Talkin' Windows Phone 7 Series gaming with Microsoft at GDC
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted March 11th 2010 7:52PM
posted March 11th 2010 7:52PM
We already got a look at Microsoft's little XNA show-and-tell as relates to Windows Phone 7 Series, but our colleague Andrew Yoon over at Joystiq had a chance for longer sit-down with Xbox Live general manager Ron Pessner and XNA Game Studio manager Michael Klucher at GDC today, and he's been kind enough to share the interview with us. The main topic of conversation was the company's plans regarding Xbox LIve and, specifically, how it would be integrating it into Windows Phone 7 Series. And believe us, there was plenty to discuss -- including the sweet science of porting games from Zune HD to 7 Series phones ("it's 90, 95 percent code reuse... in an hour or couple of hours, we're taking games that were written for Zune HD and putting them on the phone"), the importance of maintaining a consistent gameplay experience amongst different hardware, and the reasoning behind limiting devices to asynchronous multiplayer. What are you waiting for? Hit the source link to embark on this miraculous journey of discovery.
I creamed my pants, brb.
@Bowsa
See. You didn't even read the source link. People like you ruin real comments. -1 for you.
@Jacinth I did read the source.. though with the different development platforms and all.. it's going to take slightly longer for a good game.
@Jacinth
I read the the source link and then I splooged again.
@Bowsa Microsoft is going to take over every market this decade
@Bowsa It should also be noted that Microsoft announced yesterday that WP7 will only support 2 screen resolutions: WVGA and surprisigly HVGA:
http://www.mobiletechworld.com/2010/03/11/windows-phone-7-series-will-support-wvga-hvga-resolutions-no-programmable-shaders-at-launch/
how the phone model, used for all these Win Phone 7 Demos, is called?
@qaz
It's not a real phone, it's just demo hardware. Like a test rig.
@ Bowsa
Ditto. If this becomes as awesome as they are advertising, I can't wait to get a WP7 Series phone for all my xbox live gaming needs. MS can become the premiere leader in mobile gaming by integrating (seamlessly) with Xbox Live. Can't wait to see where this goes.
@a dumb cat
Well, I'm dedicated to webOS right now and believe in that platform, so maybe I'll get a Zune HD2 some time in the near future when this all goes down. Kudos to MS for bringing the rain to GDC.
So, when can I run Crysis 2.0 on my WM7 phone?
@felipedeeznuts
If you managed getting one of those Gulftown processors in there.
@felipedeeznuts
OnLive
@felipedeeznuts
tachyons
So, how's the browser on Windows phone 7 series? HTML5?
How about writing code of WP7S XBL games for the ZHD?
@ApocNarok I wish they would but I read an article on here recently that stated that the Zune HD will not be compatible with Win Phone 7 but a Zune HD2 could be in the works
@angermeans
If you read the source, it says that games developed on 4.0 will be backwards compatible with the Zune HD with just a few hours work.
@angermeans I think it has something to do with XNA 4.0.
@angermeans
Negative, a Zune developer wrote to "anythingbutipod.com" forums that there won't be a Zune HD 2 for the moment, and they continue to support current Zune HD through XNA 3. XNA 4 just have some more additions that are more suitable for phones with cameras etc...All they say about Zune HD 2 is rumours...
need dual analog stick support
@htd Technically, XNA has it. But phone companies won't put them on there, and even then, I don't think WP7 will translate it.
Hm, actually, Microsoft might not let them put them on there in the first place... after all, "Thou shalt have only three buttons, and optional keyboard."
@FallenArms3 This is true, however, I think MS will use future Zunes as their portable Xbox solution. Only MS will make the non phone versions of WP7 and they could make an assessory add on for Zune HD2 with sticks and buttons.
I remember how hard it was to put games on my Windows Mobile 5.0 phone STRTK by HTC. I hope they made it easier.
@kyphem
If it makes you feel any better, comparing WinMo 5 to WinPho, is like comparing Windows 98 to Windows 7.
@jon well I haven't noticed any difference between WM 5.0 and 6.5 so I can't imagine its any different. Fact is I still can't go and try out the new OS right now.
@kyphem
There's a reason I picked Win 98 and Win 7 for my analogy. 6.5 and 7 share almost nothing in common, they don't even use the same version of WinCE.
@kyphem
Windows Phone 7 is nothing like Windows Mobile 6.5. The Zune HD is the predecessor of Windows Phone 7 not Windows Mobile 6.5.
@kyphem
If you havent noticed any difference from 5 to 6.5 you havent used 6.5..
- The new IE browser
- New start menu
- Capacitive support
- Titanium homescreen (which is still better than most)
- redone menus
- redone scrolling
- etc etc etc..
6.1 is a huge upgrade over 5 and 6.5 is huge upgrade over 6.1 stop trying to sound cool
So we will be seeing WP7S games on the Zune.
@leykis101
1) LRN2English
2) 12 posts a day since you got here, one would think you'd have made even a single intelligent point, by accident at least. Yet the streak continues.
@leykis101 Hey Truth. It's ok. I know you're scared about 7 Series being a hit. Just lie down and you'll be fine in the morning, 'kay?
too bad that theres only a handful of games for the Zune HD.
As someone who is yet to jump into the mobile phone market, I really have to say that Microsoft "gets it". They understand what I want from a mobile phone and they are catering to that desire. The biggest issue I have right now is the wait. They need to capitalize on this heat they're generating sooner than late this year. If they announced a WinMo7 phone with a couple or few carriers for this summer then I might be willing to wait until then, but it's going to be tough to wait for anything with the HD2 coming out and the Supersonic looming on the horizon.
Get it in gear Microsoft and pump this stuff out...my Live account is itching for some mobile action!
If Microsoft can deliver on gaming and Silverlight apps that are easy to develop, their new OS will pretty much bust onto the mobile scene with a wrecking ball.
so what, we are talking all 5 or so games zune hd has? (albeit audiosurf is awesome). i wanna get a zune hd but there seems to be no support for it...whats the deal msoft?...i am waiting (im)patiently. i can honestly say though a year ago i never would have expected this from them, i am excited and worried
Quoted from the interview -
"You mentioned some meta gaming elements that could happen across cross-platform gaming between Xbox 360 and the Windows Phone. Is it possible that you could transfer save states between the platforms?
No."
Oh well. This was the thing that interested me the most, the possibility to be able to play a game on you phone then continue on your xbox and vice versa. That would be so amazing. Alas.
Oh well, now I just think, meh.
@GmanC
Not real surprising considering some of your other posts, but you "forgot" 90% of his answer.
"save states are not a feature for the first revision of Xbox Live, although we've heard a lot of feedback and desire from publishers around this."
This isn't Apple we're talking about, MS listens to its' developers.
"main reason between ms n apple is that apple actually delivers."
WRONG!
If I remember correctly; last keynote apple promised us a 'Magical device', well I'm still waiting.
But will it blend?