How Microsoft can save Xbox games for Windows Phone: Part 2

How to save Xbox games for Windows P{hone Part 2

The recent extended release drought of Xbox games for Windows Phone has prompted both game developers and players alike to question Microsoft's commitment to Xbox Live support for its own mobile OS. For their part, Microsoft kinda-sorta reaffirmed their dedication to mobile Xbox games, and the long in-development Skulls of the Shogun finally debuts this calendar week. Perhaps the drought has concluded and Xbox Windows Telephone games will flower anew once more.

Nevertheless, all those weeks without new games didn't happen by random risk. There are myriad underlying problems at fault, from outdated policies to poor portfolio management to a combination of apathy and ambivalence from some divisions within the platform holder itself. To anyone with an ounce of agreement of the mobile games industry, information technology looks bad - and it is bad. Simply Microsoft can all the same save Xbox games for Windows Phone.

We've already taken a critical centre towards the Xbox Live certification policies for mobile games in the first installment of this multipart serial. Today we go on with a look at why Xbox games affair to Windows Phone and the missing support of popular game engines. Remember, these suggestions come up from a standpoint of dearest and the desire to see the Xbox brand on Windows Phone grow and succeed.

Xbox Alive is important to the future of Windows Phone.

A few of the central Xbox Live features for Windows Phone

Nigh of the suggestions in this serial volition seem similar mutual sense to gamers and developers alike. But the first two suggestions of this article are actually open to argue. Specifically, these disagreements volition stalk from the fact that not everyone buys into the Xbox Alive ecosystem – particularly people who don't ain an Xbox 360. In fact, I'm positive that several people in Microsoft's own Windows Telephone and Business Development divisions fail to see the value of the Xbox brand to Windows Phone. Simply Xbox features do matter, and I'll tell you lot why.

The Xbox 360 is Microsoft's about successful gaming venture; Xbox its strongest make. At some point earlier the Windows Phone vii launch, Microsoft decided to necktie their new smartphone platform into that successful brand. This presents numerous advantages like a built-in audience of console owners to sell to, a brand that game developers already understand and respect, and the possibilities of connectivity between the various Xbox platforms.

Now, many 360 owners haven't jumped onboard with Windows Phone however for a number of reasons such as the lack of large-name Microsoft properties and exclusives – both of which I'll address in my next article. But despite a host of missteps large enough to fill at least three editorials, one grouping of gamers has embraced Windows Phone in a big way: people who enjoy Xbox Live Achievements. Whatever the quality of the Xbox Windows Phone games so far, they all provide exclusive Achievements to unlock. The Achievement hunting subculture is probably the most loyal group of Windows Telephone gamers - and the one most displeased by the recent release drought.

Any way you slice information technology, Xbox games take been a selling signal for Windows Telephone since the 2022 launch. But as fourth dimension passed, leadership has shifted within practically every Windows Phone-related division, resulting in the current crisis of identity and back up for mobile Xbox Alive.

Big games should release equally Xbox titles, not indie games.

Where's My Water, Dredd vs. Zombies, and Where's my Perry for Windows Phone
Three stellar candidates for Xbox Alive status

On Xbox 360, there is a clear separation between XBLA and indie games. A major developer or publisher would never consider releasing their game without the Xbox branding. The advantages are plentiful: better visibility, a perception of college quality, and admission to Xbox Live features like Achievements and Leaderboards.

Windows Phone has the same basic partitioning between Xbox and not-Xbox games, the latter of which carries the 'indie' connotation. Why and then should major game makers like Disney (Where's My Water?, Where'southward Perry?) and Rebellion (Dredd vs. Zombies) publish their games without the Xbox branding? Heck, Disney actually announced an Xbox game - Toy Story Mania that failed to materialize on Windows Phone (information technology somewhen showed up on Xbox 360). Don't these developers know that many gamers adopt Xbox games?

Really, Disney and Rebellion probably considered releasing their titles as Xbox games only decided it was too much problem. Part I of this editorial explained some of the numerous Xbox Alive certification hurdles that mobile developers face up. The key here is that Microsoft needs to maintain that image of the all-time or hottest games begetting the Xbox name and doling out delicious Achievements.

