Guess we don't have to
wait until MIX to have all our
Windows Phone 7 Series questions answered! Microsoft's Eric Rudder, speaking at TechEd Middle East, showed off a game developed in Visual Studio as a singular project (with 90% shared code) that plays on Windows with a keyboard, a Windows Phone 7 Series prototype device with accelerometer and touch controls, and the Xbox 360 with the Xbox gamepad. Interestingly, not only is the development cross-platform friendly, but the game itself (a simple Indiana Jones platformer was demoed) saves its place and lets you resume from that spot on whichever platform you happen to pick up. Pretty impressive stuff, and while the words "Windows Phone 7 Series" weren't spoken by Eric, the use of the prototype ASUS device and the clear emphasis that this would place on Xbox Live for making the magic happen make it obvious that this is the "wave of the future" for all three platforms -- at least for casual gaming. Check out the demo on video below the fold.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted Mar 6th 2010 12:55PM
Whoa, now that's pretty cool.
@Tibfib Indeed. I see potential in this! Especially considering that its linked with the Xbox(not really, but it'll get there)
@Tibfib
The game is on...
@Tibfib
I am just excited that they finally seem to be integrating their systems. I mean, you have the world most popular OS, a top gaming system, and a quality audio device -- took them long enough to faciliate their interaction.
But I'm glad they finally did. Can't wait for WP7!
@Tibfib
Wait... I can create 3 versions of the same game while keeping 90% of the code? Why are my nipples so springy all of the sudden?
@Tibfib
not only is it cool, but it's something that android/blackberry/palm/nokia can't even begin to implement. apple MAYBE could do something to link iphone and macOS, but this is actually where MS re-inventing their platform is to their advantage. developers won't have to go back and port their apps to the computer, they'll just develop them simultaneously.
also, does anyone else see this as the last straw in apple's reluctance to enter the game console market? or at least to add these arcade-type games to appleTV or something?
@maxkirsch I was thinking that as well, Microsoft could really do well with cross-platform integration
@GenericGeek You can already do this with XNA Game Studio. It's as simple as loading two sets of textures (high-res, low-res) and adding some #if WINDOWS / #if XBOX / #if ZUNE tags, then putting conditional or ("||") operators in your statements (if ( [key up] || [up joystick] || [touch swipe up] )) (forgive the pseudo-code, I've forgotten the exact references).
@FallenArms3 Yeah this can already be done with XNA. Nothing really new here. Just nice to see MS finally pushing har behind Windows Mobile. BTW MIX is going to all about developing games on WP7 it seems:
http://www.mobiletechworld.com/2010/03/06/windows-phone-7-series-mix-sessions-details-announced/
@Tibfib Microsoft did a kick ass job on Visual Studio, C# and XNA in general.. it sure beats writing games for Android in Java with Eclipse. I'm guessing apps and games will be no problem considering that there are loads of games written in XNA and available for microsoft points. Man.. come to think of it, this is exactly what i wanted.. C# + large mobile market. THANK YOU MS!
@Tibfib I'm surprised no one's mentioned how PS3's done this for ages with PSP (PS1 games, as well as minis)
@maxkirsch
Well, with Qt being already ported to Windows/Linux/OSX and being the future platform for Symbian and Maemo(MeeGo), we could actually see something like this by Nokia too.
@JudgeDredd
While not completely new, the saved state across platforms is a new feature at least from the last time I looked at XNA. That IMO is the coolest feature.
@arnavdesai True, that's the real news here. Hopefully this comes to Zune as well.
@Tibfib
This is going to fail as hard as Java. Write once, runs nowhere but the original platform.
@GenericGeek HAHA lol I know its nuts!
@Kurian It's been around for a while, and I think it works pretty well. Of course, it hasn't seen some hard-core application like this yet.
@Kurian
Clearly you have never used C# and XNA. They are what java wishes it was.
@Kurian Java has failed? You clearly have no idea what you're talking about.
Its just a pity MS keep to sucky languages, like C# and C++... with no other options... where's Pascal, Basic etc...?
@maxkirsch um you can play any iphone game on a mac. all you need in the simulator.
@bigsofty
Pascal became Delphi and Basic is still alive inside MS-Office. There's no line numbers in BASCI now though.
This is HUGE 90% common code. Apple can't do that across the same OS (well at least not until they went Unix).
@Tibfib
Finally 3 years after their initial promise of this sort of integration, its being done!
@TRRosen Sorry we're talking of natively playing games across devices without emulators or simulators or sort of. What about resuming where you had left? What about live games on several platforms? Dude, nothing as sweet as it being fully integrated.
