Microsoft makes handheld gaming move at last

Firm's portable MP3 player Zune welcomes its first games titles; compatibility with XNA output revealed: During the firm's keynote at GDC today, Microsoft revealed that its Zune portable music player was staking a claim in the handheld gaming space by being able to play games made using XNA Game Studio.

XNA general manager Chris Satchell demonstrated the portability of code between Zune, Xbox 360 and Games for Windows platforms, saying games could be developed on PC using XNA Game Studio and then loaded onto others.

[Iron Man 2]

LHFAO!

Is this Microsofts attempt to enter the handhelp market,via the Zune,both the Apple Ipod and PlayStation® Portable will always give the Zune a good a*s pounding in popularity and sales total

$niper

[gambare]

XNA games will be free?

[gambare]

umm... by the number of disagrees that means ... no

[v1c1ous]

where's the buttans?

[RecSpec]

Well, it's something. I mean there are no iPod games out there worth buying. (Phase comes close. VERY close)

[Ghoul]

well awesome IF the zune wouldnt be such an immense flop.

[Mr Murda]

Unnecessary comment. Zune is hardly a flop. No one had the expectations, including MS, that it would be the ipod killer. Only the media hyped it up for that to be the expectation. It's in second place in the mp3 player market (granted with a large margin between 1 and 2) and is a good device. I have an ipod Touch, ipod shuffle, 8GB Zune, and 30GB Zune. I like each of these devices for different reasons. I'm excited about the possibility of free games for the Zune as one more thing I can do with this already cool gadget.

If you don't like it, fine. No need to call it a flop when it isn't.

[Dareaver1]

i think the zune is a great success, the fact that it took the #2 spot is very impressive. The fact that it's being compared to the already successful I-pod is a showing achievement. No company has made a Mp3 player device worth mentioning other than I-pod. the fact that you can have a conversation with people and ask what do you think about the Zune, shows that support is growing. That's a direct result from marketplace awareness. You can't just walk up to people and ask, what do you think about Sansa's mp3 players, or any other company's. But what M$ has done is made a real competitor. And if you like C/Net, they actually rated the Zune Higher than the I-pod.

The only problem with the Zune as of this moment, is the fact that it doesn't interface with Mac computers and even Windows Media Players own software. If they fix that, then i think the Zune can really start making people think a little bit longer on a decision between it and the I-pod.

[BloodySinner]

If the Zune is a flop, then I suppose all of the other MP3 players in the market today which also happen to be directly competing with the Apple iPod are "flops" as well.

As I stated a few weeks back. Had the Zune device been available in my area at the time, I would have bought it over the iPod in a heartbeat. That's not say the Apple iPod isn't good, it's just that when you compare the specs/features of both devices, Zune has the edge.

[Ghoul]

hmm strange

ok maybe it isnt but then in realyl wondering couse i havent seen a zune in the wild at all (europe)

[candystop]

Well I might just have to get me a zune now!

[ceedubya9]

Still directly competing with the ipod. I wonder if they will ever come with a true handheld gaming console? This does at least seem to have better potential than the games that apple was offering on their service.

[wow14]

MS is going to use Danger Inc. to deliver the next Zune/MS-Phone/Xbox protable.

Have you used a SideKick? They are damn awesome. MS will bring some big resources to Danger's next device, and it will go up against the iphone/ipod and DS/PSP at the same time.

And, IMHO, its going to be a hit.

If they release it under the Zune (or Xbox) branding, and aim it at the 15-30 digital-lifestyle user...

I'll almost certainly buy one.

Oh, and wouldnt it be awesome if it was a Vista SideShow compatible device? Sweet.

[MaximusPrime]

who actually buys Zune? It is not popular in UK. Ipod is the most popular.

Integrating games into Zune is one of the stupidest move by MS.

Sorry MS you will going to experience a bumpy ride like Sega's Game Gear.

[wow14]

Not going to happen.

What they didnt really talk about is what role Danger Inc. is going to play in this.

*THAT* is the elephant in the room that no one is talking about yet. The next-gen SideKick (awesome btw) is going to be a Zune/Xbox branded phone from MS.

That is going to be the portable gaming play... and it will be a cellphone geared towards the Connected Digital Lifestyle.

It is going to bury the iphone.

Windows Mobile is geared towards connectivity and productivity, but the Danger Inc. purchase is going to be aimed at the urban, 15-30 digital savy market. Phone+Games+Media+Mobile Internet. MS is really in a perfect spot to really shake up that space, no one else is going to put that all together.

Mark my words.

[ip-student]

My thought was that hand-helds are poor for most games so I would just like a casual game or two. But I didn't like the DS that much because there is no room for music. So this makes the Zune look a lot more attractive to me - think I will take the plunge.

