]

I really thought and hope that someday an update would allow you to download your xbox live games from your hard drive to your zune so you can play it portably. I mean you have a sign in name on zune so I'm pretty sure you can play it in full version if they want to keep it locked to the buyer. Probably only works on few games since some needs two joystick like geometry wars but still how about uno, zune is wireless and would be fun if you can keep getting achievements while travelling.

[Moogle @ Dec 22nd 2006 12:02PM]

"Microsoft reiterates interest in Zune gaming"

Market maintains lack of interest in Zune. :)

[Engaged @ Jan 24th 2007 11:58AM]

Todd, I'm not sure what to say but you made me lose all respect for Leo Laporte. I had really enjoyed some of his past work but now I'll never be able to think about him without thinking about his complete self destruction in that video. My only thought after that was what rock has he been under the last few years and what was he smoking there.

If he had said years ago that consumers wouldn't put up with DRM I would have agreed but Apple has proved that consumers will indeed put up with DRM embrace it and love it. SimbaDogg pretty much covers Leo's lunacy but I would add that FM receivers may not be for some but I listen to news almost all day (love NPR) and it would most likely be a feature I used as much as playing media. Just because you don't use a feature that costs nothing extra, isn't in the way and is frankly pretty slickly implemented doesn't make it useless Leo.

I'm sure certain people are gnashing their teeth and screaming he works for MS but the fact is I probably won't even buy a Zune and don't use Windows most of the time. I have a Sandisk Sansa and like it a lot and use Unix at work and Linux at home. As a bystander the Zune hatred is really out of control.