Xbox Live launch titles for Windows Phone 7 finally revealed, we've got the full preview
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted August 16th 2010 11:12PM
posted August 16th 2010 11:12PM
We had a chance to sit down and play some of the new games (Rocket Riot, Crackdown 2: Project Sunburst, The Harvest, ilomilo, Bejeweled, Max and the Magic Marker, and Uno) as well as check out the Live feature-set, and here are our first impressions:
We'll preface this by saying that both the hardware and software we demoed was still unfinished (the latter being the Samsung Taylor dev phone and the LG QWERTY model we broke news of on the Engadget Show). Regardless, the gameplay for the arcade titles seemed excellent, with frame rates holding fast even during graphically intensive 3D sequences (such as the chaotic, scattered-pixel play of Rocket Riot). The Harvest, while a bit familiar to our eyes, still showed the graphic promise of the platform. Gameplay was definitely well suited to a touchscreen device, though Microsoft's Kevin Unangst told us that developers could target controls for both touch and QWERTY-equipped phones (provided that a touch version was always present). The screen response seemed accurate and sensitive, reacting quickly to our input. Particularly in the Crackdown title -- a tower defense game "set in the Crackdown universe" -- pinch zooming, rotation, and finger tracking was excellent.
Besides just standard gaming, it looks like Microsoft will try and leverage some other components of the platform. In the aforementioned Crackdown 2: Project Sunburst, the game utilizes Bing maps to create levels (not unlike the PSN title The Last Guy), and logic in the software is able to recognize things like roads for enemies to make their way down. A unique concept for sure, and the kind of thinking we hope we'll see more of on this platform. Though we didn't get to see a lot of titles (we particularly would have liked to see something like Castlevania), the polish and speed of the games we played was definitely competitive with iPhone or Palm Pre gaming.
We didn't get a chance to peruse the Live Marketplace because the phones were offline, but we did get to play around with cached elements, and we felt right at home. Updating and tweaking your avatar was fast and straightforward, as was finding friends and checking up on achievements or messages. Unfortunately, for the launch of Windows Phone 7 there won't be any true multiplayer options besides turn-based games, though Kevin seemed to indicate that head-to-head gaming (whether over a local or wide network) was in the roadmap. It only makes sense considering this is Xbox Live we're talking about, and it seems like something that would have been baked in from the beginning. We may be a little spoiled from the variety of multiplayer titles on the iOS platform, but that was one knock against Microsoft here. One other small issue we noticed was that game load times seemed long -- a little too long. Again, Microsoft says things are still unfinished, so we're hoping this is a side effect of debugging and non-optimized builds.
All in all, it's a promising picture for Microsoft. The company has the clout, the community, and most importantly the cash to pull this off, but as with all modern smartphone platforms, success can't be judged on one aspect alone. To make Windows Phone 7 really work, the folks in Redmond will have to hit the right note on not just gaming, but the basic user experience, hardware, applications, and carrier partnerships. Based on what we've seen of Xbox Live on these devices, we think the company can check at least one of those boxes off.
With Xbox LIVE and a Blockbuster Title Lineup, Windows Phone 7 Marks a New Era in Mobile Gaming
First wave of Xbox LIVE titles from award-winning publishers announced for the launch of Windows Phone 7.
COLOGNE, Germany - Aug. 17, 2010 - Today at gamescom 2010, the world's largest consumer-oriented games showcase, Microsoft Corp. premiered the first wave of Xbox LIVE games launching on Windows Phone 7 this holiday. With even more games and applications to come, Windows Phone 7 is putting the power of Xbox LIVE into the palm of your hand - from Xbox LIVE Avatars to staying connected with friends, Xbox LIVE is now at your fingertips, anytime, anywhere.*
"We believe that no matter where life takes you, the best in gaming and entertainment should follow," said Marc Whitten, corporate vice president of Xbox LIVE at Microsoft. "Windows Phone 7 takes a different approach to handheld gaming, utilizing Xbox LIVE, Microsoft Game Studios, leading game publishers, and innovative indie developers, to create powerful, shared experiences for everyone."
