Microsoft this evening set out to show the worls that Windows Phone 7 wil have a high-end game experience by detailing some of the first 50 launch titles. Its smartphone OS will trade on major game names but will sometimes use them as companions that tie into full Xbox games. Crackdown 2: Project Sunburst will be a full game acting as a side story; Halo: Waypoint will tie into the universe, but will primarily be used for community and video viewing.
We believe that no matter where life takes you, the best in gaming and entertainment should follow,” said Marc Whitten, corporate vice president of Xbox LIVE at Microsoft. “Windows Phone 7 takes a different approach to handheld gaming, utilizing Xbox LIVE, Microsoft Game Studios, leading game publishers, and innovative indie developers, to create powerful, shared experiences for everyone.”
Other major experiences onboard will include Castlevania, Guitar Hero and Star Wars titles. Microsoft is promoting a level of casual games such as its self-developed ilomilo as well as Bejeweled, Rocket Riot, Uno and other games often borrowed from Xbox Live Arcade.
Xbox LIVE
Xbox LIVE on Windows Phone 7 unlocks a world of games and fun and directly connects you to a global community of more than 25 million active Xbox LIVE members. Windows Phone 7 is the only phone that seamlessly integrates Xbox LIVE, and its more than 25 million members, to provides unique mobile gaming experiences.
- Avatars. Connect to your Xbox LIVE profile and Avatar, or create a new one if you don’t already have an Avatar or Xbox LIVE profile; take your 3-D Avatar and props with you on the phone with full closet access.
- Friends. Bring your Xbox LIVE friends with you everywhere; compare Achievements, challenge rivals to your favorite game, and even see who’s online and what they’re doing on their consoles, PCs or phones.
- Game access. Easily view and launch your full game library from a single location; find, try and buy new games either in the Marketplace or Games hub.
- Achievements. Earn, view and track Achievements, view Xbox LIVE leaderboards and build your Gamerscore across Xbox 360 and Windows Phone 7 -” every time you play an Xbox LIVE title.
- Messaging. Communicate with all of your Xbox LIVE friends, any time you want, through Xbox LIVE messages.
- Multiplayer. Invite, connect and play against friends on other Windows Phone 7 phones or the PC with turn-based (asynchronous) multiplayer gaming.
- Spotlight. Access Xbox LIVE Spotlight feeds, including the latest game titles, breaking news from Xbox LIVE, game tips and tricks, and more.
“Windows Phone 7 is the launch of a major gaming platform for Microsoft,” said Matt Booty, general manager of mobile gaming for MGS. “Just like we’ve done with Xbox 360, our charter is to push the envelope and deliver definitive games that maximize the platform. We will have an incredible lineup of MGS titles, and that’s just the beginning.”
Microsoft is due to ship the first Windows Phone 7 devices to Europe in October and the US in November and should have most if not all of the launch titles available the same day or “shortly after.”
Launch Titles
- “3D Brick Breaker Revolution” (Digital Chocolate)
- “Age of Zombies” (Halfbrick)
- “Armor Valley” (Protege Games)
- “Asphalt 5” (Gameloft)
- “Assassins Creed” (Gameloft)
- “Bejeweledâ„¢ LIVE” (PopCap)
- “Bloons TD” (Digital Goldfish)
- “Brain Challenge” (Gameloft)
- “Bubble Town 2” (i-Play)
- “Butterfly” (Press Start Studio)
- “CarneyVale Showtime” (MGS)
- “Castlevania” (Konami Digital Entertainment)
- “Crackdown 2: Project Sunburst” (MGS)
- “De Blob Revolution” (THQ)
- “Deal or No Deal 2010” (i-Play)
- “Earthworm Jim” (Gameloft)
- “Fast & Furious 7” (i-Play)
- “Fight Game Rivals” (Rough Cookie)
- “Finger Physics” (Mobliss Inc.)
- “Flight Control” (Namco Bandai)
- “Flowerz” (Carbonated Games)
- “Frogger” (Konami Digital Entertainment)
- “Fruit Ninja” (Halfbrick)
- “Game Chest-Board” (MGS)
- “Game Chest-Card” (MGS)
- “Game Chest-Logic” (MGS)
- “Game Chest-Solitaire” (MGS)
- “GeoDefense” (Critical Thought)
- “Ghostscape” (Psionic)
- “Glow Artisan” (Powerhead Games)
- “Glyder 2” (Glu Mobile)
- “Guitar Hero 5” (Glu Mobile)
- “Halo Waypoint” (MGS)
- “Hexic Rush” (Carbonated Games)
- “I Dig It” (InMotion)
- “iBlast Moki” (Godzilab)
- “ilomilo” (MGS)
- “Implode XL” (IUGO)
- “Iquarium” (Infinite Dreams)
- “Jet Car Stunts” (True Axis)
- “Let’s Golf 2” (Gameloft)
- “Little Wheel” (One click dog)
- “Loondon” (Flip N Tale)
- “Max and the Magic Marker” (PressPlay)
- “Mini Squadron” (Supermono Limited)
- “More Brain Exercise” (Namco Bandai)
- “O.M.G.” (Arkedo)
- “Puzzle Quest 2” (Namco Bandai)
- “Real Soccer 2” (Gameloft)
- “The Revenants” (Chaotic Moon)
- “Rise of Glory” (Revo Solutions)
- “Rocket Riot” (Codeglue)
- “Splinter Cell Conviction” (Gameloft)
- “Star Wars: Battle for Hoth” (THQ)
- “Star Wars: Cantina” (THQ)
- “The Harvest” (MGS)
- “The Oregon Trail” (Gameloft)
- “Tower Bloxx NY” (Digital Chocolate)
- “Twin Blades” (Press Start Studio)
- “UNO” (Gameloft)
- “Women’s Murder Club: Death in Scarlet” (i-Play)
- “Zombie Attack!” (IUGO)
- “Zombies!!!!” (Babaroga)
