Microsoft Announces Gaming on Zune

[4np]

Microsoft has its sights on bringing gaming to its handheld

Microsoft has confirmed its plans to feature video games on the Zune by 2008. This feature will be launched in 18 months to compete with Apple's iPod's ability to support games.

This need for adaptation comes from Zune sales dropping in the music player market. In its first week of launch, Microsoft sold captured a respectable 9% of the MP3 player market, landing it in second place in the holiday consumer device rush. Zune sales dropped to fifth place the following week.

If Microsoft offers popular games for the Zune, while allowing for wireless gaming, it will throw the Zune into the competitive market with devices such as Sony's PSP, and Nintendo's DS. Also, with the device's 3-inch display, it is already adequate to handle gaming.

Adding video games is just one of the features Microsoft plans on adding to the Zune. The company announced that it wanted to add wireless video sharing and possibly fuse the device with a phone -- just minutes after the announcement of Apple's new gadget, the iPhone.

source: http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5640

 

[Abstract]

"Microsoft also plans to add something that looks like the version of OS X on the iPhone, but much worse."

 

[Grimace]

dropped to 5th place ? Let's think about that -- awful!

1. Apple
2. Creative Zen
3. Somebody else
4. Somebody else
5. Micro$haft?

 

[ShermDog]

Does anyone else sense an air of desperation?

 

[benthewraith]

"Microsoft also plans to add something that looks like the version of OS X on the iPhone, but much worse."

Actually, to be honest, they got there before Apple.

 

[mlw1235]

Does anyone else sense an air of desperation?

**raises hand eagerly**

ooOOOhhhh!! Me! Me! I do! I do!

 

[baby duck monge]

I can see what they were trying to do by announcing it immediately after the iPhone. That being said, it was still a really stupid call. At best, no one hears anything about it because it's totally overshadowed by Apple's announcement. At worst, it looks like a pathetic "oh man, I hope this iPhone announcement is really long so we can come up with something to say our product will have in 18 months." I mean, I guess it's good to say that you're looking to improve the Zune, but announcing something this lame this close to the iPhone announcement when it's not going to be available for 1.5 years is just silly.

 

[Warbrain]

dropped to 5th place ? Let's think about that -- awful!

1. Apple
2. Creative Zen
3. Somebody else
4. Somebody else
5. Micro$haft?

Actually...

1. Apple
2. SanDisk
3. ???
4. Creative
5. Microsoft

 

[BoyBach]

Actually...

1. Apple
2. SanDisk
3. ???
4. Creative
5. Microsoft

3. Sony?

 

[Grimace]

I thought Archos would have been in there somewhere. That was *almost* my first MP3 player - before I knew better!

 

[Abstract]

Actually, to be honest, they got there before Apple.

But what they have on smartphones is kind of crap, hence the copying bit. Don't know about the Origami though.

 

[dllavaneras]

And of course, it'll be delayed... for 18 more months