Microsoft's still isn't solid on a final consumer release date for
XNA games for the Zune, but they are aiming for the first CTP (community technology preview) to be released in May. We also learned that Zune games can support ad-hoc wireless play with up to eight players, the devices won't support any hardware 3D acceleration, the
"16MB for storing games" we heard before actually refers to how much Zune RAM games can take over, and Microsoft's got at least four games running on the platform (which may or may not ever be released to the public): Zauri (which we've already seen -- video after the break), as well as Hexic, Potato Chase, and Alien Takeover.
posted May 5th 2008 1:33PM
And by "All Zunes", they mean the 2nd generation models?
Too bad these won't work on the 1st gen.
are you blind can't you see the pic for some more time ?
Of course I'm blind, look at my avatar and my squinty eyes. : D
Are you retarted or are you just an idiot?
He's an idiot...
No hardware acceleration? Sorry, even with only one physical button,
the amazing graphics capabilities and frameworks we saw exhibited for
iPhone games are going to blow any other ad-hoc PMP gaming out of the
water, especially with all these big game studios on board.
I believe the iPhone will do for portable PMP gaming what the Wii did
for console gaming - that is to change the game. People will write
games with the 3D motion sensor and touch interface in mind (similar
idea to the GB, but without the stylus).
Why would you even compare this to the iPhone? First off, there is no Zune phone and secondly you can't compare the Zune with the iPod Touch because it's not comparable nor near the same price point.
The Class iPods, which you can compare the Zune to, does not have accelerated hardware but Zune adds the multiplayer angle to allow some really cool games.
I think you're underestimating the Zune and overestimated the iPhone. Both are great devices and both are in different markets and price points.
I like how you compared the Zune to the iPhone; This of course shows how you are giving the Zune huge respect by putting it in a genre more powerful than it should! :)
I love my Zune 80, and would love to play some games on it every once in a while; for better 3D-accelerated gaming experience I use an Xbox 360.
Because the iPhone is similar to a thing called the iPod Touch. They both use the same graphical system.
Given that you are quite happy comparing unrelated devices, i am perfectly justified in pointing out that gaming on the iphone still isnt gonna be comparable to PSP.
WTF who cares if you can play retro games on your zune, its pathetic that ipod so called "competitor" doesn't even have a touch screen device but you have a whole bunch touch clones in japan, has zune firmware even been hacked? and the lack of tactical controls deny it anything useful, not even worth a GBA,NES emulator
Rahul,
Here's a breakdown comparison between PSP, DS and iPhone:
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2008/03/20/iphone-20-sdk-video-games-to-rival-nintendo-ds-sony-psp/
@rxse7en
I would not take that article as an unbiased review. For example, the title of the first chart is "Video Game Consoles 2007: Wii, PS3 and the Death of Microsoft’s Xbox 360". It shows the 360 trailing only the Wii, but the 360 is dying? Yes, the PS3 has outsold the 360 a few months this year, but when the PS3 has 7million+ deficit to overcome, 30,000 consoles more/month hardly means that the 360 is dead.
I also find it amusing that the complaint against Microsoft for years was that you had to sign code, and siging code does not assure quality, security, etc. And now, Apple is touting that signing is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Of course, they are using it more to exclude the riff-raff from developing for their device, but that is OK because Apple locking down their devices - OK, Microsoft locking down their devices - bad.
There are also other "gems" in that article, nowhere has it been said that Microsoft is charging for people to write games for the Zune. I would like to know where they got that 70% of revenues for Zune games goes to Microsoft, especially since there is no charging for games been announced yet. Apple has said that they are charging people to put games up on iTunes, but no mention of that. The 70% is for some XBLA games, if developers want to pay that price. This 70% is the cost of publishing, Microsoft's share for hosting the games, localization, going through ESRB, etc. If you want to do all that work yourself, then all you need is to pay for MS hosting the game and certification (making sure it does not conflict with other games). How is that any different than what Apple is doing?
