Windows Phone 7 Series Takeaway
by Brian Klug on February 22, 2010 12:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Mobile
Gaming, Gaming, Gaming
But perhaps most interesting is what role Xbox Live will play on this platform, which is prominently featured on the main start screen:
Interestingly enough, Microsoft was light on details when it came to how games, Xbox Live, and social networking are going to be integrated on the platform. Perhaps one of the most interesting lessons learned from the iPhone OS' App Store is just how much potential mobile gaming has. It's apparent that Microsoft understands that, and Windows Mobile 7 Series is part of an attempt to grab some of the growing smartphone gaming segment. In many ways, the iPhone is an established console in a gaming market that Microsoft is now entering 2 years late. Microsoft did it before, releasing Xbox a full year and 20 days after the PS2 debut, but time will tell whether the metaphor extends to a similar conclusion.
Microsoft has the interesting potential here of being able to leverage both Xbox Live and its connection with existing gaming industry partners to possibly deliver a unique experience the other platforms can't. Exactly what that is remains to be seen but ultimately the tightness of integration might make or break the Phone 7 series. At the very least, it will make or break the platform's draw as a mobile gaming contender. In its current incarnation, the games tab isn't fully fleshed out. In fact, the demonstration avatar shown on Monday was a static placeholder - the final release will feature the owner's fully animated 3D Xbox Live avatar:
It's little things like these that ultimately will define how Phone 7 Series differentiates itself from the competition. Perhaps an even bigger question is how Microsoft will leverage existing developers accustomed to developing for Xbox 360 or Windows Mobile. Already, details have leaked revealing that applications for Phone 7 Series will be developed using a combination of Silverlight, XNA, and .NET compact frameworks. XNA tools should stand out in particular given the preexisting community of both major corporate and indie developers accustomed to using it to create software for the Xbox 360 and Zune. Needless to say, having the same framework on Phone 7 Series makes it ripe with potential to become a serious foray into mobile gaming. No doubt more will be revealed March 15th at MIX10.
Of course, Microsoft already has a formidable and established online platform for consoles through Xbox Live, complete with its own social community. That said, at present users are restricted to a mere 100 friends, a limitation imposed entirely by legacy Xbox Live titles. Is it coincidence then that legacy support for Xbox Live is being discontinued this April? Could Xbox Live integration on Phone 7 Series somehow have forced Microsoft's hand? It seems more than likely that this is the case.
Already, the platform is facing pressure from a variety of independent developers devising their own solutions for delivering mobile online gaming. Take a look at Gameloft Live:
Server Browser
N.O.V.A. - FPS Title on iPhone OS
The success of this and other similar titles demonstrates that there's a huge market for online games on the smartphone. Even over 3G networks where latency is always a few hundred milliseconds. Microsoft clearly understands that presence in the mobile marketplace is critical for building out a community that will then invest in traditional consoles.
There's potential in the execution here. As it stands, social interaction with Xbox Live community takes place exclusively on the console itself; the experience is tethered to the TV. A platform allowing gamers to communicate, interact, and game online at the same time through their smartphones could be game-changing indeed. Obviously, if Microsoft delivers a phone targeted at consumers that sits right at the crossroads of mobile gaming, social network integration, and basic productivity, we could have something revolutionary. It could be the mobile platform for gamers Apple, Sony, and Nintendo can only dream about.
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Pirks - Monday, February 22, 2010 - link
hahaha I can imagine how reader1 laughs right now at all the PC loving idiots who bashed his closed platform prophesies. now look idiots where MS itself is moving! eat that dumbo winfanatics! hehehe hahaha cool!! :)))Dainas - Monday, February 22, 2010 - link
The biggest problem with Windows mobile, (besides the horrid performance).... was how you had to pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan here to do this, or pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan pan there to do that. THIS LOOKS FRICKEN WORSE, ITS STILL NOT WINDOWS.... Windows 3.0 was better and easier to navigate than windows mobile, cannot wait to see how microsoft will fail at surpassing it again.It looks like you still cannot do a thing without panning for an half and hour because your relegated to looking at a tiny spyhole on the operating system. And no, the resolution of smartphones is not an excuse, windows xp works fine at 800x600.
Tanclearas - Monday, February 22, 2010 - link
Honestly, I was shocked to learn that Microsoft felt they couldn't update the UI without breaking compatibility. HTC gave them a really good start to show how it can be done.I definitely fall into the category of "if I have to change anyway, then I might as well look at all my options". The real risk MS is running is with businesses that are looking at their options right now. They might choose to make the switch to one of the competitors rather than a) stick with a platform MS has killed (WM Classic) or b) gamble on an incomplete, unknown solution.
