With the launch of the latest hardware revision to Microsoft's portable music and video playback device, the Zune HD is the company's next attempt to bring their unique service to those looking outside of industry leader Apple and others for a personal entertainment experience. But while Microsoft has loudly touted the new unit's enhanced HD video playback and connective features, one area they've been surprisingly quiet is the one they seem uniquely qualified to lead: videogames.
Keep reading to see how interesting things could really get!
With Apple leading the charge in bridging the gap between device and gaming platform with the iPhone/iPod Touch, it seems that Microsoft will be testing the interactive waters for themselves, albeit in a considerably more conservative way. In launching the Zune HD player, the company had this to say about what users can expect in terms of true mobile gaming on the platform:
"Later this year, Zune plans to release free applications such as Twitter for Zune and Facebook for Zune, in addition to fun 3-D games such as 'Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition,' 'Vans Sk8: Pool Service,' and 'Audiosurf Tilt.' Games can be added to Zune HD via Zune Marketplace over the Wi-Fi connection or when connected to the Zune PC software."
Microsoft had previously announced the Zune's interlopability with the Xbox 360 gaming console. The company explains the new service(s) will give Zune/Xbox 360 users "the ability to play purchased movies and TV shows across Xbox, the PC and Zune HD. Zune will also be introducing new technology enhancements in Xbox LIVE, providing a choice to download or instantly stream HD video in full 1080p with 5.1 surround sound." Fans looking to pick up a Zune HD can also choose from several designs to help personalize their players, many of which include famous (Xbox) videogame titles like Gears of War, Halo, Crackdown, Fable, and others.
While a title like Project Gotham may sound like a signal that Microsoft has decided to jump into the world of Zune gaming fully, a recent interview with Zune's marketing manager, Brian Seitz suggests fans looking for the Zune to mimic the Xbox 360's primarily 'core' experience may want to exercise a bit more patience. Speaking to the Seattle Times, Seitz said that users will "see is primarily games. We're refreshing a lot of the games to take advantage ofthe multitouch. Casual games. Plus a couple of apps like the weather app and calculator." He went on to tout that Twitter and Facebook apps would be forthcoming, both services Microsoft also plans to introduce to the Xbox 360 console. He also mentioned that Microsoft was "working with third parties to build these apps and provide them to our customers for free."
Since Apple's introduction to the mobile market in 2007 the company has made tremendous strides by offering customers the largest unified mobile App Store (which includes both applications and games), as well as access to the libraries of the iTunes music and video store. The massive shift towards the iPhone platform has come at the expense of other platforms, particularly Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system, which has seen its global marketshare drop into single-digits in the face of new competition from the likes of Apple and Google (Android). For a company with such strong ties to the videogame world, Microsoft has been surprisingly slow in bringing the functionality to their mobile platforms, which includes both Zune and Windows Mobile. While the original Zune device had featured some support in the gaming sector, results were anemic at best, leaving many to wonder just what (if any) strategy was in place for the Zune as a mobile gaming device.
Apple's media event last week seemed to signal that the company was relatively satisifed with the current state of their mobile hardware, particularly with the iPod Touch platform which saw price decreases and memory and graphic acceleration increases, but failed to receive the rumored video camera and microphone upgrade many predicted. The lowest-capacity iPod Touch (8GB) now costs $199, while the newly-released 64GB (also sporting faster processing power) will cost $399.
Comparatively, Microsoft's lowest-capacity Zune HD (16GB) costs $219, while the 32GB model costs $289. While Microsoft's player may have the immediate edge in capacity, the lack of unified App/software store at launch will most likely deter those looking for a more diverse mobile experience of options that fall outside of music and video playback, however advanced they may be.
Will the Zune HD change the company's fortunes in the fast-growing world of mobile entertainment? It's difficult to say at this point, as many of the device's marketing and capabilities seem to run in opposite directions of its major competitors - particularly Apple. Financial reports have pointed to the device, nestled within Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division, as effectively eroding many of the company's recent financial gains in the entertainment space, the Xbox 360 console chief among them. Since first launching in 2006 the player has yet to launch globally and has sold less than three million units (the iPod has sold in excess of 80 million units in the same period).
With its price advantage and considerable influence in the home gaming console world, Microsoft could find itself in a unique position to bring mobile gaming to the Zune HD in ways unavailable to Apple and their iPhone/iPod Touch platforms. With its powerful NVIDIA Tegra HD processor, high-quality touch screen, and Xbox Live connectivity, given a supported mobile App and gaming marketplace the Zune HD could provide the sort of unified experience that Apple users currently enjoy, only flavored with the company's unique perspective on the industry. However, given Apple's 50 million+ unit and 75,000 Application lead, they certainly have their work cut out for them.
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