Well, they had to come up with something remarkable, and they did it. I am proud of you Microsoft, for FINALLY, FINALLY! learning how to say "We are getting our butts kicked, let's do something about it"
@WicketJedi Thanks... I think? ;)
@derX
Yeah, just remember integrating into the worlds most dominant OS, is the kind of this the Justice department tends to clamp down on.
As for Xbox and Zune, they're not successful devices, but you're right that MS should have offered integration long ago. If nothing more than to streamline their workflow.
@Wesscoast Xbox isn't successful?
You sir are trolling HARD tonight
@Wesscoast LMAO thats the dumbest thing I've heard all day!!!! Thanks for the laugh.
Hopefully this will be incorporated with the Zune HD as well
@Wesscoast
Not sure how you define success ...
The Xbox is very successful based off the typical argument of usage and adoption.
The Zune is very successful based off reviews and loyalty by those that own it. Sure it doesn't have huge marketshare but is that really the criteria for success? If so, then we have to conclude that Macs and their sub 10% marketshare are also failures.
@allYall
what did you think they were trying to do with the XBOX... their initial goal was to put out a catchy console that grabbed a user base and got them hooked to Microsoft, then make it xplatform with all of their OS's and consoles and phones... just like a dealer on the street...
@bjsguess
Sorry, I don't know how old you are, but sales, marketshare and profit are the measures of success.
All cases where those products really fall down. Obviously.
@GenericGeek
This isn't a new possibility. If you used Qt, you could deploy to all MeeGo/Maemo devices, Symbian devices, WinMo devices, Windows devices, Unix devices, Linux devices, and MacOSX devices.
So while this is cool since they have an Xbox, there's the possibility someone steps out with a gaming console running MeeGo and Qt, or maybe a TV with the gaming engine embedded.
So alot of nipple tingling tech coming in the next few years, and most of it isn't from Apple, but Microsoft, Intel, Nokia, and Adobe. As usual...
@maxkirsch Is anyone else struggling to see why this is "highest" ranked with a comment like this:
"apple MAYBE could do something to link iphone and macOS"
This shows complete ignorance. In many ways iPhone OS and Mac OS X are more alike than Windows and Windows Phone because they use the same kernel. Apps are developed using the same developer tools, the same language and many of the core frameworks are shared. And it works both ways iPhone frameworks go back to the Mac (CoreLocation) and Mac frameworks go the the iPhone (CoreData).
There's no maybe about it. They are linked.
@Wesscoast
Pretty much everyone I know who has a Zune loves it, same as for people I know who have a Mac. Their market share may be low, but it doesn't mean they aren't successful. Something like the AppleTV and the idea of Media Center Extenders seem like failures to me, but that is just because they are before their time, general consumers don't understand how to use them effectively. It's what Tivo struggled with when it first came out, people just didn't understand the concept of DVR's for awhile.
Zune isn't going to be an instant success because the idea of it already exists elsewhere, iTunes. But, that doesn't mean it can't be successful (to the masses) over time which I think it will, as a service.
@Tibfib Yes, Basing from the reviews and sideglances on the Windows Phone 7, it appears its a bold yet refreshing way for a mobile OS
to start. I think MS has done a pretty good job to show 'simplicity' over this platform. Reactions: http://bit.ly/windows-phone-seven-opinions
Looking better every day! Keep it up MS.
@futureheza
You're absolutely right haha. Take that apple. This is really cool.
@PCs Rule
Is it possible to have any of these threads without descending into fanboyism and ripping on other companies/products?
I'm guessing by your name and avatar that you never really consider that huh? I'm also guessing you're about 14...
@martynmcfarquhar engadget is a place for intelligent and insightful discussion about the tech industry.... lol, i could hardly keep a straight face while typing that.
@Brent1700
Haha, I guess I should expect it eh!
@Brent1700 I'm right and you're wrong! And if by some miracle you can provide concrete evidence to prove your case, I'll create a new account so no one knows I lost a fight on a blog...
/sarcasm in case you couldn't tell
@martynmcfarquhar
It's quite impossible to be on a tech website and not show even slight bias towards one device or another. I just value stating my opinion. How others take that is not in my control. Sorry if it makes ya feel that way.
@engadgetcomexcludeengadget
Hahahaha
They have that game for the Zune HD, so I don't find this that impressive...
I still think windows phone 7 is going to be amazing though...
@Creativity someone completely missed the point...
@Creativity
You aren't creative enough.
@Brent1700
No, I actually didn't. I see what they are trying to do, and it works great. I've been wanting them to connect their platforms forever, but what I'm saying is I'd be more impressed with maybe a better game....
@Creativity
This is a proof of concept, not a game exhibition. It's up to the developers to make the better games.