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Ad Viewing Required For Free Zune HD Games

Posted by Soulskill on from the read-why-in-thirty-seconds dept.

UnknowingFool writes "In releasing the Zune HD, Microsoft decided not to open up software development on the new Zune to third parties yet. Today, Microsoft released a handful of free games for the Zune HD: Texas hold 'em, Sudoku, Space Battle 3, Shell Game, Of the Future, Hexic, Goo Splat and Chess, as well as calculator and weather apps. Users, however, are required to view an ad (up to 30 seconds in length) while the game starts up. While ad-supported free games are also on other platforms, like the iPhone, the difference here is that those iPhone games are from third parties and not from Apple." Reader Rock3t notes related news that the Zune HD will be getting 3D games.

14 of 131 comments (clear)

  1. Difference? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    While ad-supported free games are also on other platforms, like the iPhone, the difference here is that those iPhone games are from third parties and not from Apple.

    I dont understand whats the difference here that makes it bad. Why couldn't the manufacturer release ad-supported games too?

    In releasing the Zune HD, Microsoft decided not to open up software development on the new Zune to third parties yet.

    Wasn't this discussed in the earlier news already. They're not restricting development, but just wont open apple like app store for it. Windows and Windows Mobile is the same way; there's no single place to download apps, but you are free to install any app you like.

  2. Does that mean... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    All games will have ads, or only the ones Microsoft developed? If it were the latter, I wouldn't worry so much. And also, isn't the Zune supposed to get third party support?

    1. Re:Does that mean... by PARENA · · Score: 0, Troll

      You haven't been paying attention, really, have you? :) They're not opening up their app store for 3rd party software. I believe this was mentioned on /. 1 or 2 days ago, maybe. Or rather when asked they said something like "we might in the case that there is a situation where it is desirable to possibly have an opportunity like this that we may or may not perhaps consider blablablabla..." Which essentially meant "Nope", or else they would've just said so.

      Hope I remember correctly now... :)

      --
      Here's the secret to immortality: ...oh dang, I forgot.
  3. A what? by NaughtyNimitz · · Score: 1, Troll

    A Zune? Never heard of it. Oh it's that brown turd you can only buy in the US and Canada?

    1. Re:A what? by Thanshin · · Score: 0, Troll

      I really thought it was a parody of other brands' versions for at least a couple of weeks.

      All the news I saw about it were jokes... Nobody had one...

  4. big deal? by timmarhy · · Score: -1, Troll
    so apple doesn't do it - yet.

    how the fuck is this news worthy?

    --
    If you mod me down, I will become more powerful than you can imagine....
  5. Re:Not really... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Microsoft have to make their money somehow, and it's not looking like it's going to be through their software ;)

    What about the money you just paid for the device itself?

    You mean the lease?

  6. Horse bolted... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    As the iPod Touch and iPhone turn into gaming devices and their marketshare appears to soar ever higher the response from Microsoft is somewhat strangely to stay behind the curve. "Will be getting 3D games"? Unlike the iPhone/Touch which already have them you mean? No 3rd party development... like the iPhone had at launch.

    Sometimes I get the feeling that Microsoft aren't really trying here, the question is when they clearly aren't trying to out innovate why are they continuing to spend money in this space? Is it purely because they "must" compete with Apple? It feels as if their product meetings go

    MS PM: What does the current set of Apple products do
    MS Marketroid: Well they have apps
    MS PM: 3rd party apps?
    MS Marketroid: No that is banned

    So they then spend 18 months developing the product at which place they are closing the gate against a horse who is already 20 miles down the road.

  7. Freetardos cant be choosy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    You take what they gives you and you gives back in kind.Snickers bar anyone?Its free!

  8. Who cares? by miffo.swe · · Score: -1, Troll

    It sucks and there are much better alternatives. Just dont buy it.

    --
    HTTP/1.1 400
  9. Re:Not really... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    "Microsoft does something bad for its customers." Is anyone shocked?

  10. Re:Not really... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    But its known, thus it is a fea... I mean "service"

  11. Guess what's also not a surprise... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    That Ben Bernake lied to Congress about monetizing public debt. Since the Chinese are growing weary of financing our extravagant entitlement system, now the Fed has decided to do it by buying debt from the Treasury. As long as the money is moving from one pocket to the other quickly enough, maybe nobody will notice that we're broke! Still waiting to hear how Obamacare is going to help this situation... I'm also still waiting for a leader to have the balls to stand up and tell the American people, "No we can't afford to do X, Y, and Z." What parent would take their kid to Disney World when their house is being foreclosed and their cars are being repossessed? And finally, I'm still waiting for someone besides Glenn Beck to take the federal government to task for bastardizing it's Constitutional role and running roughshod over the States and their citizens...

  12. Re:Genious Marketing by pm_rat_poison · · Score: 0, Troll

    Yes, but if you're using apple, you don't like freedom in the first place, you just like what Jobs likes.