The Games You Want, Played When and Wherever You Want Them
In a sea of games, apps, gadgets and gizmos, the biggest obstacle can be finding the game that's right for you. Only Windows Phone 7 has a Games hub featuring Xbox LIVE, creating a different kind of mobile gaming experience that puts the games you want front and center. Xbox LIVE games on Windows Phone 7 will be specially selected from the top names in mobile, PC and console game development, making the best mobile games even better, thanks to Xbox LIVE. With try-before-you-buy demos, Xbox LIVE leaderboards, turn-based multiplayer, Achievements and more, Windows Phone 7 brings the quality, consistency and community of the Xbox experience to gamers on the go.
Windows Phone 7 also will be supported by content from Microsoft Game Studios (MGS), providing strong first-party gaming titles and intellectual property for the phone. For Xbox fans, this means that Windows Phone 7 will offer companion titles to familiar names, such as "Halo: Waypoint," and "Crackdown 2," extending the experience of their favorite Xbox 360 franchises.
"Windows Phone 7 is the launch of a major gaming platform for Microsoft," said Matt Booty, general manager of mobile gaming for MGS. "Just like we've done with Xbox 360, our charter is to push the envelope and deliver definitive games that maximize the platform. We will have an incredible lineup of MGS titles, and that's just the beginning."
The most creative minds in game development are bringing the biggest franchises to Windows Phone 7. The first wave of launch portfolio titles includes Xbox LIVE games from the likes of Gameloft, Konami, Namco Bandai, PopCap and THQ. Whether you choose to play a gem of a puzzler with "Bejeweled™ LIVE" (PopCap), bring down the house with "Guitar Hero 5" (Glu Mobile), fight off a destructive alien invasion in "The Harvest" (MGS), paint your way out of a corner with "Max and the Magic Marker" (PressPlay) or defend your city in "Crackdown 2: Project Sunburst" (MGS), the first wave of games announced in the launch portfolio of Xbox LIVE games on Windows Phone 7 has something for every mobile gamer:
| "3D Brick Breaker Revolution" (Digital Chocolate) "Age of Zombies" (Halfbrick) "Armor Valley" (Protégé Games) "Asphalt 5" (Gameloft) "Assassins Creed" (Gameloft) "Bejeweled™ LIVE" (PopCap) "Bloons TD" (Digital Goldfish) "Brain Challenge" (Gameloft) "Bubble Town 2" (i-Play) "Butterfly" (Press Start Studio) "CarneyVale Showtime" (MGS) "Castlevania" (Konami) "Crackdown 2: Project Sunburst" (MGS) "De Blob Revolution" (THQ) "Deal or No Deal 2010" (i-Play) "Earthworm Jim" (Gameloft) "Fast & Furious 7" (i-Play) "Fight Game Rivals" (Rough Cookie) "Finger Physics" (Mobliss Inc.) "Flight Control" (Namco Bandai) "Flowerz" (Carbonated Games) "Frogger" (Konami) "Fruit Ninja" (Halfbrick) "Game Chest-Board" (MGS) "Game Chest-Card" (MGS) "Game Chest-Logic" (MGS) "Game Chest-Solitaire" (MGS) "GeoDefense" (Critical Thought) "Ghostscape" (Psionic) "Glow Artisan" (Powerhead Games) "Glyder 2" (Glu Mobile) "Guitar Hero 5" (Glu Mobile) |
"Halo Waypoint" (MGS) "Hexic Rush" (Carbonated Games) "I Dig It" (InMotion) "iBlast Moki" (Godzilab) "ilomilo" (MGS) "Implode XL" (IUGO) "Iquarium" (Infinite Dreams) "Jet Car Stunts" (True Axis) "Let's Golf 2" (Gameloft) "Little Wheel" (One click dog) "Loondon" (Flip N Tale) "Max and the Magic Marker" (PressPlay) "Mini Squadron" (Supermono Limited) "More Brain Exercise" (Namco Bandai) "O.M.G." (Arkedo) "Puzzle Quest 2" (Namco Bandai) "Real Soccer 2" (Gameloft) "The Revenants" (Chaotic Moon) "Rise of Glory" (Revo Solutions) "Rocket Riot" (Codeglue) "Splinter Cell Conviction" (Gameloft) "Star Wars: Battle for Hoth" (THQ) "Star Wars: Cantina" (THQ) "The Harvest" (MGS) "The Oregon Trail" (Gameloft) "Tower Bloxx NY" (Digital Chocolate) "Twin Blades" (Press Start Studio) "UNO" (Gameloft) "Women's Murder Club: Death in Scarlet" (i-Play) "Zombie Attack!" (IUGO) "Zombies!!!!" (Babaroga) |
Additional titles in the launch portfolio will be released between now and the Windows Phone 7 launch this holiday season; once the phone launches, new Xbox LIVE titles also will be added to the games portfolio every week.
