Windows 7 Phones to Play Nice with Big Brother Xbox

For the many good things that Xbox LIVE does, its closed nature makes one thing practically impossible. Cross-platform play. It’s unlikely that Xbox owners will be playing online with PC or PS3 owners any time soon.

But it’s significantly more likely that they will be playing online with owners of fancy-pants new Windows 7 phones.

During Microsoft’s recent X10 event in Toronto, Canada, a representative from Microsoft confirmed the possible functionality to RGB Filter, along with some other details.

“Windows Phone 7 is a platform that we’ve specified what the hardware needs to be,” said Greg Milligan of Microsoft Canada. “We’re working with HTC, Samsung, LG and Dell to build Windows Phone 7 devices available this fall around the world. One of things we’ve done is we’ve specified in a much more regimented way what the hardware needs to be. That way, developers who build games and applications know that when they build a game or an application for a Windows Phone that it will run across a number of different devices—it’ll run on every Windows 7 phone in the world.”

In theory, standardized specifications would help get around some of the issues that other phone manufacturers have when it comes to applications and games in particular. Even the iPhone has run into this issue. With four different models sporting different specifications on the market, developers have to make a specific choice whether to focus on new hardware alone or produce a “universal app”. This may result in longer development times, or in features being stripped out of applications in the name of universal compatibility. Android phones undoubtedly run into similar issues, particularly with the wide range of custom OS builds available for the platform.

On the subject of Xbox LIVE compatibility and console-to-phone multiplayer, Milligan commented that “initially we’re turn-by-turn based. We are working on real-time phone-to-console, likely initially through Wi-Fi. That’s not on day one. Day one will be turn-by turn as well as companion-type gaming, where you play a level on the phone that may unlock a level or a weapon or some special achievement on the console game. We’re absolutely working on phone-to-console real-time.”

If this sounds familiar, it’s because it’s not the first time it’s been tried. Both SEGA and Sony tried similar “companion gaming” methods with the Dreamcast’s VMU and the PSone’s PocketStation devices. Neither were particularly successful. But they were dedicated devices with tiny LCD screens. Incorporating the ability to make minor progress in a console game into a phone makes much more sense. And the ability to (eventually) play real-time multiplayer with console friends is very cool indeed.

The initial turn-based multiplayer, too, will at least allow popular XBLA card and board game conversions such as UNO, Catan, Carcassonne and Ticket to Ride to be playable. These sorts of casual-friendly experiences are ideal for phone gaming. But it will certainly be very interesting to see exactly what sort of things developers have in mind for real-time multiplayer. Will gamers be playing Halo on their phones? Or will players on a phone have an alternative perspective on the action to their console brethren? Perhaps a player in the role of a “commander” could issue orders from the phone while the console gamers carry them out.

One thing’s becoming clear from this. Windows Phone 7 is something which gamers should be paying attention to. Despite iOS and Android’s current domination of the mobile market, it’s obvious that Microsoft are aiming to make some big waves. And they certainly seem to have their sights firmly set on the gamer market.