DailyTech - XNA Game Studio to Unlock Zune's Potential

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Software XNA Game Studio to Unlock Zune's Potential
Purav Sanghani - February 22, 2008 3:21 PM

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11 comment(s) - last by squirrelfriend.. on Feb 23 at 12:49 PM

Zune owners rejoice, the games are coming!

Since the launch of the original 30GB Zune in 2006 users have posted on blogs, forums and comment boards requesting the Zune be opened to third party developers. The Zune not only features 4-80GB of storage space for audio and video, but also features hardware that may support development beyond the current uses of the portable audio/video players.

With the Freescale MX31L processor inside the Zune its possible for developers to design applications such as personal assistant applications or communication tools. Currently, the Zune is just an ordinary audio and video player with no other features to set itself apart from the rest of the portable media devices out there.

For Microsoft to compete in this market, it will have to update the Zune to support additional features found in devices like the iPod Touch like personal organization tools such as a calendar, to-do list, and possibly a communication tool. However, the sweet spot would be gaming.

Recently, Microsoft announced the preview version of XNA Game Studio 3.0 which offers a number of updates to the previous XNA Game Studio 2.0 game development suite. XNA is a framework based on the .NET Framework 2.0 which allows developers to create games that can be played on Windows XP/Vista as well as the XBOX360 platform because they are written to run on the runtime instead of a specific hardware platform.

As far as Microsoft's portable media player is concerned, version 3.0 of Microsoft's XNA framework will allow developers to extend the use of their code on the Zune, converting it into the platform it was meant to be. According to an XNA FAQ, XNA Game Studio 3.0 is planned to support all Zune models include the 4/8GB and 30/80GB SKUs. At this time the XNA GS 3.0 preview does not support sharing CCGame files among other users but this is a feature planned for the final release.

As far as the wireless connectivity is concerned, multiplayer support can be included in games if the developer chooses, however, sharing of games through the Zune's wireless connection will not be supported with the final release.

Another limitation from a hardware perspective is that XNA game developers are limited to 16MB for game code and content including sounds/music and video. Though the Zune devices include storage capacities between 4 and 80GB, its not clear if that space will be available to store extra content not in use.

For now the XNA Game Studio 3.0 will allow developers to create mini games for use on the device, however, the future may bring a long line of applications and "widgets" that can be used by a wider audience such as personal organization software.

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Zune gaming

By AlphaVirus on 2/22/2008 4:36:30 PM , Rating: 2

It sounds good but I have 1 question, how does this compare to gaming on cell phones? I am not familiar with the ram and cpu power in certain cell phones but if the Zune can game well then all the better.

I really dont use to-do lists or stock widgets but good luck, as I am sure a lot of people would like these features.

RE: Zune gaming

By KingstonU on 2/22/2008 4:54:05 PM , Rating: 2

I for one need a to-do list, can't live without it or an agenda. Maybe this will change when I'm done school but I would certainly consider it a selling feature as long as it is easy and fast to use.

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RE: Zune gaming

By xsilver on 2/22/2008 9:11:24 PM , Rating: 2

yes, ironically I think the zune needs some kind of add on system like Firefox.

User developed (read free) extentions that can cater to a lot of users needs.

With gaming, I think the thing that will have a leg up over the competition is WiFi; I envisage the ability to transfer games from one zune to another wirelessly to have instant 2/4 player action.
With 16mb games you can have something as good as super nintendo.
Is the ability to transfer songs on the zune still limited to the 3or3 system? no workarounds? I would think that the zune is limited by software right now and not hardware.

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RE: Zune gaming

By SaltBoy on 2/22/2008 5:33:07 PM , Rating: 2

If the games on the Zune are as good as the ones on the 6th-gen iPod, then they'll blow cell-phone games out of the water -- at least the cell-phone games I've seen on the Blackberry. Maybe the iPhone games are better. :)

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Watch out Nintendo

By mikefarinha on 2/22/2008 5:54:20 PM , Rating: 2

Perhaps Microsoft is gunning for both Apple and Nintendo with the Zune?!?!

RE: Watch out Nintendo

By Zensen on 2/22/2008 9:03:04 PM , Rating: 2

I've not seen a zune in person nor are they available on the continent that I am on :P

I just want to know if applications and games in particular can be useful on the control layout that the zune currently uses. Would it be somewhat awkward because I know some mobile phones are just horrible when it comes to the games button configurationa and they have a choice of many buttons and thats not to say the games were incredibly bad.

It is a nice afterthought that some "useful" applications could be built for this mp3/video player after its initial release (and probably brought smiles to many). I still am the type of person that prefers a product that can do one thing great than a lot of things but on an average level. Convergence is fantastic if done right :)

But I guess its like mobile phones, you don't really buy them for the games unlike say PSP.

I dont know about them going after nintendo, I'm assuming you mean the DS? At the least the DS button layout is suited for this sorta thing.

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RE: Watch out Nintendo

By jconan on 2/22/2008 9:13:22 PM , Rating: 1

for casual games zune has a chance against apple head to head. but with the nds, that's a totally different market with a touch screen and dual screen dual processor and different demographics. personally i don't mind bringing a dap and a nds with me.

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Small Correction

By Xodus Maximus on 2/22/2008 5:22:16 PM , Rating: 3

the caption for the pic says "XNA Game Studio", but it shows TorqueX's Level Builder (see http://www.garagegames.com/products/torque/x/featu... which is a product sold separately and made by GarageGames.

I promise

By sadffffff on 2/23/2008 1:34:32 AM , Rating: 2

The second someone uses this to program a.. (or microsoft adds a..) WEB BROWSER of some kind to the zune, I promise I will go out and buy both a zune 8 and a zune 80.

I would love to use the zune-pad as a mousepad. And I dont think it would be too huge of a hassle to deal with it for typing search terms etc (im not writing a novel on it).