Just had a crazy idea...

[books]

Imagine this - Microsoft gets into the handheld gaming business.

How they do this? Start developing some high(er) quality Xbox Live Arcade games and make the unit play them, plus the currently existing XBLA games.

I really wanted to play Braid on the go the other day and thought this up; I'm sure it has been discussed before, but what do you guys think of this?

It's gold Jerry, gold!

[rokov]

I doubt that they would do it. Nintendo has always dominated the handheld market and it usually takes MS a few generations to really nail a product down. That being the case, I think that they would see it as far too much of an investment in something that would mostly likely end as little more than an also ran.

[ryudo]

It's an old idea and PSP and DS fill it just fine.
MS has stated many times through the last 4 years they want no part in handheld gaming hardware.
They have released some games on DS to spite Sony however.

[esophagus]

Could be cool if this did exist, but saddly it never will. Probably a wise decision on Microsofts part.

[poltah]

Actually it's not a bad idea. With Live Arcade getting the games they're getting, MS could easily throw a handheld out there that could be very cool.

And especially if you could link up the two consoles, so I could continue to play my handheld game on the xbox when I was home. I mean, I would really dig that. Having you use your live account on both machines.

[gonzooo]

On release the machine would probably be as good as it can ever be, with lots of fresh titles. While I'm sure the move would stimulate companies to develop more XBLA games, MS would still be competing with DS games, which, I imagine, aren't the least bit more costly to develop.

My skepticism aside, I'd really like to see this happen. It'd make me buy more XBLA games.

[doowttam]

I don't think they'll release a gaming handheld. But it wouldn't surprise me at all to see the a new Zune capable of playing XBLA games.

[inertianinja]

a reasonable method to make this happen would be a tweaked new version of the zune and a MS version of remote play.

i'm guessing the games won't port directly since all the XBLA games are in HD, right?

a little "send to zune" function would be cool.


i would use my PSP's remote play more often, but i'm never around wifi.

[dolson]

Some of the PSN titles are being made into PSP games now, like Super Stardust and Everyday Shooter, and of course echochrome already exists for both.

That being said, I'm sure Microsoft will eventually do something, because, well, they're Microsoft. They need to try and have their fingers in every pie out there.

[gonzooo]

a reasonable method to make this happen would be a tweaked new version of the zune and a MS version of remote play.

i'm guessing the games won't port directly since all the XBLA games are in HD, right?

a little "send to zune" function would be cool.
I think there are limitations that might be a bigger concern regarding the Zune. All HD technically is, is higher resolution (bigger textures, needs more memory, etc.). I'm not sure about any of this, but I suspect the XBLA isn't limited in any way except size, which would be the chief concern in my book. Whatever they make I'm sure it won't be quite up to 360 specs, which I imagine would eliminate some of the XBLA titles purely because they squeeze out just a little too much sauce from the 360.

Scaling down resolutions probably shouldn't be too much of a concern; but the (few(?)) XBLA titles that actually use quite a bit of the 360's power probably would have to be reworked far more than running at a lower resolution to be played on a handheld.

[wideawakewesley]

Here's what's going to happen...

Microsoft will continue to push the XBOX Live experience onto as many devices that it can. They've moved from XBOX to PC and that trend is continuing on phones, which are the next big gaming platform. The big battle is going to come in the next ten years, with Microsoft pushing a software platform on multiple hardware devices and Apple, Nokia (and soon Sony) pusing a software + hardware platform.

So yes, you'll see XBOX Live arcade games come to a mobile device, but it won't be a gaming device, it'll be phones. However, the big question is, what's Nintendo going to do? Device convergence has happened, the iPhone is the proof that it works and it's successful. Nintendo needs to work out how it handles that. Historically they make their own software on their own hardware, but that was gaming hardware. Could they make a phone or should they partner with someone who can and if they do, wouldn't you lose some of the Nintendo experience?

Wes

[soberirishguy]

i can't see them developing any hardware for hand held. it would be easier for them to add graphics functionality to their module phone OS's and thus allow the live arcade games to be played on the latest phones. thus they would generate revenue from the phone manufacturers for the OS software while leaving the development of the games up to the community that already exists. less hassle for them they dont need to worry about a hand held console war with sony or Nintendo

[ryudo]

As said people keep starting rumours or begging MS for a handheld but MS says a flat NO not going to happen everytime.

And Wes is right,as they have developed/released games on DS and other handheld devices.

As for connecting to 360 idea some pointed out.
Might want to Check PSone Pocket Station,Dreamcast VMU and Neo Geo color with Dreamcast,GBA to Gamecube,DS to Wii and PSP to PS3.