Then there is this quote "...Microsoft won’t allow outside development, not because of security issues, but because that’s where Microsoft hopes to make the majority of its money." Um, no outside development on a Zune? This is exactly what XNA for Zune is, outside, 3rd party, user generated development. There will probably be a store in the Zune software where you can buy games, but I can write a game and give it to a friend to use (then they say that 360 sales are in "freefall" now, which does not help thir credibility).
I have an iPhone, and while it is good (ignoring Safari crashing daily, and other problems), it is not a general purpose gaming machine. It will do some games well, but not all. You cannot do a shooter where you are moving your hands all over the screen, blocking you from seeing what is happening. Unless you put controls off to the side, which will take up a majority of the screen. The Zune with the touch pad (Zune 1 willl do it, but how you need to click the button is a bit of a problem) is much better for controlling. Notice I said that in the present tense rather than future tense, it is because I have played Zune games - a friend of mine works on the XNA software and I have personally used it on his Zune.
It's called the DS
And by all Zunes, they mean all Zunes. You're an idiot.
Your right, my embarrassing bad. I guess I wanted to be first comment so fast I didn't read carefully. : D
Why would being first comment be important to anyone? I don't get that.
"Why would being first comment be important to anyone?"
Couldn't say exactly. I guess it's sort of like a "Greg Packer" thing.
Can't wait for the awesome games. Hexic ought to be a great time waster. It would be awesome if it intergrates with Xbox Live and you can do achievements as well with the new games...
Seriously this time, will it play doom?
I mean that honestly, i will get a zune if they play doom.
Chances are, yes.
So will you possibly be able to port some games from XBLA for the zune?Or can they at least make some that could go both ways?
Cause that would be soo kick ass to play The Dishwasher on the Zune 80.
But with the iPhone you have only one screen so as your two thumbs try to do two differentent things you won't be able to see what it is you are trying to do it.
And do tell me why if the Wii was so revolutionary why about 6 million copies of GTA4 sold and it still uses the boring old controllers. My sister has a Wii and when I visited her bowling was extremely fun but games like GTA4 with shooting and moving were awkward and I much prefer the 360 controller.
Like i'm excited about Hexic... boring game but great time waster. How can you play that with touch? I don't see it. Or games like Tetris etc... quit being such a fanboi and realize that buttons do serve a purpose.
"And do tell me why if the Wii was so revolutionary why about 6 million copies of GTA4 sold and it still uses the boring old controllers. My sister has a Wii and when I visited her bowling was extremely fun but games like GTA4 with shooting and moving were awkward and I much prefer the 360 controller."
Nobody said the "boring old controllers" weren't fun. But using that to diminish the Wii's success would be like, well illogical.
Anyway, can't wait for some games on my zune.
Yeah, but there is no lowercase I in Zune therefore it sucks.....
Anywhoo back to the discussion at hand, 3d isn't a must have for me on something that I originally bought to play my music, games is just a small bonus. And when you say it will do what the Wii did, do you mean was peoples money? I mean cmon, the Wii is revolutionary but not that sweet unless you are under the age of 13 or older than 40 catachip.
I was replying to the iPhone comment above but it didn't stick. Anyways my POINT was not to dismiss the Wii but rather say that old methods of gaming are JUST AS VALID as new revolutionary methods and if GTA 4 is something to go by it proves the masses love the methods they are accustomed to.
Shooting and moving games aren't awkward, I find the Wii remote/nunchuk far more intuitive for aiming because I'm actually pointing at the TV.
What is exactly meant by "community technology preview"?? Haven't they already previewed the bloody games?? My Z80 is hungry for some gaming action.
if the zune is supposed to compete with the ipod were the hell is the zune response to the touch??????? anybody think about that
who says they need one. the touch does the same thing as the zune models/other ipod models for 2x the price...
the zune has a web browser? and tons of apps? a nice slick touch interface? built in toaster?? No thats right they dnt. im no apple fan boy, thats why i want a touch zune, ps: no bult in toaster
Yeah no built in Toaster!!!
