The news that Xbox Live will be available on Windows Phone 7 mobile devices this Fall has already got a lot of folks talking about the advance of the mobile gaming market. Anticipations about unique game titles, user experiences, and streamlined account activities abound. There are even speculations about when–and if–Sony's Playstation Network might consider joining the fight.
The news of mobile Xbox Live alone is enough to instill bowel-evacuating excitement in Xbox owners everywhere, but how feature-rich will this experience be? Gamers that opt to buy a Windows Phone 7 mobile device will expect (and receive) the basics, which include access to their Xbox Live profile, gamer points for mobile titles, and achievements they can earn while they play. That doesn't sound like anything mind-blowing, but it is a step towards a more integrated mobile game experience on Windows Phone 7.
What games will be available on the Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system? This is one of the the bigger concerns that seems to be emerging around this new OS. At the moment, this essentially sounds like another completely unique development platform that game designers and developers will have to plan for. Although unlikely in the near future, finding a streamlined way to port current Xbox Live titles directly to a Windows Phone 7 mobile device would be a big win for gamers and game companies alike. Xbox Live fans will be able to have a seamless gaming experience regardless of their location. That means you don't have to sweat buckets trying to acquire that last Braid puzzle piece before work; you'll be able to take all that glorious mental frustration along with you! Game developers would have one less delivery platform to worry about when envisioning their titles.
That of course doesn't mean that custom titles and experiences would be unwelcome on a Windows Phone 7 device. Taking advantage of the boastfully sleek and simple user interface could present some very intuitive and refreshing games. If Microsoft couples this with a strong focus on Xbox-specific brands, it could mean very awesome things for the mobile game market. This does present a slippery slope, however, as the potential for creating cheap and watered-down facades of popular Xbox titles is very plausible. Too often the game industry has traded product quality for delivery dates and marketability; and that's something faithful gamers don't want in their pocket.
As for reaching beyond their initial client-base, Windows Phone 7 devices have an opportunity to cater to the hordes of more casual gamers. There's no denying that a lot of people just want the ability to play their turn-based mobile games with family and friends. Anything that delivers a Facebook-style experience seems to be gold, especially when people are on-the-go. This demographic may not be a big draw for the Microsoft big-wigs, but it is definitely an entertainment channel that Windows Phone 7 devices would be wise to address.
Adding a similar feature for connectivity to Sony's Playstation Network would also be a useful market for the Windows Phone 7. This would obviously be an unusual clash of branding, however, and its not clear if Sony would have a strong enough reason to consider such a move. Perhaps waiting to see what features and game titles Microsoft will bring to their Windows Phone 7 Xbox Live service would be a viable strategy before Sony decides to let Playstation Network enter the mobile phone arena.
Overall, we're incredibly excited about this new mobile gaming platform. Windows Phone 7 devices have an opportunity to influence the future of portable games which will include robust connectivity across multiple platforms for a single user. We aren't expecting to have a Mini Master Chief in our pocket anytime soon, but when we do, the tiniest of wars will unquestionably be waged
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