Xbox LIVE: Bringing More to Your Mobile Gaming
Xbox LIVE on Windows Phone 7 unlocks a world of games and fun and directly connects you to a global community of more than 25 million active Xbox LIVE members. Windows Phone 7 is the only phone that seamlessly integrates Xbox LIVE and provides unique mobile gaming experiences:
- Avatars. Connect to your Xbox LIVE profile and Avatar, or create a new one if you don't already have an Avatar or Xbox LIVE profile; take your 3-D Avatar and props with you on the phone with full closet access.
- Friends. Bring your Xbox LIVE friends with you everywhere; compare Achievements, challenge rivals to your favorite game, and even see who's online and what they're doing on their consoles, PCs or phones.
- Game access. Easily view and launch your full game library from a single location; find, try and buy new games either in the Marketplace or Games hub.
- Achievements. Earn, view and track Achievements, view Xbox LIVE leaderboards and build your Gamerscore across Xbox 360 and Windows Phone 7 - every time you play an Xbox LIVE title.
- Messaging. Communicate with all of your Xbox LIVE friends, any time you want, through Xbox LIVE messages.
- Multiplayer. Invite, connect and play against friends on other Windows Phone 7 phones or the PC with turn-based (asynchronous) multiplayer gaming.
- Spotlight. Access Xbox LIVE Spotlight feeds, including the latest game titles, breaking news from Xbox LIVE, game tips and tricks, and more.
About Xbox LIVE
Xbox LIVE is the online entertainment service for your Xbox 360, connecting you to an ever-expanding world of games, movies, TV, music, sports and social entertainment. Xbox LIVE lets you play the best games, enjoy the largest on-demand library on any console, listen to millions of songs and share the fun with friends around the world. This holiday season, Xbox LIVE will come to Windows Phone 7 and put the power of connected entertainment in the palm of your hand. Xbox LIVE is also the exclusive home of controller-free online entertainment through Kinect, making your Xbox 360 more intuitive and interactive than ever before. With an active community of 25 million people across 26 countries, expanding to 35 this fall, Xbox LIVE, together with Xbox 360 and Windows Phone 7, provides you with instant access to the entertainment you want, shared with the people you care about, wherever you are. More information about Xbox LIVE can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/live.
Xbox LIVE is the online entertainment service for your Xbox 360, connecting you to an ever-expanding world of games, movies, TV, music, sports and social entertainment. Xbox LIVE lets you play the best games, enjoy the largest on-demand library on any console, listen to millions of songs and share the fun with friends around the world. This holiday season, Xbox LIVE will come to Windows Phone 7 and put the power of connected entertainment in the palm of your hand. Xbox LIVE is also the exclusive home of controller-free online entertainment through Kinect, making your Xbox 360 more intuitive and interactive than ever before. With an active community of 25 million people across 26 countries, expanding to 35 this fall, Xbox LIVE, together with Xbox 360 and Windows Phone 7, provides you with instant access to the entertainment you want, shared with the people you care about, wherever you are. More information about Xbox LIVE can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/live.
Apple fanboys, better embrace Fandroids now!
The enemy of my enemy is also my friend.
Competition is good!
Thanks to Apple for Flaming Microsoft to outperform Apple!
Anyone have a surmisal on why these sandbox phones are so tiny? I would think Microsoft would use this as an opportunity to reinvent the convergence device.
With phones trickling into the 4.3" arena, having more space for Mobile doc's, as well as gaming packed into a robust O/S such as what were seeing.. should def. be the way to go. After all, Apple were the first ones to really up the screen real estate ante.. shouldn't M$ be trying to one up them on all fronts?