I want my Zune Phone to have a built in Blender!
You're an idiot, just because it is an iPod doesn't mean they are competing, lets compare Apple TV to Vista Ultimate since they both play tv, and you can watch Movies on them. Vista wins even if you don't like it.
The second gen Zunes have a touch-sensitive Squircle...
anyone else notice they're using the shin's album as the cover art?!
Pretty sweet...
altho the games thing seems too little too late for it to really catch on...
Time to put zee ear googles on!
Thanks for the video preview. It's always good to show users the quality of the actual games that will play with the Zune. Quite subpar from the looks of it. Without 3D capabilities, it will continue that way. I suppose it should be good enough to pacify current Zune owners.
The Wii also has subpar graphics and that doesn't seem to keep people from buying them :>
Seriously, what is your goal when posting in Zune articles? All you ever try to do is annoy Zune owners and all you ever end up doing is making yourself look more like the complete fanboy that you are.
Shoo, fly.
Why are you upset? I'm just pointing out the subpar quality of the games being introduced for the Zune. You don't want users to be misinformed by the likes of you do you? My observations are correct and accurate. Nothing more, nothing less.
Just like the subpar video, games, Wifi, and Radio capabilities of the iPod Classic?
Go away. No one likes you anyway.
Quite amazing that you represent everyone on the planet. If such is the case, then we are in a dilemma. Based on your previous post, the language you use, your demeanor, one would be quite embarrassed to be even remotely associated with you. As I have stated before, I'm merely pointing out the subpar quality of games for the Zune. No more, no less.
Anything I ever claim to be fact, is, indeed, fact. I, unlike you, don't go into every iPod or Mac article I can find and try to badmouth them or Apple like you do for no reason. I don't deny the obvious or the truth like you do. If anything, you're the deluded one here, and the worst candidate to be spreading any information whatsoever.
You claim to only be pointing out the "subpar quality of the games on Zune", yet the ONLY one shown so far has been a top down shooter, much like 1942 (only in space). How could you possibly base any opinion off that? It would be like me basing the iPhone's games on that parachute game from the old iPods- they aren't impressive, and aren't a definitive example of what the system is capable of. Stop being such a dumb-shit and go back to TUAW before you make yourself look even more like a fool.
Actually users who post profanity are the ones that are frowned upon or look quite foolish. It basically shows the entire world your immaturity with dealing facts. It also shows your inability to debate logically with anyone. Childish tantrums that you have exhibit throughout our exchanges only enforces your nature. You may be an adult in age, but mentally, you are quite immature.
Really? Spouting lies and hating a company for no reason other than preferring another as well as making it a point to cause problems and arguments among posters is pretty childish and immature.
You're such a fool, man. A well spoken fool, but a fool nonetheless. You're not worthy of my time.
I suppose you do have a point there. You are being less of a fanboy today. Good Job.
Of course I am worthy of your time. In-fact I can see that you have even emulated a section on some of my own comments in verbatim. You see? I have already helped you broaden your mind.
Jubei your missing the point, the Zune isn't a gaming device, everyone that has it now didn't buy it for the games since there are none, second, no games are being released (by ms as far as we know), just the ability to create your own and distribute them. Ever since the release of the iTouch and iPhone iPod users have forgotten that there is the Classic with which the Zune is competing and obviously dominating, no iPod user will even compare them, they just jump right up to the flash based touch/phone which is basically a watered down UMPC.
@Mitch
Before you make a blanket statement that the iPods are dominated by the Zune. Are you stating domination by sales? I certainly hope so. I'd love to see the numbers. I and most everyone were expecting sales numbers from MS. But alas, none were giving. Since you seem to be privy to such information. Why don't you post this quarter sales that dominates the iPod as you confidently state. I hope you don't disappoint. Post the sales for the quarter and a link from MS. I await your response.