[Mr Murda]

Don't confuse this with a true handheld gaming console. The games will surely be fun and innovative, but also very simple. I own a couple of Zunes and I think they're great, and the software is now much better than the original software they released. The addition of games will be very nice and just one more thing to add on to an already cool gadget.

[ip-student]

The Zune is never going to play really complex games (maybe it can do simpler DS level games, maybe not) but I was just looking for something that would be highly portable and have some decent casual games for when I am heading home on the train - brain dead from working 12 hours. This seems like it fits the bill nicely. The ability to inlude a fair amount of music (probably all of my CDs that I listen to on a regular basis) is a bonus.

[Bladestar]

ok... let just make something clear here.. before people think that the zune is have weak hardware not capable of rendering ok games...

ZUNE:

CPU: Freescale i.MX31L processor; ARM Core, FPU (SCIMX31LVKM5 / 3L38W / CTAU0629) (400Mhz)
RAM: 64 MBytes x32 Mobile SDR DRAM / 133 MHz / 90 mA (K4M51323PC-DG75)
Flash: 2 MBytes NOR flash, 3.3V, 1Mx16 Boot block (PH28F160C3TD)
FS456LF: PC to TV video scan converter (Macrovision 7)
Audio: Stereo CODEC with speaker driver / 0.9 W power out (WM8978G)
FM Tuner: Silicon Labs Si4701 single-chip radio tuner (4701A15)
TV out: Focus (FS456)
USB: USB2.0 Philips (ISP1504)
bus switch: Low voltage octal FET bus switch (CL245 / SN74CBTLV3245A)
ATA driver (?): 8-bit bus transceiver/driver (P003 / 620A5)
Wi-Fi: RF/BB/MAC 802.11g Wi-Fi (KeyStream) module (KS3021 / KS7010)
Power manager: Freescale MC13783
Battery: Li-Ion battery 3.7 V / 800 mAh (G71C0006Z110)
Hard Disk: Toshiba 30 GB hard disk, 1.8" (MK3008GAL)

Here are Some PSP specs:
CPU: PSP CPU (System clock frequency 1~333MHz)
Main Memory: 32MB
Embedded DRAM: 4MB

did you know the zune has more RAM, faster CPU than the PSP?

I am not saying that it was design for games so it may lack the design or other components to be able to run psp-like games...

but it's no IPOD:

Onboard RAM: 32 MB
Processor Speed: 90 MHz (x2)

ofcourse the zune does not have an UI to play games like anolog sticks or buttons designed to play games.. but nothing that an attachments (like the xbox 360 chatpad) can't fix via USB port...

don't be amazed if many xbox live arcade games are able to run on the zune...

I just felt the need of making you guys aware that the zune CPU and Memory power is not as inferior as you may think compare to the PSP and the Ipod.

[Mr Murda]

Thanks for posting those specs. I knew it was a beast (for it's size) but never knew it rivaled the PSP in that aspect. I have no doubt that it's capable of handling games, graphically speaking, it's just that the lack of a d-pad or joystick would make it difficult to control a complex game. I'd definitely be into an add-on via USB for a mini controller of sorts though!

[wow14]

Have a look at the SideKick.

It is *VERY* close to being an almost perfect form factor for a gaming phone.

http://sidekick.wetpaint.co...

If the next-gen Zune spec gets a slide-out full keyboard or better a slide-out d-pad & 4 buttons (motion?)

That is clearly where they are going, and they said as much when they sent out the press release about Danger.

[phony force slayer]

it is more like an mp4/5

[Rhezin]

Naaa Im good on that, Darksnipa's right though, they shouldn't head toward this handheld area. They just just stick at what they're good at, and that's getting the best games out there on their console.

[Diabloz]

lol i will never buy that

[Nevers]

for something ridiculously cheap like $80 from Amazon and it had a huge amount of memory ... he loves it more than he thought he would. I haven't gotten an mp3 player yet but this might make me soon. That lil BSG rip-off game M$ made and showed was kinda neat... now how 'bout some achievements ;-) jk

[wow14]

If he paid $80, he must have been buying a close out of the Gen1 device maybe?

The Zune comes in 4 sizes. The Zune 4, Zune 8, Zune 30 and Zune 80 (it is by capacity: #GB btw)

http://www.jellyfish.com/pr...

The 4GB model is $135 @ Amazon.

I have a 1st Gen Zune, and a Zune 8. I cant recommend them enough. I used to have a Zen and a ipod Shuffle, but Honestly, anyone who's used a Zune knows that MS really has a hit product. It's truely great.

[Nevers]

bought it in a close out sale around Xmas'ish time... he's into that bargain binning tech stuff. Wish I was a skilled a it. Funny thing is he took it down to Mexico loaded with music only to find out he didn't buy the right wall plug-in or something; so he had to recharge it off of someone's laptop usb.