@Phen0m
Microsoft is not making the hardware. Talk their OEM partners if you want big screen phones (Which I want too)
@Phen0m
Mind you, the 4.3" screen you are touting was first unleashed on a windows device HTC HD2. These devices are not made buy Microsoft, vendors will make devices and you can always have choice. With or without Keyboard, lareg screen or small one.
They make the requirements for the devices they choose to showoff to the public though
I can't wait to get rid of the Symbian ridden phone i have and pick up one of these, however, i wouldn't mind some doodle jump / angry birds action :)
I really don't see how this is a game changer. Being able to dress up my xbox live avatar doesn't seem like much incentive to purchase a new phone.
I want Halo Wars, I don't want a FPS on that screen.
Is it too much to ask for a big screen too? I would love a 4.5 or 5" screen for this phone, how cool would that be?
@vbViper
Would such a device be classed as a phone though? Some people would consider it too bulky. I think MS should defintely develop a WP7 slate device though...
Really? You are all impressed with this? All games look childish and easy. Crappy graphics and cartoony... I am positive it will only get better, but you can't be serious saying this beats anything out already. And if you can't wait to get your hands on WP7 so you are able to change the clothes on your avatar, then you must be 12 years old.
@ockemon
WP7 is in direct competition with Apple and Android.
They might have started off earlier and have a greater number of titles out, but seriously, anyone can see that Xbox Live is superior to the Apple/Android offering.
This isn't even released yet and they've stated that they are holding back even more surprises till the final launch.
@ockemon
Does Apple have these title when they initially launched? Wait till XNA is fully unleashed!
wow i never thought i would leave android but this looks sweet, hopefully the rumored sony/android deal is in the works
@JAK33
The thing is, the Sony/Google thing is just a rumour at the moment - or very early development. Expect at least 18months before it comes to fruition.
PLEASE Microsoft support the xbox voip chat and if you are really awesome video (if forward facing cam present) chat. I have really loved the integration with windows live messanger and the use of the chatpad.. it would be awesome if I could chat with some of my xbox friends over voip.
Apple better get that iOS4 Game Center out soon.
@dan325013
Game Center or no Game Center, they're still entering this market as newbies. Until recently they couldn't give a crap about games and they have zero experience in this market.
Still it's good competition, but XBox is tried and tested, with an already established reputation and community. The others being Sony and Nintendo.
@Dolphineek
Am sure "Game Center" will be another hard code learning cycle. XNA already has a comminity of developers, same tools, same code base.
Objective-C is terrible. Try C#
I'm a PC, I run Windows, I'm a Zune and soon.... I am a WP7. =D
Getting one when it comes out for sure :P... just need to find the right one w/ the proper eye candy specs.
ADD ME ON XBOX TWITTER FACEBOOK CHECK OUT MY BLOG, VISIT THIS WEBSITE FOR A FREE WINDOWS PHONE 7
^_^ jk... my first post.
I'm salivating from how tasty that preview was. Now the problem is whether I can wait till "Fall" or pick up the Epic 4Gizzle.
Interesting how a lot of the games in the video are also on the iphone. I wonder if developers were given 'encouragement' to do this so that MS can try to win over iPhoners.
@Spongy You have to understand that MS is well known in the gaming space and has LOTS of deep relationships with most of the major 3rd party studios. Namco, EA, Sega, Popcap etc, all makes games for and do quite well on 360 so its nothing for MS to call up contacts about their new mobile platform to these companies. Apple's iDevices in games are SOLELY ran off 3rd party games, as Apple doesn't know the first thing about making a game... 3rd parties are out to make the most money, so they will be on just about all platforms. Where MS can separate themselves from an Apple is in their robust FIRST PARTY gaming studios. Every platform will have Madden, COD, Uno, Pacman, Sonic... but only one will have Halo, Gears of War, Fable, Crackdown, Forza, Banjo, ilomilo, Perfect Dark, Conker etc, as MS already has established AAA studios and IPs. MS is bringing console level competition to the mobile space.
Secondly, MS has went out and actually paid some of the smaller indie devs of popular iPhone games to make a version for WP7. Their trying for a great launch and they know they need as much as they can get so that customers have a comfort level with the amount of apps in the marketplace. Theirs also Indie Game devs from 360, so its not that they need games, it that they want the highest possible amount of games they can get on launch.