Sorry, but if you believe that foul language or the way something is said is what makes it worthy to listen to or not, then you are amazingly inept. You know what, saying this in the nicest way possible, I really dislike Jews. They have funny noses, talk with a ridiculous accent, and own everything. That previous statement was simple generalizing, and well said if I say so myself. You're obviously absolutely right, speaking this way DOES make me seem more intelligent than anyone that was 'rude,' and the message being communicated really doesn't matter.
sidenote: for those of you that lose all sense of sarcasm when on the internet, i don't hate jews
@Arnob
What a disgusting way to make a point. A wrong point at best. You need help.
yea...because showing the idiocy of racial stereotypes is really disgusting, and the idea that a message is just as important, if not more so, than how it is said is truly an insane point to make. of course i'm sure you will read what you want, and then call me out on protecting racism or something. whatever, can't say i didn't try... meh
Can someone go get that- Arnob's point just flew straight over Jubei's head.
This is great news because my Ti 86 broke and i've felt a strong absence of awkward-platform games in my life recently.
STOP F*CKING COMPARING THE ZUNE TO THE IPHONE OR TOUCH!
Who cares that it doesn't have a touch screen..... last time i checked the ipod classic that the zune competes against doesnt have a touchscreen either.
Compared to the iPod Classic, the games for the zune are awesome.... lets not forget microsofts keeping to their promise, things for zunes are backwards compatible ... just like this... games will be for the Zune 30 and the new models... thats just awesome.
Check out this video from channel9. Its demo about developing games for the zune, has a video of some new games and hints for a new firmware upgrade before the XNA game studio release.
http://channel9.msdn.com/Showpost.aspx?postid=400948
This is going to be freaking awesome... I hope they get the Xbox live anywhere service up and running before this is officially released to the public... Just imagine playing against your friends over wifi from a starbucks while one of your friends is sitting on the couch with his xbox and another on his pc with his keyboard... and another with their windows mobile phone playing from the bus... that's going to be sweet! I wonder what these games will be like and if they will be cheap... like maybe they'll be mobile versions of xbox live arcade games... Geometry Wars for Zune anyone???
I'm pretty sure the games are going to be made by users (as well as having some from the current XBLA), so I'm sure many of them will be free.
Lets put this in a better perspective. I have an iPhone and a Zune 80. I did not buy the iPhone to play games or listen to music even though i do have a small selection on there. I bought the Zune for the music. I bought the PSP for the portable gaming. Games for the iPhone and Zune will not compare to the PSP/DS handhelds. iPhone will never be used to listen to music primarily. If you did buy the iPhone for that reason you wasted your money. Zune will never be compared to a device that was made to be a phone to out-do RIM and Palm. None of these devices should be compared against each other. So stop comparing devices that are not in competition with each other and start comparing devices that are (i.e. Zune vs iPod)
Now that thats said, these games look pretty good for something to spend 5-10 min to waste time on.
Very well said. If people don't get it through their head with that, they never will.
What you said is true, but you're overlooking one key fact. When I leave the house only one device is guaranteed to be coming with, and that's my phone. I'm not going to take a Zune, a phone, and a PSP at the same time. (I'm not toting a man-purse.)
Because of that fact, I prefer to use my phone for all of the things you mentioned when I'm out and about. Some phones are able to fill this multi-use quite nicely AND play better games than the Zune.
And if I'm at home playing a game, I'll play a real console/PC game on a large screen, not some tiny 2" screen.
@ Scott--> When I leave the house I have my iPhone, PSP, and MBP that I carry in my shoulder-bag. Sorry you're too much of a man to carry one. Just because you apparently don't like to use your Zune out of the house (?) doesn't mean there are others among use who like to use our portable devices as, you know, portable devices.
