Gaming on your Zune. It's coming.

[Crippler]

This year at GDC (Game Developers Conference), MS announced support for XNA development on the Zune platform. What does this mean? You'll be playing games on the Zune. Using the same XNA tools for developing titles for 360 and PC, you can now create games that will run on the Zune hardware.

You'll also be able to listen to your music while playing, just like gaming on the 360 and use the Zune's wi-fi to go head to head or multiplayer sessions. Nice. Hopefully we'll see a FW update that will enable this soon. Because I, for one, can't wait for this!





Here's a demo:

+ YouTube Video

Read the Zune XNA FAQ here.

[ZoomZoom71]

That's awesome! I'm not much of a mobile gamer, but the thought of being able to play on the Zune makes me want to replace my stolen unit.

[Peench]

That's pretty dang cool!

[supafreak]

Channel 10 has a nice video up that is new.

Games on your Zune!?! What? How? When? | Laura Foy | Channel 10

They showed off Hexic port that was an example. Most the games I have seen take advantage of the zunepad. They don't have to but from a control scheme I can see why they would want to. That being said, that would mean any of use with a 1st gen Zune might not be able to play the games that use the zunepad.

I guess more of a reason to upgrade my Zune. I will say my Zune has held up really well compared to my old video ipod. The battery life on my Zune is still great and I have used it solid every week for the last 15 months.

[Crippler]

Gaming would get me to upgrade also to the next Zune. My wife can use the Zune30. I would love to mess with creating a game for the Zune too.

[Crippler]

Ok, I have the Zune Clock app. and 2 games installed. Pretty easy actually once you have Visual C# and XNA installed. I downloaded the apps and you just 'deploy' them to your Zune from the XNA software. The clock app is cool for those who have always bitched there is no clock. Man, get over it or get a watch. I have the Album art scramble game and the Alien Game installed. The Alien Game works but I can see how it would be far easier to play with the new Zune's touch sensitive pad.

The apps reboot the Zune when you exit them. Kind of annoying but it's done by design. Now, what can I make for this thing? hmmmm.....

[Peench]

Doode, that's freaking cool. I wanna see pics or video or something. That sounds awesome!

[Crippler]

I just added another game: Galactic Wars 3. It's pretty cool. I'll have to get some pics tonight, if I remember after the kids drive me nuts.

Here's a thread over on zunerama.com with a list of the games/apps and links: Games and Applications List

If anyone else want so try this, let me know. I can help through the process if you need it. It's not hard really.

[Lord Geoff]

I got this running pretty easily. The only hitch I had was that I didn't have one of the fonts that three of the apps used, but that was easily fixed. These are some great initial efforts from people. Sir Tet is the one that I play the most, but Alien Game by the XNA team is definitely the best looking one. It is a pretty simple game, but it has the art style of Alien Hominid and looks pretty sharp. Lord Sam has shown zero interest in having any of this stuff on his Zune, but once someone makes something really messed up, I will ninja it on there!

Also, Crippler, the Zuneboards clock app is much better than the regular Zune Clock. It has both an analog and digital clock and has a slick interface for running your music in the background.

[Crippler]

I have to check out that other clock. Thanks

[The Milk Man 09]

Does this work on the old 30 gig zunes if it does Im gonna try it.

[Crippler]

Originally Posted by The Milk Man 09

Does this work on the old 30 gig zunes if it does Im gonna try it.

Yes. I have a 30GB.

[The Milk Man 09]

ok Im gonna have to try this, about how long does it take?

[Crippler]

Basically just the time it takes to download and install the software.

[Peench]

Is it worth having a write up here?