Griswold - Monday, February 22, 2010 - link
Just a new GUI wont remedy the huge pile of shit windows mobile is, so MS did the right thing. WM was mainly a business product anyway and one that kept losing ground to RIM at lightspeed. Can as well kick that garbage to the curb and finally embrace the consumer with a proper mobile OS. Way to go Microsoft!I for one am looking forward to it. Its now between android and series 7 to replace my iphone 3G, since i'm no longer interested in apples upcoming phones.
Tanclearas - Monday, February 22, 2010 - link
I couldn't disagree more. While there are issues with the underlying OS, the UI was by far the biggest reason to choose something else. When someone is showing off the iPhone, what exactly are they doing? Showing off the UI. "Look how it scrolls when I flick my thumb/finger! Look how it reacts when I tilt/shake it!" When they talk about Windows Mobile, what is the first thing they ridicule it for? "You have to use a stylus?"I just honestly can't believe there wasn't a solution that allowed MS to correct the single biggest issue, without breaking compatibility with existing apps, and while starting a migration process to an improved underlying OS. If I wanted to go with a company with a proven track record of ditching its previous users, then I would have gone with Apple.
The fact that you are considering a completely untested and unfinished platform for you to replace your iPhone indicates you either haven't been involved in the tech world very long, or haven't learned from the mistakes of millions.
Good luck.
strikeback03 - Wednesday, February 24, 2010 - link
While WM6 doesn't actually require use of a stylus, IMO the entire UI did need to be redone. Quite simply, it behaves too much like a collection of disjointed programs. Just the fact that something as simply as the alarm clock is done poorly, and launching a replacement alarm clock can take several seconds, is a indication of how much needs an overhaul in the UI. Really, when the best thing that can be said about the OS is that it allows other programs to run, you have issues.That said, if the new Phone7 doesn't allow multitasking I won't even consider it.
Thermogenic - Monday, February 22, 2010 - link
"As it stands, social interaction with Xbox Live community takes place exclusively on the console itself; the experience is tethered to the TV."This is not correct - the Live community is also accessible from Games for Windows Live.
nerdtalker - Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - link
You're indeed correct ;)I guess what I should have noted was that the experience is still ultimately tethered to either the desktop (through Games for Windows) or the console. If I'm not mistaken, there's some loose ability to interact through the web interface, but still that isn't entirely desirable.
Even then, I've noticed through playing Halo 2 PC and a few other Games for Windows Live titles that the experience is relatively segmented; your gamerscore goes up, sure, and you can see those achievements from either side, but you can't say play Halo 2 games with people on Xbox 1. That, and I don't think they've seen the community on the PC side grow as much due to the whole subscription situation. It's a good thing for PC gamers that already have a gold account, but won't draw in PC gamers already used to free online play or for pay through a clan with a dedi slice.
I guess what I meant to say was that the experience is constrained to the household; it isn't mobile. What Phone 7 Series might be able to do is finally expand that out into the mobile realm so you can take that same online persona with you everywhere.
I mean, we could really start speculating and wonder whether there'll be direct phone->Xbox 360 functionality. Who knows?
Cheers,
Brian
Alexvrb - Monday, February 22, 2010 - link
Yep. I'm half surprised Brian didn't know that. Regardless, extending it into their mobile phones would be a smart move. Especially if you can access your Live content on the go - if some XBLA developers port over their existing games, I'm sold. Castle Crashers on Phone 7 would rock, for example. For relatively simple games made with XNA it shouldn't be too difficult, given a sufficiently powerful phone.gaiden2k7 - Monday, February 22, 2010 - link
First of all, I'm so glad MS was able to see through what they done before wasn't working. WinMo UI before reminds me alot of BB UI very plain and text-based. But WinMo 7, this is so minimalist so simple with its words like tiles and pivots and hubs it's more google-ish than what google tries to do with android! Second of all, there is no doubt MS will be tying up its other toys with the phone: MS Office (when it gets the patent rights sort out), Bing search is cool, and gaming under xbox live is most interesting to me. Android lacks in gaming and has been one of its weakest link to buyers like me (owns N1 atm). But with these Tegra 2 WinMo7 phones on the horizon there is new phone in gaming phones other than iPhone!