"Halo..." At first I was like :0
"...Waypoint" But then I was like :/
@Imogen Heap But it says Halo, has to be worth buying a phone for....
@Imogen Heap
Haha, but Waypoint is still awesome! I will install it for sure.
@incendy You can sign me up for Halo Waypoint any day of the week. The media they present is top notch.
I took a look at all the videos... Don't care about the Avatar stuff... and all the games look like ports of iPhone games right now.
Hopefully they do something more with it... if not.. I don't see this really giving iPhone a run for it's money.
So eventually the next zune HD will get all this goodness?
@sakanade Yes. Hopefully Tablets as well.
Before all the WinMoFo's get too moist, just think on this nugget from the smartphone market:
Apple raked in 48 percent of the worldwide mobile market’s earnings before interest and taxes in the second quarter of 2010. The Cupertino-based company achieved this feat with roughly 3 percent of the overall mobile sales in the quarter.
I'll just restate that in case people are missing the point.
By producing the hardware and software, and the portal, Apple have bagged 48% of the cash spent world-wide of mobile phones, with just 3% market share.
That's why MS are truly screwed - they simply cannon compete with that level of profitability from Apple.
Pie charts for those who like graphics rather than numbers here:
http://gigaom.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/ebit-mobile-market.png
@SExpress I have a nugget for you!
"Xbox Live’s success not only shows that videogame consoles represent a market with huge potential for virtual good sales, it also shows the strength of Microsoft’s hybrid model: combining subscriptions and virtual goods sales. In total, that’s around $1.25 billion a year. In other words, Xbox Live is killing it."
MS does great for itself selling "virtual goods" on whats considered a family item (a gaming console). What do you is going to happen when they unleash that same formula to the billions of people that use cell phones as a personal item? Live has the potential to double its revenue on the phone alone.
http://blogs.forbes.com/velocity/2010/06/17/microsofts-xbox-live-is-making-boatloads-on-virtual-goods/
@timotim Sorry to rain on your Xbox parade:
In the most recent quarter ended June 30, the Entertainment and Devices Division (EDD), which houses Xbox, PC consumer and Zune, saw its operating loss increase 22 percent year-over-year to $172 million.
@SExpress
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-07/xbox-live-sales-probably-topped-1-billion-for-the-first-time.html
@timotim You do understand the difference between sales and profits right?
The losses are real, and made even worse when you consider that MS sold more units this last quarter, yet lost even more money doing so.
http://games.venturebeat.com/2010/07/22/microsofts-xbox-division-posts-172m-loss-even-as-slim-models-start-selling/
@SExpress
Wait. Are you seriously arguing a divisions (!) P&L (that would be profit and loss) numbers to sales figures for a device family?? Really? That's asinine! Flat out. I get that you want M$ to fail. I really do. Hell, in my heart, I feel that the best thing that could happen for all consumers is if microsoft got taken down a peg. With this being said, please don't make an ass out of yourself skimming through articles and looking for numbers that you can identify to "strengthen" your short-sided points. Moreover, even if you were looking to compare similar items (which you couldn't do in detail yet), its worth pointing out that MS discourages free apps in the marketplace. I wont get into specifics about that one, it should be pretty easy to see. Just go a little easy on siting things.
@ExpectAFight You see the division covers hardware, software and the Zune product set that will be incorporated into the WinMoFo, but I know that's a difficult concept to grasp.
Don't get all bent out of shape because the numbers aren't where you want them to be.
Even the new motion sensing game thingy looses money on every item sold.
The contrast with Apple could be more clearly illustrated...
@SExpress Except I, not talking about the EDD as a whole, Im talking about the amount of revenue MS sees off selling "virtual goods" over Live. The EDD is another topic all together. My point is that MS will now open uo Live and that same formula to personal items (cell phones)... their revenues will more than double what live did for 2009.
It looks great and all, but I am left with a question. Can we turn those avatars off? Ignoring how I don't like how they look, my concern is about the battery dying far sooner because it has to deal with a virtual person dancing about or causing slowdown just because it needs to show up.
Hate to say this but Windows Mobile 7 looks better than the current form of Android, I like that Microsoft forced OEM manufacturers to meet some Hardware requirements before they can make a Windows Phone 7, I only hope Google would do the same with Android 3.0
Anyone know the song in the ad?