Scott, he's not overlooking anything- he's making his point, and he's making it clear. Nothing else matters- these products are what they are. Nothing more, nothing less, and they are not meant to compete with other products that are in an entirely different class. That means comparing any Zune (for the time being) with the iPhone or iPod Touch is not only unfair, but illogical.
I agree with Zeus.:God.
When I leave the house, I bring my phone and my Zune. I would like an iPhone but as JakeB says, it would never be used primarily for music. If I had an iPhone I would still use my Zune for music, movies, and podcasts.
I use my Zune 80 to listen to music and my iPhone to answer calls and play iCopter.
I would like to see you try and listen to at least 4 hours of music, use the GPS to avoid accidents on the freeways, use the phone, send and receive emails, check blogs, and play games on your iPhone without having to charge it once before the day is over.
That's true, and you shouldn't really compare the iPhone and the Zune or the Zune and the DS. But these products do compete with each other.
Like many people, I'd like to have 1. a phone 2. a music player and 3. wireless internet with me at all times. For me, portable gaming loses its appeal if I have 3G/WiFi internet. I might buy a music phone and an Eee PC or I might buy an iPhone or a Zune and a Centro or whatever.
Arguing that these products are somehow not competing with each other is an oversimplification.
I think it's smart to make the Swiss Army Phone because phones are so ubiquitous. If you can cover all your bases with a phone (wireless voice, internet, gaming, media playback, camera, etc.), you might not have to, you know, buy 8 portable devices.
Anyway, if I wasn't set on coving my portable music needs with a phone, good (and cheap as free) games would make me more likely to buy a Zune.
Granted they compete indirectly, but to compare the devices to each other like others are doing is not how people should compare. I dont look for an all-in-one device that puts all my electronice together because the only one that can is my laptop. I dont think there is ever going to be one device that htis all our needs for mobile media the size of a phone that is pratical. Mostly becuase our technology in batteries are horrible. Until there is something that can keep a lot of power into a small battery we will never have a pratical all-in-one device. To me thats the only thing I see hindering technology these days.
My iPhone needs to be charged EVERY night. All I do is play games on it lol
I like how the picture shows 16Mb - as in megabits, not megabytes (MB).
Foodle said:
>It's somewhat concerning that whoever made the slide doesn't know the difference between Mb and MB ...
Actually, I made the slide and I do know the difference between Mb and MB. Unfortunately, it was a boo-boo on my part. You can either blame it on human error, or the fact that I'm a computer science guy that now works in Marketing :-)
David "LetsKillDave" Weller
Awesome! I can't wait...
to make fun of someone actually playing a game on their Zune. With an audience of approximately 17-18 people, these games should not suck at all.
Wow- I can't wait for the social!
Microsoft- give up. Seriously. It's getting embarrassing.
Yeah, you should be embarrassed; you sound like a total jackass. Are you a lonely person or do you hang out with other loud jackasses, because I seriously can't fathom how any sane person could put up with your inane ranting.
Wait for it.
A year or two Zune will be popping out on every corner like mushrooms. Zune bashers, admit it or not Zune is gaining popularity. With MS improving its features and relentlessly promoting it, a point will come that one would barely remember Zune as the ugly-duckling of PMP.
So scream-to-death as much as you want. Because that's the only thing you can do.
Why do we need to have a Zune Touch? Its impractical and too expensive. The iPod touch may be the worst device i have ever seen, it uses a battery wasting touch screen so you can smudge your fingers on it to surf the web or change picture sizes. The only things that are nice are the web browser and tilt sensor.
The iPhone is just an expensive phone with an imaginary status attached to it. The iPod Touch is just a less expensive version of the iPhone without the only useful part. 8 and 16 gb is not enough for movies and music.
The Zune and the classic can be compared because they are similar devices and attempt to tackle portable music in different ways. I prefer the Zune mostly because its not an Apple product and it isn't a pretentious object of status. The Zune 80 is far from perfect, but it has done everything right so far in my opinion. I wouldn't buy a touchscreen device because there is no need and it only makes the device cost more and last a shorter amount of time. The Zune Pad is perfect for scrolling through music and it looks intuitive for gaming.
