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Xbox Gaming Platform To Span Web, Console, Mobile

Posted by Soulskill on from the triple-threat dept.

An anonymous reader writes with this excerpt from Ars Technica: "According to a job posting from August 10, 2009, Microsoft is looking for a LIVE Community Director in the Entertainment & Devices Division. The job posting seems to suggest that Microsoft is looking to bring the Xbox Live, Windows Mobile, and other similar properties closer together. More specifically, there's talk of a 'casual and social gaming platform' that would be available via more than just one device: 'The LIVE Engagement Team is looking for a LIVE Community Director to manage its LIVE community strategy and execution across a range of properties, from Xbox LIVE to Windows Mobile. This senior position will play a vital role in the community space as the LIVE Engagement team builds and program's Microsoft's next-generation, LIVE-enabled casual and social gaming platform across the Web, the console, mobile and beyond.' The first key responsibility listed in the job posting is to '[d]evelop a community strategy that leverages all parts of the LIVE Services team to deliver scenarios and engagement across three screens.'"

7 of 33 comments (clear)

  1. Platform? by WiiVault · · Score: 3, Interesting

    How could things as different as mobile, web, and console gaming ever be part of the same platform? Unless by platform they mean made by MS.

    1. Re:Platform? by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Windows Mobile is a perfectly capable operating system for small devices. Where it falls down is in stability, which makes it marginally acceptable on a PDA (although long boot times are unbearable IMO - Ubuntu netbook remix boots faster than WinCE on many modern devices!) But it's not acceptable on a phone. And if it's not good for phones, then it doesn't have the scope to be worth supporting.

      Windows Mobile is a clear winner in terms of what you're able to do with currently-released phones. Other than that it has no reason to exist. If Android takes off it will "fucking kill" Windows Mobile.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  2. I thought this was already in the process... by Rhoon · · Score: 2, Informative

    With Microsoft's XNA programming wrappers for the DirectX SDK, I thought this was already in the process of happening. XNA games already run on the XBox 360, Windows and Zune. The next logical step is to take it into the mobile community much like iPod apps work on the iPhone. In reality this shouldn't be that big of a surprise to anyone.

    --
    "If all the world's a stage, I want to operate the trap door." - Paul Beatty
    1. Re:I thought this was already in the process... by bloodhawk · · Score: 4, Informative

      I think you have misinterpreted their goal. They are trying to create one platform that all "MS" Devices can access, not one code base that can run on all devices which as you correctly summized already exists to some extent. The intent is shared content, friends, contacts, movies, games etc all accessible from your live "platform" regardless of what device you happy to be using at the time.

  3. Already in place for PC games by DigiShaman · · Score: 4, Informative

    Burnout Paradise (The Ultimate Box), and Warhammer 40k Dawn of War II for the PC require a Windows LIVE account to play online. In fact, Warhammer is especially annoying in that *requires* both Steam and Windows LIVE just so I can play a local campaign by myself.

    --
    Life is not for the lazy.
  4. Correction by supernes · · Score: 2, Informative

    Well, I know for certain that Burnout doesn't. It requires an EA online account and is not a GFWL game, at least in Europe. The worst offender by far is GTA IV, which requires a useless Rockstar Social Club account, a Xbox Live account, and then there's the process of linking those together.

  5. It's all about the $$ by WML+MUNSON · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Microsoft is trying to monetize all multi-player gaming (and eliminate piracy) by creating an extremely large pay-to-access community for multi-player gaming software -- which also acts as a central authentication hub.

    They began with a captive console audience and forced them to pay for multi-player gaming on their Xbox consoles, because PC users wouldn't pay. They now wish to expand on this user-base with people on other platforms. The idea is that once their user-base reaches a certain critical mass, game developers will be practically forced/obligated to build LIVE-ONLY multi-player into their products, including the PC versions.

    This job offering is simply the beginning of the next stage in that plan.