We got a chance to check out the first functioning
games for Zune and were able to answer a few -- but not many -- questions about how this thing's bound to play out.
- For starters, first-gen Zunes don't appear to be ruled out by any means, but it's going to be dependent on the game controls. Zauri, the sample space shooter game demoed today, uses the Zunepad, thus wouldn't work (as well) on a Zune 30. Nothing has been decided as to whether games will universally require 2nd-gen Zunes, though.
- Use of the Zunepad in Zauri was as a trackpad and omnidirectional -- it wasn't just up / down / left / right, as in the menus.
- Right now the system partitions a mere 16MB for storing games, although this might change.
- Right now there isn't a professional-grade SDK to announce; all titles should initially be done up in XNA Studio.
- Means of distribution (i.e. games loaded through an installer, through the Zune desktop app, or through Zune Marketplace?) has not yet been decided.
- The first beta development tools will be out this Spring.
- There are no plans for Zune game sharing (yet), so to play with a friend wirelessly you both must have the game on your Zune.
There was plenty more we wanted to know but Microsoft definitely stressed that this is an incredibly early announcement, and many of the details we're all lusting after are still being hammered out. Again, we'll know more in Spring and Summer.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
kevin_ho @ Feb 20th 2008 6:55PM
hooray! Zune30's are not non-game compatible!
Federico @ Feb 21st 2008 8:14AM
OMG how ugly is the object in the photo! Is that a Zune? Disgusting!
Tony @ Feb 20th 2008 7:02PM
The Zune is no longer mini!
Unlike that fat nano looking like thing in the last article.
Eric M. @ Feb 20th 2008 7:03PM
I don't know about the games on iPods, but this def. looks inspiring for current, myself, and future Zune owners. I already love my Zune 80 and its the envy of all my friends, who don't have the iTouch (I prefer to say iTouch as opposed to the iPod Touch)..lol.
Microsoft is definitely upping it game and by the time XBox 720 (?) comes out I'll be looking for a job ( ;-) ) and next gen is going to be very very interesting as Sony wont have the majority of the market, Yeah Competition!
Dr. Evil @ Feb 20th 2008 8:32PM
I call it the iTouch myself.
(Divinyls fans?)
Scott @ Feb 21st 2008 1:06PM
"Zune 80 and its the envy of all my friends."
Hahaha!
Ross Hines @ Feb 20th 2008 7:03PM
WOW!
WHEN WILL THIS COME OUT???
totally one ups all the ipod fanbois with their silly little parachute game from 5 years ago.
Eric M. @ Feb 20th 2008 7:16PM
This is what makes me scratch my head.. Why put down others? Zune owners get cool games, Great! I can't wait to play some on my Zune 80, but why put down the iPod people. The same goes for 360 VS PS3 and the former format wars. If you enjoy something, Great!, but theres no need to put down others because obviously they love their product as we love ours.
In the words of many who have come before me, "Can't we all just get along?"
phanbouy @ Feb 20th 2008 7:17PM
my portable music player enlarges my genitalia more than yours does
Dave95 @ Feb 20th 2008 8:28PM
Wish there was a rank lower than "Lowest Ranked"
Maybe "You are an idiot" rank?
The iPod offered games since 2006 from the likes of EA, Gameloft, Sega and Namco to name a few.
Bloobie @ Feb 20th 2008 8:29PM
Eric M.: It's a sign of maturity, or lack thereof, which brings about these platform (fanboy) insults.
Ross: Yes, this does one-up the parachute game. Then again, the parachute game had been one-upped quite some time ago with the 31 other games available through iTunes.
mgasparo815 @ Feb 20th 2008 7:09PM
will the games be free?
linumax @ Feb 20th 2008 8:42PM
Absolutely free! and Microsoft Game Division will become a subsidiary of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
But seriously, there might be a couple of free games coming with the device (downloadable for older Zunes).
Daza @ Feb 21st 2008 6:05AM
It should be free, I think anyone can make games so I can't see why Microsoft would charge you if you wanted to release your own game for free. Maybe there will be a lot of "Gold" editions with more levels and better functionality, but I think games will be free.
Scott @ Feb 21st 2008 1:08PM
Here's a hint: Live isn't free even though Wii and PS3 owners pay nothing for multiplayer.
Zeus.:God @ Feb 21st 2008 2:29PM
Scott, you also get a hell of a LOT more than the Wii and PS3 services.
PhilxBefore @ Feb 21st 2008 7:20PM
@Scott
Ever hear of "You get what you pay for?"
Well PS3 and Wii pay nothing...