On paper the idea always sounded cool but it never truly takes off.
Many who own one system don't own the other and niche crowds use this but most don't.

I wish the Idea would truly take off as it has tons of potential but still remains very niche.

[icu]

As someone who owns a pretty high-end Windows Mobile phone I would LOVE if some of these games were made available.

However, the fact that the games would likely have to be scaled back and the great variety in the hardware coupled with the stigma of them being "Business Only" phones I see this as unlikely.

I think it would be smart for a few of the publishers/creators to do this on their own. I'd buy that for a dollar.

*heck they could convince Dell to make a new "Gaming Axium" (sp?) PDA

There are some games for WM, but great ones are few and far between. I generally entertain myself with Virtual Pool, Kevtris (Tetris knockoff), a few puzzle games and a GBA emulator.

[books]

You guys are probably right, this might not ever happen. But, it would be pretty fucking sweet if it did. I mean, they could produce this thing for a low cost (flash memory + it can't take too much resources to power the XBLA games) then do the 'Nintendo thing'. Make it available in limited quantity and build up the hype.

I think if they made this avaiable at a price lower than most of the other handhelds (I'm thinking $99) and then had a few major developers (EA, Ubisoft, Actizzard) make some KICKASS titles for XBLA, then they could have their foot in the door.

[wideawakewesley]

http://kotaku.com/5043877/microsoft-hasnt-forgotten-about-live-anywhere-iphone-either

[burkhartmj]

The phone idea definitely eppeals to me. Especially with devices like the HTC Touch Diamond and Touch Pro setting the bar for WM devices, I could easily see wifi connecting the 360 and phone, and sending scaled back xbla games. As far as varying hardware, MS could easily have minimum requirements for different games, and have them greyed out or something if the connected phone can't handle it. This would also encourage phone developers to use higher end hardware because they'd automatically have a new selling point: "get THIS phone because it can play X Game"

It's possible, and lucrative in the long run, but it probably won't happen quite yet because the phone market just isn't quite where it needs to be for this kinda thing to pay off.

[nshady]

You guys are probably right, this might not ever happen. But, it would be pretty fucking sweet if it did. I mean, they could produce this thing for a low cost (flash memory + it can't take too much resources to power the XBLA games) then do the 'Nintendo thing'. Make it available in limited quantity and build up the hype.

I think if they made this avaiable at a price lower than most of the other handhelds (I'm thinking $99) and then had a few major developers (EA, Ubisoft, Actizzard) make some KICKASS titles for XBLA, then they could have their foot in the door.

This is where you're getting a bit too fanciful. Microsoft took seven years to make a profit on the Xbox platform, I highly doubt they are going to throw themselves into the market with a $99 machine. XBLA games would take up more resources than people give them credit for - think about all the action on screen in some titles. Geometry Wars? Most likely is either

a) Zune update with the XBLA branding but smaller, more portable games or versions of games like the iPod classic did for a while.

b) Team up with another phone company to do the same thing.

It won't be a true gaming device with tons of power.

[trunolimit]

2 things

1 does anyone remember the sega game gear? How long did it take nintendo to realize, hey color and a back light screen are the way to go. seriously how did sega ever loose the handheld war? Then again with the dream cast, the first real next gen console, had a built in modem and everything. sega has some real visionaries. they need to say fuck it lets do it again.

2 You guys are forgeting one major issue. console games can't port well to handhelds. part of what makes a console game awesome is how beautiful it looks. that kind of power is not available yet in a handheld.

3 (ok so i lied) nintendo is pissing me off. they have a catalog of excellent games. what they need to do is take their entire n 64 catalog and port them to the ds. As the psp proved, old school gaming is a major demand in the gaming community.

sony needs to get off its ass and give us some better games. its the only reason the ds is out selling the psp. (althoug I see more psp's then DS) Also stop half assing the psp updates. seriously wtf just give us touch screen capabilities already so we can build a DS emu and creat the one handheld to rule them all.

lastly, phone/game console...bad idea, remember the n gage. I want my gaming device to be as powerful as it can, running phone apps in the background is going to tax the system heavily. when creating games for a handheld its allot harder. one must focus on the actual gameplay rather than making it look nice.

[burkhartmj]

2 things

1 does anyone remember the sega game gear? How long did it take nintendo to realize, hey color and a back light screen are the way to go. seriously how did sega ever loose the handheld war? Then again with the dream cast, the first real next gen console, had a built in modem and everything. sega has some real visionaries. they need to say fuck it lets do it again.

2 You guys are forgeting one major issue. console games can't port well to handhelds. part of what makes a console game awesome is how beautiful it looks. that kind of power is not available yet in a handheld.