If increased visibility isn't enough to convince Disney and company to stick with Xbox Live, so offer them some incentives. Money spent to brand certain Where's My H2o? bears the Xbox name on its Live tile will pay off in the grade of maintaining the Xbox brand's epitome and keeping gamers who adopt Xbox features happy.

Windows Phone needs game engines...

Unity and Scaleform tech demo
A game demo created with Unity and Autodesk Scaleform

Game engines are software suites and tools that facilitate the cosmos of videogames by developers. These tools provide a variety of functions that are responsible for the game'southward graphics, physics, artificial intelligence, user interface, and much more than. Engines brand the creation and porting of games between platforms much faster and easier for developers.

Windows Phone vii lost out on every popular game and middleware engine under the sun due to its lack of native lawmaking back up (the ability for software lawmaking to collaborate directly with the hardware). As a event, games that rely on those engines like Ballsy'due south Infinity Blade series couldn't be ported to Windows Phone without drastic recoding. The lack of multiplatform engine support and the relatively underpowered Windows Telephone vii hardware kept us from receiving ports of many graphically intensive games.

Windows Telephone eight thankfully does back up native lawmaking, although a fully native app doesn't have access to many managed code APIs necessary for Xbox Live certification. More importantly, this time out Microsoft has managed to secure a number of important game engines for Windows Telephone 8 such equally Unity (the most pop smartphone game engine), Havok, and Autodesk Scaleform.

As far as we know, just Autodesk Scaleform is actually prepare yet, owing mostly to the woefully late release of the Windows Phone 8 SDK. That means we're a fair ways off from reaping those engines' benefits, but at least Microsoft is making an endeavour.

…Particularly Unreal Engine iii.

Infinity Blade II for iOS
Infinity Bract II gets its pretty looks from the Unreal Engine.

Withal, one all-important engine remains unannounced: the Unreal Engine from Epic Games. Why does it matter? For one thing, a vast number of console games use Unreal Engine 3, including Batman Arkham Asylum and Arkham Metropolis, Borderlands 2, Mass Effect 3, Mortal Kombat (2011), and Wreckateer. Securing Unreal Engine iii would make mobile adaptations of console games much easier than earlier (including the iOS title Batman: Arkham City Lockdown). Heck, the Microsoft-published physics game Wreckateer would be perfect for Windows Phone.

More to the point, the Unreal Engine'due south ubiquity ways that practically whatever developer who'south made a panel game in the last v years already knows how to use it. As more developers exit the increasingly AAA-focused console space for mobile game development, the availability of a versatile and familiar engine could hands touch on those developers' choice of supporting Windows Phone. Besides, Autodesk Scaleform already integrates with Unreal Engine 3, then why not requite Scaleform the freedom to do its affair?

Maybe the most important reason for bringing Unreal Engine to Windows Phone is Chair Amusement, a subsidiary of Epic. Chair is the developer backside the bestselling Infinity Blade series on iOS. Before they tin can bring Infinity Bract Two to Microsoft'south mobile platform, we've got to take the Unreal Engine that powers it. Chair would as well be perfect for a mobile Gears of State of war game, at present wouldn't they?

Epic announced their engine'southward Windows 8 and RT support back in August, though that support hasn't gone live yet. Microsoft and Ballsy are rumored to be in talks over bringing the engine to Windows Phone 8, but those talks should have successfully concluded months ago. Fifty-fifty if they of a sudden announced support tomorrow, information technology would likely be months before that back up went live.

Remember, the nevertheless-not-ready Unity, Havok, and Scaleform Mobile SDK were all announced betwixt August and October. One time Unreal Engine's hypothetical Windows Phone 8 support is prepare, it will accept months (if not longer) for Xbox games that make use of it to actually accomplish the market. Please, Microsoft: ink that deal and get Chair Entertainment onboard while Xbox Alive development on Windows Phone 8 is still halfway viable.

Still more than to come!

That's it for this installment, boys and girls. Nosotros've got a third part coming later on this calendar week or early on next calendar week with even more varied recommendations. Do y'all agree with my suggestions for saving Xbox games for Windows Phone? Please voice your opinions in the comments beneath and tweet this article to anyone who might do good from it.

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