Johan S @ Feb 20th 2008 7:09PM
When are they making one with WVGA resolution and touch UI?
Someone needs to make a gaming device like the Nintendo DS, but with a widescreen WVGA primary display.
phanbouy @ Feb 20th 2008 7:13PM
is that because QVGA sucks?
phanbouy @ Feb 21st 2008 4:17AM
mike thanks for caps lock that rox0red. that was facetious.
Stupidiot @ Feb 21st 2008 7:05AM
WTF time warp?
Mike10010100 @ Feb 20th 2008 9:23PM
Speaking of fanboy-ism, I'm going to make a completely facetious comment.
GOD, WHATS WITH ALL THE MICROSOFT POSTS TODAY! THIS BLOG IS COMPLETELY MICROSOFT ORIENTED! SUCH BIASED WRITING!
I THEREFORE HATE THE WORLD
goodnight.
Nick Stropko @ Feb 20th 2008 7:24PM
YES
YES!!!
YES!!11!1!1ONEONETWO
ZOMG YES!!1!1!!111ONEONE!1!ONETWO!1!!!11ONE
phanbouy @ Feb 20th 2008 7:37PM
parents, this is what ritalin can do to your kids too.
Nick Stropko @ Feb 20th 2008 9:55PM
haha, can't someone be excited about Zune games without having ADD?
Pismodude @ Feb 20th 2008 9:58PM
Of course, but they obviously have SOME type of disorder...
Arnob @ Feb 21st 2008 1:35AM
uhm...isn't that what ritalin makes your kids NOT do?
Sam Zebian @ Feb 20th 2008 7:48PM
Can't wait to get my hands on some of these games... I really hope they add game sharing though, or else it's going to be nearly impossible to find someone with the Same game as you within a wifi range. (I know lots of friends that have Zunes, but probably won't be buying too many games)
Ian @ Feb 20th 2008 7:53PM
Are there really enough zune owners to warrant game development?
Jubei @ Feb 20th 2008 8:05PM
Thats what I asked. I'm being serious, what are the latest quarter sales of Zunes? Google the question and you get zero results. Is it hundreds, thousands or in the millions? What is the latest quarter sales results?
Joel @ Feb 20th 2008 8:41PM
XNA is built on top of the .Net Framework. In addition to running on the Xbox 360 and PC's the .Net framework also runs on phones with the Microsoft OS. Given this information I can't help but conjecture that the Zune is not the only mobile platform that will support XNA.
Ian @ Feb 20th 2008 9:13PM
I asked the question in all seriousness too. Game development isn't inexpensive, and not all owners are going to be game players. I'm on my second iPod capable of games, and all I've ever played was a free demo of velocity I later deleted.
josh @ Feb 20th 2008 10:43PM
"Game development isn't inexpensive, and not all owners are going to be game players."
These aren't exactly next gen graphic powerhouse games that require teams of dozens or hundreds of people. The XNA framework is ridiculously easy to use (MS makes better dev tools than pretty much any other platform manufacturer whether it be OS, Embedded, or Console vendor) and allows single individuals or small groups of people to make pretty good games in their spare time for almost nothing (the community developer subscription is $99 a year I believe).
Something like bejewled would be entirely feasible on a Zune and could be written in less than a week by a couple of guys. Casual games tend to be horribly simple in complexity and are easy (relative to the games we are used to) to write.
Andir3.0 @ Feb 21st 2008 7:20AM
"XNA is built on top of the .Net Framework. In addition to running on the Xbox 360 and PC's the .Net framework also runs on phones with the Microsoft OS. Given this information I can't help but conjecture that the Zune is not the only mobile platform that will support XNA."
Yeah Vendor lock in!! WOOHOOO!! I'm so glad Microsoft isn't out to screw the economy... oh wait.
Skullfighter @ Feb 28th 2008 10:04PM
@ Andir
Wait, screw Microsoft for making good development platforms. Theirs beats the iPhones!
michael @ Feb 20th 2008 8:01PM
Before iPod fanatics can jump in another one of those "but iPod had this a long time ago, M$ is copying again", we should note that:
1. Games for the most part can work on the new AND old generation Zune.
2. Developers get to CREATE games.
3. Many of these games will most likely be free.
And if you pull the stupid "copying" card, how about the iPod Touch copying the Zune because it now has WiFi? Zune had it awhile ago first. So is Apple copying by including a feature people want?
All companies continually add new features, and just because somebody did it first, doesn't mean it can't be on another company's product. I would love to see how the iPod Touch without WiFi would be, because Zune had WiFi first.
phanbouy @ Feb 20th 2008 8:02PM
my cranium had wifi before the first fanboy uttered "Zoon!"
michael @ Feb 20th 2008 8:16PM
@phanbuoy : Maybe I wasn't making myself clear, I mean in comparison between the iPod and the Zune, the Zune had WiFi first.
