I'm not convinced that Microsoft will be able to pull off the whole combined ecosystem thing for gaming on PC / 360 / WP7S.
The reason I say that, is that I've been a Windows user for a long time, since 3.1. I've used Windows Media Center for four years. I've had a Windows Home Server for 2 1/2 years now. And I've had an Xbox 360 for 1 1/2 years.
Despite all of Microsoft's promises about a complete home ecosystem, in practice, nothing comes together properly. Windows Home Server backs up all the PCs and stores my media, but I need a separate computer on all the time as the main Windows Media Center, because nobody thought that people would only want one always on PC, even in a fully MS setup. The 360 as a Media Center Extender can only play a tiny portion of the files that the Windows Media Center can play. You need a separate add-on to automatically transfer recorded TV from the Media Center to the Home Server.
The situation has improved slightly with Windows 7, but not much. Now to play a file on the 360 / Extender that wouldn't be supported, the Windows 7 PC has to transcode the file on the fly in real time, which it does do natively, but at lesser quality than the old third-party addons for it. In addition, some of the files that it has to transcode are supported natively on the 360 anyway, but not when the 360 is in Extender mode, which doesn't give it access to the full set of codecs.
Oh, and despite having a Windows Mobile phone a year ago, and the server having access to the Internet and a free *.homeserver.com subdomain to redirect to it, you needed a separate addon such as Orb to be able to play the files over the Internet.
While that rant may seem entirely off topic, I mention it here just to say that there's a huge difference between Microsoft promising a seamless ecosystem and actually delivering on it.
@jhoff80 Well, in this case it all uses XNA 4.0 so it's up to the developers. There'll obviously be some differences(a phone obviously can't handle the same level of graphics and such as the full blown XBox 360), but the idea is that devs can have some core technologies common across all three and then just vary the control schemes/graphics according to the platform. It saves enough time that it might not be all that difficult to implement a game you already made for the 360 for WP7S.
Even though I'm completely hopeful, I totally agree with your point. Another example....why in the world is there not a Zune server for WHS? Or at least be able to run with Zune software w/o hacks.
The Cobra Tag may help you win that losing battle, acting as a Bluetooth device that attaches to your key ring and connects to your phone, it gives you the opportunity to find the missing item if it's less than 30 feet away.
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I'm not convinced that Microsoft will be able to pull off the whole combined ecosystem thing for gaming on PC / 360 / WP7S.
The reason I say that, is that I've been a Windows user for a long time, since 3.1. I've used Windows Media Center for four years. I've had a Windows Home Server for 2 1/2 years now. And I've had an Xbox 360 for 1 1/2 years.
Despite all of Microsoft's promises about a complete home ecosystem, in practice, nothing comes together properly. Windows Home Server backs up all the PCs and stores my media, but I need a separate computer on all the time as the main Windows Media Center, because nobody thought that people would only want one always on PC, even in a fully MS setup. The 360 as a Media Center Extender can only play a tiny portion of the files that the Windows Media Center can play. You need a separate add-on to automatically transfer recorded TV from the Media Center to the Home Server.
The situation has improved slightly with Windows 7, but not much. Now to play a file on the 360 / Extender that wouldn't be supported, the Windows 7 PC has to transcode the file on the fly in real time, which it does do natively, but at lesser quality than the old third-party addons for it. In addition, some of the files that it has to transcode are supported natively on the 360 anyway, but not when the 360 is in Extender mode, which doesn't give it access to the full set of codecs.
Oh, and despite having a Windows Mobile phone a year ago, and the server having access to the Internet and a free *.homeserver.com subdomain to redirect to it, you needed a separate addon such as Orb to be able to play the files over the Internet.
While that rant may seem entirely off topic, I mention it here just to say that there's a huge difference between Microsoft promising a seamless ecosystem and actually delivering on it.
@jhoff80 Well, in this case it all uses XNA 4.0 so it's up to the developers. There'll obviously be some differences(a phone obviously can't handle the same level of graphics and such as the full blown XBox 360), but the idea is that devs can have some core technologies common across all three and then just vary the control schemes/graphics according to the platform. It saves enough time that it might not be all that difficult to implement a game you already made for the 360 for WP7S.
@MarcusMaximus I just love how you can get achievements and gamer score from games you play on the phone. Best ever.
@werty1432k and for apps that cost $, you can try an app before you buy it.
@jhoff80
Even though I'm completely hopeful, I totally agree with your point. Another example....why in the world is there not a Zune server for WHS? Or at least be able to run with Zune software w/o hacks.