Done with my rant.
It's somewhat concerning that whoever made the slide doesn't know the difference between Mb and MB ...
What I wanna know is if the games will work on TV out ;)
With the remote? lol!
W00t! Crysis anyone, this is great news.
shouldn't you wait for the Alienware phone for that? :-)
Maybe you should do more research. Grante Apple has the largest share and most likely they always will. But Microsoft has the second largest marketshare in portable music devices. So really, Microsoft is doing very well for only being out a couple of years and having to compete with the giant Apple. No doubt Apple will dominate. I look at is as this, Microsoft dominates the computers while Apple is second; Apple dominates the protable music devices while Microsoft is second. Interesting how it all balances out doesnt it?
this was supposed to be in response to iansilv comment
@ jhaks:
No way- you should meet me- I am actually really cool- and I have a hot wife, so I'm not lonely.
I did not mean to insult you or the remaining 16-17 Zune owners in the world. I just think that the Zune sucks, that's all.
I also think that making games for a crappy sub-par rip off of the ipod is a waste of resources that could be better focused on making windows Vista not suck, play games faster, not crash, bring better stability to the pc platform, or do any of the other major advertised selling points that were used to sell the product to consumers.
See, I hated macs, ipods, and the whole smug apple thing. Then my friend bought me an iphone, and I bought a mac. It's the craziest thing- it works like a computer should.
I just wish macs had the social...
Anyway- will all 18 of you zune guys beta test every game, or will your switch off 9 on one game, nine the next so every other one is a surprise when it hits the social, or whatever the place is where you download these nuclear-powered zune games?
You can say the Zune sucks thats fine, that's your opinion. But to say the the Zune is a rip off of the iPod, well, iPod is a rip off of the Compaq Jukebox and the Rio that were released 3 years before the iPod was.
As far as everything else you said, you are in the wrong forum to talk about PC vs. Mac. But I will say each have their advantages.
I really don't like these media/phone devices that decide they want to play games later. The games look great, nice color, smooth playback, but I just couldn't do it for more than a couple minutes without it getting awkward. I'm looking forward to Pandora give you all the media playback, web browsing and game playback I need. I think they will get it right.
Thank you, I agree with you except the iPhone part. I dont have it for status, I actually use all the functions attached to it and am looking forward to Microsoft Exchange being on there, all it needs is a good multiple IM chat program.
XNA + APX2500 + Microsoft acquiring Danger = Xbox phone/handheld
@EMForce first of all the way you have worded your comment has angered me " has zune firmware even been hacked?" well this is only due to the fact that microsoft has a superiour codeing for the zune to were the firmware is locked and if you knew jack shit about the zune why would they feel the need to release a touch screen device to feel like a follower or caddy boy to your beloved steve jobs you know what take your fanboy ass and gtfo you earn nor my respect nor do you anything else plz due the world a favor and slit your wrists remember DOWNWARDS beacuse you wanna make it count you fucking idiot
@ Abuzar:
The iPod Classic doesn't have wifi or radio (unless you have the radio remote) capability. The Zune has this built in.
are you serious? the video is just someone playing a sideways video to look like hes playing a game. How is he shooting? he very carefully didn't show his finger the whole time because he wasn't doing anything on the touch pad.
Anyways, I agree with that one other user, I'd love to have games on my zune80, but i don't know how well the 'track pad' will preform. When i use it, it seems like it just senses your finger passing over a certain point, I don't think it is fully touchable like the iphone's screen. It seems to me that microsoft would have implemented the whole trackpad in the beginning, if it was fully functional. They could have made switching photos in the slide show more like the iphone's intuitive scrolling, along with other things.
But then again, its microsoft, and their zune software is very restrictive and unstable. It uses so much memory as well.
So this was planned for May? Where is it?