Slashdot Mirror
Ad Viewing Required For Free Zune HD Games
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.
Not really a surprise. On the old MSN gaming network they had them, and there are permanent ones in the MSN client, and the games started over the client had them too. ;)
Microsoft have to make their money somehow, and it's not looking like it's going to be through their software
Sure Microsoft, that IS a good idea! Ad-supported native software, straight from the mothership.
You get two choices.
Either the "free" games are sponsored or they are paid for by everyone who buys a Zune - whether they want them or not.
Which would be the Slashdot geek's next complaint.
Do you really have to spread your fud? I'm not a microsoft fan, but at least be honest.
"The Zune HD utilizes the Nvidia Tegra 600 chip [3], allowing it to play 720p video through the optional HDMI Zune dock on a high-definition television. Otherwise, content will be scaled down to 480x272 pixels on the player's OLED screen.[5]" From wikipedia.
Also from wikipedia:
# Video support: [14]
* DVD resolution and frame rate, up to 10 Mbps bit rate, CBR or VBR for:
o H.264, Baseline profile up to Level 3.1 + B-frames support [14]
o WMV Main and Simple Profile, Advanced profile up to Level 2.
* 720p HD resolution and up to 14 Mbps bit rate, CBR or VBR for above supported video profles
* MPEG-4 Part 2 Simple Profile up to 4.0 Mbps bit rate
# 720p high definition video output - HDMI or Composite (additional dock required for both)
sig?
A lot of games on portable devices are something you might play for a few minutes to pass the time waiting for a bus, etc. If you have to wait 30 seconds for a game to start, then that's a sizeable percentage of the playing time which is ridiculous. It's even more annoying than all those trailers/adverts/previews/etc. you have to sit through at the cinema or the film preview you used to be forced to sit through on certain DVDs. And once you've seen the ad once, you're not going to watch it again for 30 seconds. If you have to advertise, put up an advertising splash screen for a few seconds with the option of the user pushing a button to exit the screen sooner.
----------------------------------- My Other Sig Is Hilarious -----------------------------------
Yes, you can playback 720p if you buy a $90 dock, for a $219 player. Meanwhile, back in reality, this means that the Zune cannot play HD video (it's only 480x272) unless you spend a significant amount of additional money (40%). They should have called it the Zune HD-ready.
The HD in the name, however, does not refer to that feature, but to the HD-radio.
One of things in the iTunes app store that is really getting on my nerves, is developer adding ads after the game is released. The progression goes: release a free game, wait until it is in the top 25 or gets popular, then create an update that includes ads.
Why is this annoying? Well, suddenly you have add boxes over key game elements, the game starts up slowly while ad loads (i.e. the much watch ad), or new start or splash pages appear that include the ads. Also, since everyone appears to use the same few ad networks, I get the same ads on every application. I feel like I got hit with some kind of bait and switch. I'll also note, that the update's description never mentions the new and exciting ad feature.
I started developing apps for the iPhone so I can understand the desire to be paid for your work. So, please think about your revenue model (and minimize the impact to players if you have ads) before your first release or better yet just sell it at a fair price. I will buy a good game. I will delete games that become unplayable and rank accordingly.
I love the sound of distortion in the morning -- webcommando
"The door refused to open. It said, 'Five cents, please.'
He searched his pockets. No more coins; nothing. 'I'll pay you tomorrow,' he told the door. Again he tried the knob. Again it remained locked tight. 'What I pay you,' he informed it, 'is in the nature of a gratuity; I don't have to pay you.'
'I think otherwise,' the door said. 'Look in the purchase contract you signed when you bought this conapt.'
In his desk drawer he found the contract; since signing it he had found it necessary to refer to the document many times. Sure enough; payment to his door for opening and shutting constituted a mandatory fee. Not a tip.
'You discover I'm right,' the door said. It sounded smug.
From the drawer beside the sink Joe Chip got a stainless steel knife; with it he began systematically to unscrew the bolt assembly of his apt's money-gulping door.
'I'll sue you,' the door said as the first screw fell out.
Joe Chip said, 'I've never been sued by a door. But I guess I can live with it.'"
("Ubik", Philip K Dick)
How long until we'll be begging our Zunes to let us use our software ?
If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
Yes, with an iPod model you have the choice of whatever Apple choose to approve....
-- Sorry, I can't think of anything funny to say here.