Gaming on Zune? Not anytime soon
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Oct 4th 2007 at 4:45PM }
Those of you looking forward to gaming on your Zune (all seven of you) are likely to be disappointed by the following news. Zune guru (and former Xbox guru) J Allard revealed to GamaSutra that there are currently no plans to integrate games into Microsoft's MP3 player (where have we heard that before?). Allard noted that the speed of innovation in the portable market makes games a "tricky proposition." In other words, new versions of MP3 players come out so often (see the latest Zunes above for example) that compatibility becomes and issue. Not only that, but control interfaces change all the time too, so playing an old game on a new player could be physically impossible. Allard doesn't rule out the possibility entirely, noting that XNA could be a factor for portable gaming. He concludes, however, that "Zune isn't playing Halo 3 anytime soon."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tony @ Oct 4th 2007 5:17PM
The new "squircle" pad would be a hell of a lot better for it than the original clickpad, I think. There's a lot more possibilities there. I wouldn't be surprised if it played iPod level games at some point, but it's not like either of them could compete with the DS or something. It's not really the point.
I'm actually watching out for this. They seemed to have fixed every real issue I had with the original version and I do like that they're updating the firmware for the original units so that they can use the new features of this version (aside from the new pad).
FordGTGuy @ Oct 4th 2007 5:22PM
He never said 'no games anytime soon' he said 'won't be playing Halo 3 anytime soon' you guys are taking the quote a little to far.
gundamxzero @ Oct 4th 2007 6:16PM
"all seven of you"
How annoyingly arrogant.
Yuccadude @ Oct 4th 2007 6:24PM
As one of those seven people, I don't think it was arrogant, I think it's true. I currently know two other people with Zunes, and I influenced both of them to get them.
On the other hand, lack of popularity aside, it's a great product that doesn't really get the attention it deserves.
mirage @ Oct 4th 2007 6:32PM
I would have bought a Zune long ago if the software was compatible with Windows 2000. The fact that they are forcing people to have XP in order to get the most out of their products makes me sick. I would also like to be able to stream music to my 360, but you need XP!
Stranger @ Oct 4th 2007 7:11PM
Yay, pink a i-box. FINALLY!
Anticrawl @ Oct 4th 2007 7:21PM
Having to work with Windows 2000 everyday for 2 years as a tech for a biomedical research center I must say mirage, unless that's your business computer's OS that was adopted by your company in excitement of its release then you're probably an idiot for having it. Honestly I'd rather have the original edition of 98(not the patched or b edition) and deal with the bugs and system crashes. It was refreshing when they started ghosting the machines for XP. I think it would be taking a step backwards to use an PMP/MP3 on any system with that OS. That's like trying to get into homemade dvd's on an apple II or putting racing seats in a station wagon. I really actally can't think of an analogy, but it's just plain stupid.
What was a mistake by Microsoft is not supporting all interations of XP with the Zune.
Stranger @ Oct 4th 2007 7:22PM
"How annoyingly arrogant."
I would assume as a Gundam fan that you'd be used to being treated as a minority. In this case, I think you might be mistaking the term "arrogant" for "honest".
Don't know if you've crunched the numbers or not, but Zune sales and Ipod sales are about as comparable as those of the Atari Lynx and the DS Lite. It's apples and orange seeds. If anything I'd say that "all seven of you" is being generous.
Personally, I wouldn't have gone higher than five.
DP @ Oct 4th 2007 7:29PM
who cares?
mfed3 @ Oct 4th 2007 9:03PM
apple fanboys always try to find something to talk about with any competing product. the "all seven of you" is how they sleep at night. good job having the trendiest most overrated product of the century. zune > ipod and zune > itunes on every possible level. and i consider it a pro not having mac support. fuck apple, im out
Tony @ Oct 4th 2007 9:40PM
XP is years old at this point, I think it's hard to consider this "forcing". They can't support every platform they've ever released because it would be infeasible.
xolan99 @ Oct 5th 2007 10:17AM
Does somebody want to explain to me what the Zune does that the iPod doesn't? I think sales figures speak for themselves.