NOT that the Zune was the first of any device to have WiFi. Definitely not.
John @ Feb 20th 2008 8:16PM
The Zune may have had wifi first, but my iPod touch is allowing me to comment on this pathetic comment. I dare you to respond from your Zune.
And:
1. Who even knew there was more than one type of Zune?
2. Wait for the iPhone SDK. I'm pretty sure everyone will be busy developing for that.
3. Who is going to spend money on an inferior product and then spend more many for crap games?
michael @ Feb 20th 2008 8:25PM
@John : My point is, is that first doesn't matter. Whoever makes it better counts more. The iPod rocks in WiFi, and the Zune now rocks in games.
As far as I'm concerned, the Zune's gaming options at least look better than the iPod's mediocre service.
1. I did. So did many Zune users. Gadget enthusiasts who keep tabs on the news.
2. Why wait? What took so long? And it's known that Microsoft is a bit more open than Apple, who likes to control as much as they can, and are reluctant to opening their products. I'm not an iPhone user, so it wouldn't matter to me anyways.
3. In my opinion, if you've used both Zunes and iPods for a long time, Zunes seem to have more bang for their buck than the iPods. That's my opinion of course, as much as your opinion is yours.
And if you read the post and other comments, it seems likely that these indie developer games will be free. If you don't like the game, don't get them. I'm quite sure some people might want gaming on their device.
So why don't you go bug off and keep showing off your iPhone to people on the streets? It's obvious you know little about Zunes and should bother commenting on stuff you don't even know.
phanbouy @ Feb 20th 2008 8:26PM
ohhh. dear mikey, that went so far over your head i feel a touch guilty.
Pismodude @ Feb 20th 2008 8:29PM
AT&T invented Wi-Fi. Apple made friends with AT&T. Apple's mobile devices are now getting Wi-FI.
Apple begins selling iPods. Microsoft begins to sell Zunes. Apple adds games to iPods. The Zune now has games.
One of these companies is copying another. The other is just naturally changing due to partnerships. Can you guess which one is which?
Peppie @ Feb 20th 2008 8:28PM
@ John:
1. Engadget, google, gizmodo, facebook, myspace, microsoft, apple, CNet...I could go on
2. So apparently everyone owns an iPhone, and *ONLY* people want to develop for the iPhone and nothing else, not anything special like developing a new Linux Kernel or anything else
3. Well, Apple convinced people to spend $20 for more crap for their Touch
Pismodude @ Feb 20th 2008 8:38PM
@michael: My god you are stupid. I could smite your inferior intelligence in so many ways, but I have neither the time nor the concern, so let me point out one thing- HE SAID HE HAS AN IPOD TOUCH. NOT an iPhone. idiot...
michael @ Feb 20th 2008 9:03PM
@Pismodude : Wrong. He said iPhone. Quote:
"2. Wait for the iPhone SDK."
I don't think I'm the idiot here...
Pismodude @ Feb 20th 2008 9:20PM
@michael
Yeah, you are. I quote: "my iPod touch is allowing me to comment"
Ergo- he has an iPod Touch, and is waiting for the iPhone SDK. Thanks for playing, and have a nice day.;-)
michael @ Feb 20th 2008 9:37PM
@pismodude : Ok, I was wrong. But all the other things I said were true.
I don't get why he would comment about an SDK that wouldn't matter to him anyways. Talk about double standards.
Pismodude @ Feb 20th 2008 9:53PM
@michael
Remember how you told john that he didn't know squat about Zunes?
Yeah, well, this isn't exactly your turf bud. The iPhone SDK is for
the iPod Touch and the iPhone. LINK:
http://www.tuaw.com/2007/10/17/apple-we-plan-to-have-an-iphone-sdk-in-developers-hands-in-fe/
Guzzie @ Feb 20th 2008 9:53PM
Pismodude,
That has nothing to do with the SDK.
Also, comparing the Zune to the iPod Touch is a joke.
The closest you can get storage wise is 32 GB, and even then the iPod Touch costs double the amount of a Zune 80.
Pismodude @ Feb 20th 2008 10:08PM
@Guzzle
It costs twice as much, but it's ok, because it has twice the screen
resolution, twice the battery life, and a thousand times the
potential!!!
What we were talking about had everything to do with the SDK!
Michael and I have been commenting back and forth, if you are going to jump into the conversation, then I suggest you read our previous posts, that may clear things up for you!