3 (ok so i lied) nintendo is pissing me off. they have a catalog of excellent games. what they need to do is take their entire n 64 catalog and port them to the ds. As the psp proved, old school gaming is a major demand in the gaming community.

sony needs to get off its ass and give us some better games. its the only reason the ds is out selling the psp. (althoug I see more psp's then DS) Also stop half assing the psp updates. seriously wtf just give us touch screen capabilities already so we can build a DS emu and creat the one handheld to rule them all.

lastly, phone/game console...bad idea, remember the n gage. I want my gaming device to be as powerful as it can, running phone apps in the background is going to tax the system heavily. when creating games for a handheld its allot harder. one must focus on the actual gameplay rather than making it look nice.

1] The game gear failed because it had HORRIBLE, I mean HORRIBLE battery life. The dreamcast failed because the discs were so easy to rip, no one bought games.

2] That's the point of it being XBLA, not the standard console games. Considering geometry wars looks and works great on a DS, I'm sure the latest phones could handle it.

3] well.....I agree :D

Lastly] the n gage was a custom UI that was badly done, with games that were badly made, on a piece of hardware that was very weak. This is just adding gaming into Windows Mobile, which is a very decent UI, on the latest phones, which are already lightyears ahead of the n gage's hardware capabilities. The gameplay would be good because it'd be a port of the XBLA game that's already good. As far as buttons and joysticks and stuff to control it with, that's where a major hurdle comes in.

[poltah]

I really don't want a phone/game combo thing. I dislike the iPhone. I don't to pay for an iphone, because it's simply too big for a phone if you ask me. I'd hate walking around with that huge thing in my pocket. And I don't like the touch screen one bit.

[burkhartmj]

I really don't want a phone/game combo thing. I dislike the iPhone. I don't to pay for an iphone, because it's simply too big for a phone if you ask me. I'd hate walking around with that huge thing in my pocket. And I don't like the touch screen one bit.

The iPhone really isn't that big. I mean sure its flat dimensions are a little large, but the fact that it's thin makes up for a lot of that when in a pocket. Besides, the iPhone is definitely not a gaming platform despite what Apple says. Many WinMo phones have more processing power and screen resolution than the iPhone could hope for.

[ryudo]

People are clueless when it comes to Sega.

DC did NOT fail due to disc size or ease of rip. (then PSone would have failed if it was that easy to bring a system down)

Sega used it's own created format called GD rom (1gb disc too expensive then to put in DVD also was risky)

DC failed because Sega had a crap load of CEO changes one even died financial hell from bad business decisions,bad marketing supporting 7 platforms at once,their games sold quite well actually and within the first few months esp in the US it was like Wii,could not find one on the shelf as it kept selling out.

However When PS2 came along with a built in DVD player (very pricey then much like blu ray today) Matrix in Japan was selling the best not a game but the movie Matrix sold like crazy with PS2's.

PS2 got Sega's 3rd party support and thensome.

Sega could no longer financially support DC so it was discontinued however games today are still made and the GD roms were only discontinued in jan 2007 by Sega.

US had offially 250 DC games UK 218,Japan well over 700.

Then there is the homebrew games.
And this year just had a brand new official gae released.
In 2003 DC on a chip was made which was a chip that held on one small chip.

Been used in many cell phones since more well known ones like N95 and iphone.

Gamegear died because of price bulky and crap batt life.
Sega Nomad was the first true portable console in the mid 90's. Size of a Gamegear but played full sized Genesis/Mega Drive carts plus it plugged into the TV and even allowed two players to play. Again price and batt life killed it.

DC is the most successful failure ever haha as it still has an audience esp for Homebrew and Modders.

And with many classic faves as for such a short life had amazing games. Some you still can't get anywhere else so people still play DC..esp for Shenmue.

Many have forgotten how hyped DC was and how well it was recieved it's first year but mainly due to Sega's poor bank account and partly due to the Shadow of PS2 it went down.

But Mostly Sega's fault.

[trunolimit]

on top of that does anyone remember the sega channel? freakin sega being visionaries again.

If sega would have spent time and money on improving the gamegear they would have owned that market.

I've never heard of the nomad but wow that sounds incredible.

[ryudo]

on top of that does anyone remember the sega channel? freakin sega being visionaries again.

If sega would have spent time and money on improving the gamegear they would have owned that market.

I've never heard of the nomad but wow that sounds incredible.

Yip.

It was a better version of the Famicom modem.
Famicom modem gave you news and updates and such on Nintendo games through an 'online' (sorta) network (Japan only)

Nintendo had a satellite service with SNES but was not as robust as the Sega channel. Sega channel was an awesome idea but was so far ahead of it's time.