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AXIS of Reality
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The Missing Link?
By AXIS of Reality
© 2009 Alex Baldwin
Well, it’s finally announced and the rumoured Xbox Live integration confirmed.
The ZuneHD is Microsoft’s next dip into entertainment devices, but here at OXCGN what excited us most is the potential for gaming on the stunning little handheld.
So far it’s been confirmed that the Zune Marketplace will actually be replacing the Video Marketplace on Xbox Live. This is a bold step, linking the Zune HD and Xbox 360 in an almost symbiotic relationship. This is very similar to the steps Sony took to link the launch of Blu-Ray and the PS3 to push ahead the success of both.
The more exciting prospects of this bond is speculation surrounding Xbox Live Arcade games playable or cross-compatible with the Zune HD.
Why would Microsoft push the two devices?
Why would Microsoft push the two devices so closely together without some thought for the gaming possibilities?
Another clue is the use of the Nvidia Tegra ‘system-on-a-chip’ to power the Zune HD. Nvidia is best known for their GPU (graphics cards) for PC, as well as for consoles such as the original Xbox and most recently the PS3′s RSX.
Nvidia has been trying to push into the CPU (processor) market, and this connection between the two in mobile devices paves the way for more complex 3D graphics in handhelds. It’s already been confirmed the Zune HD will support 720p HD video output (hence the name), which indicates the power of the device as 720p requires very hefty processing power. Why waste the strength of this only on video rendering – why not games?
Perfect Timing On The Announcement
Given the timing of the announcement, Microsoft is clearly aiming to start some buzz before the big reveal at E3…And is perhaps clearing the slate for even bigger announcements still!
While we can only speculate at the gaming features, it would make sense to link to Xbox Live Arcade and Community Games in a similar fashion to the iTunes Appstore that has given so many excellent games for the iPhone and iPod Touch. With the success of high-profile Appstore games such as Hero of Sparta, Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles and Need for Speed: Undercover, why wouldn’t Microsoft want to get into the market?
The final piece of evidence: using a capacitive touchscreen. For those who don’t know, there are multiple types of touchscreens with different ways of detecting contact. The main two are resistive (such as in the Nintendo DS) and capactivie (in the iPhone / iPod Touch and now the Zune HD). Resistive simply picks up pressure put on the screen by using layers of plastic that can depress, but the big disadvantage is these can scratch because of their materials. But more importantly, they only allow one touch of contact on the screen at one time, as well as being less accurate so a stylus is best used. 
Capacitive touchscreens use glass (which is essentially scratch-proof) and allow multiple points of contact (aka: multitouch) by sensing the slight electric field interference that human touch gives so fingers are the ideal method of contact.
Multi-Touch Capability.
This multitouch capability- virtual thumbsticks and buttons on screen or gesture control – are ideal for games as Apple has demonstrated.
While replacing the Video Marketplace with the Zune Marketplace is a bold move, it does have some distinct advantages. Apple has been very successful in letting you download movies on iTunes to watch on your computer or iPod, and the new Zune Marketplace should take it a step further by letting you watch movies in your living room (where most people enjoy their films) on your HDTV before moving them onto your Zune HD.
This uses the already existing Xbox 360 install base to expand digital movie distribution options and makes it a much more tempting option. After all, one of the key reasons for the demise of UMD movies on the PSP was you had to buy both the UMD and DVD if you wanted to watch the films at home and on the move. With the Zune Marketplace on Xbox Live, it makes much more sense to own the one movie but be able to move it between devices.
Xbox 360 – The Center Of Your Entertainment Experience
I guess this is what Microsoft meant when they talked about the Xbox 360 being the centre of your entertainment experience.
It’s highly likely that music and podcasts won’t be left out in the cold either with the new Zune Marketplace – imagine downloading a new song on your Xbox 360, having a listen while you play a game before transferring it to your Zune HD. Pretty nifty, yes?
Now take that a step further – downloading an album to play in Rock Band, Guitar Hero, or Microsoft’s own Lips then transferring it to your Zune HD as well! After all, why should you need to buy your favourite songs for Lips and pay again to get the mp3? Adding the Zune Marketplace to Xbox Live dramatically increases the possibilities of merging games, video and music together more than ever before.
The Platinum Zune
Hey, you could even download OzBoxLive’s latest podcast on your 360 to hear the latest gaming news while you’re fighting away in Halo 3, and finish the rest of it on your Zune HD.
Microsoft have really hit the nail on the head
Microsoft have really hit the nail on the head by combining two entertainment devices together for the benefit of both – something no other console has attempted until now.
So what will E3 have in store for the Zune HD? OXCGN predicts Xbox Live Arcade games, Achievements that port from your 360 to your Zune HD (remember that talk years ago ago about ‘Live Anywhere’, where your 360 would link to your mobile phone or PDA?) and maybe even the ability to use it as additional storage with your 360.
It’s going to be a very interesting E3 for Microsoft – the ‘Xbox Fluid’ motion control and Zune HD? Looks like the Xbox family is finally expanding…
© 2009 Alex Baldwin
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Filed under: Xbox 360 News | Tagged: 360, capacitive, marketplace, Microsoft, microsoft zune, resistive, touchscreen, video marketplace, XBLA, Xbox 360, xbox live, XboxLive, zune, zune marketplace, zuneHD
Aaah, games, they’ve taken so much of my precious lifetime already. I wonder if I’ll get a bonusgame when I die =P
Agreed Helix – the Zunes are very well made, and the Zune HD has been a long time coming so it should be a quality device.
Engadget has posted some hands-on with it and reckon the OLED screen is absolutely beautiful and has an extremely responsive interface, as well as feeling thinner than it appears.
Basically, it works and feels like a premium device as you’d hope.
PSP is not competing with these devices.
As for reliability for the Zune HD? If it’s anything like the 2nd generation Zunes then you’re safe as they were built quite good.
Will have to wait and see how reliable it is. would not buy it day 1 as look what happend to 360. 30% of them were returned. Would not want to buy another rushed product.
One word “PSP”
If the Zune HD can play the XBL games and XBL arcade games and Xbox games as mentioned, then the ipod touch will be in trouble. How many games are on XBL alone? About 5 times as much as what apple has.
Could be a big win for MS if this happens.
Absolutely, providing it does link to Live Arcade this could be the biggest strength of the Zune HD.
However, I doubt it would support already released games – most likely ones developed after the announcement that are designed for the Zune HD or have a Zune HD version (since things like controls need to be adjusted for touchscreen).
Apple has a lot of problems with hardware, more than M$, believe it or not. But Im sure that XBL games will not work ‘directly’ on Zune, as some guys suggested before. It will happen, but not now.
Im pretty sure too that a lot of games are in mind of the publishers too.
Well, I’ll buy one, but not in launch day… (RROD Trauma).
The guy that wrote this article says that touchscreen buttons and controls are great – as I write this on my iPod touch I can honestly say that this method of control sucks ass 4 gaming. Great for everything else though!
Depends on the game, whether it’s built around the touchscreen or simply trying to emulate regular hardware controls.
For example, Zen Bound (one of the iPod Touch’s best games, highly recommended) would not work on any other platform anywhere near as good. It’s built around the capabilities of the platform and creates a fantastic experience.
So really, it’s all down to the developer.
Well, not to be stuck up or anything, but just like the iPhone and iPod Touch….Would you rather have a few OK games on the go (trips, carrides, ect.) or nothing at all??
@ oldest gamer
Apple does not have quality hardware. The iPod touch ‘home button’ issue is proof of that.
Oh and one more “little” feature that the Apple platform does not have:
Achievements. That is killer.
It will play better games then the ipod just by the fact that the Zune HD has a more advanced chipset inside and furthermore it will have access to the hundreds of hundreds of games already on XBL. If you have played some of the quality games on XBL like Castle Crashers, Bionic Commando Rearmed, Ikaruga, Portal, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night,
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, Braid just to name a few…you would know most if not all of those are better quality then ipod touch games.
Moreover, they are also saying it will play Xbox1 games. That alone is killer. Playing the original Ninja Gaiden. Chronicles of Riddick. Max Payne. Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Tides of War, Project Gotham Racing, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow. MechAssault, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3 and of course Halo and Perfect Dark. Gaming possibilities with the Zune HD blow away the iTouch.
Apple is king for many reasons. They make exceptional software and QUALITY hardware. Developers of iPhone / iPod touch apps can begin by just purchasing any Mac computer as all Macs’ come with the development tools, no extra expense ($1000+ on M$ Windows) and the tools (XCode, Interface Builder) are so far ahead of what MS offers a comparison is pointless. Not to mention your target audience all have the same hardware (M$ counting outdated versions of Windows Mobile are pointless as they are not compatible with newer services). Lastly, can this new device even play games and what of the build quality?