Joystiq

Windows Phone 7 announced, includes Xbox Live support

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:51:00 EST

Well gang, it's been a long time coming, but it seems we're finally going to get the Live Anywhere integration Microsoft began teasing four whole years ago. We're finding it awfully difficult to be jaded, however, as the mobile counterpart to Xbox Live will make its debut on the recently announced Windows Phone 7 -- a sleek little device which we're periodically switching between browser tabs to ogle. Click past the jump to see a demo of the phone's capabilities.

According to a Microsoft press release, the Xbox Live integration on Windows' new mobile platform "delivers the first and only official Xbox LIVE experience on a phone, including Xbox LIVE games, Spotlight feed and the ability to see a gamer's avatar, Achievements and gamer profile." We've contacted Microsoft to find out exactly what types of games are going to be offered on the device. We hope its the same lot that's available on the Zune HD -- the more electronic devices on which we can play Audiosurf, the better.

Continue reading Windows Phone 7 announced, includes Xbox Live support

Windows Phone 7 announced, includes Xbox Live support originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Job listing points to Xbox Live for Windows Mobile

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST

Just a few months ago, a Microsoft job listing hinted at the possibility of integrating Xbox Live with Windows Mobile. Now, according to a new job listing, that possibility is fast becoming a reality. Specifically, the listing is calling for a Principal Program Manager in "LIVE Engagement."

This same listing mentions that Microsoft is "connecting players via the LIVE services on new devices beyond the console" and, more explicitly, asks for someone to "drive the platform and bring Xbox LIVE enabled games to Windows Mobile." The Principal Program Manager is expected to focus on "what makes gaming experiences 'LIVE Enabled' through aspects such as avatar integration, social interactions, and multi-screen experiences."

Granted, there's no way to tell how soon it will arrive, but it looks like Xbox Live and WinMo devices are destined to be together, eventually.

[Via Engadget]

Job listing points to Xbox Live for Windows Mobile originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft job listing hints at Xbox Live for web, mobile

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:31:00 EST

A recent Microsoft job listing could be hinting at the future expansion of Xbox Live. Specifically, the listing is for an Xbox Live Community Director in the Entertainment and Devices Division, whose job would entail managing the "Live community strategy and execution across a range of properties, from Xbox Live to Windows Mobile." The listing elaborates further, mentioning a "next-generation, Live-enabled casual and social gaming platform across the Web, the console, mobile and beyond." The community director is also expected to help craft a "strategy for integration with community and social efforts," across platforms like Windows Live and Facebook. The listing even mentions MSN Games.

The new position ties in very well with recent remarks from corporate VP Shane Kim, who said that Live "will extend to other platforms ... no question about it." What remains to be seen is just how far such an extension would go. After all, Kim's statement could simply be speaking to the upcoming Twitter and Facebook applications for Xbox 360. It's also important to remember that Microsoft has been touting the arrival of Live on other platforms for a long time and, barring a demo of XNA running on Zune during GDC '08, we haven't heard anything substantial about platform integration since Live Anywhere was announced ... in 2006.

[Via Ars Technica]

Microsoft job listing hints at Xbox Live for web, mobile originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shane Kim talks mobile-izing Xbox 360, Xbox Live brands

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:02:00 EST

Though it's been quite some time since we last heard anything about a portable gaming device from Microsoft, corporate VP Shane Kim recently reconfirmed to Kikizo that the company is still very interested in the idea. "We're building a service in Live that will... will extend to other platforms ... no question about it," Kim told them in an interview earlier this week.

He stresses that, with development for Project Natal underway, Microsoft isn't exactly ponying up for extra resources to make portable Xbox gaming a reality. "If we chased after a mobile or handheld opportunity, we would not have the resources and ability to do things like ... Project Natal." Surprisingly, Kim even touches on the always touchy (and often not even mentioned) Live Anywhere initiative, saying, "We talked about Live Anywhere a few years ago ... Live is the connective tissue." From the sounds of things, though Microsoft may very well be thinking about the idea of a gaming handheld in the future, it's not exactly right around the corner.

[Image]

Shane Kim talks mobile-izing Xbox 360, Xbox Live brands originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iXboxLive is like Live Anywhere for the iPhone

Christopher Grant — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:14:00 EST

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Mobile

Don't let Microsoft's tardiness in bringing its Live Anywhere initiative to market stop you from enjoying Xbox Live anywhere: if you've got an iPhone and $0.99 you can try out Nicholas Pike's iXboxLive app which "uses the Microsoft Xbox Community Developer SDK" to bring much of the functionality of your friend's list to your iPhone.

Sure, you could always load up your iPhone's browser (just like you do for Halo stats) and hop on Xbox.com but then you'd miss out on the slick iPhone formatting. However, use the app and you'll miss out on functionality like messaging, thanks to limitations in the aforementioned SDK. Now we're not expecting the cats at Microsoft to suddenly develop an official iPhone app, but we'd settle for something on Windows Mobile ... heck, we'd settle for a Zune app!

iXboxLive is like Live Anywhere for the iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japan can now buy MSpoints via cell phone

Terrence Stasse — Sun, 25 May 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

We haven't heard news such as this since the last time Microsoft was showing off the so far poorly executed Live Anywhere. Beginning Monday, the Japanese phone service provider NTT DoCoMo will allow its users to pay for MSpoints or a Gold Subscription right from their phone. Any purchases made via the "DoCoMo Mobile Payment Service" are charged to the phone bill, thus bypassing any form of credit card information going to MS. While a move such as this isn't exactly out of character for a company, we have to wonder about the practicality of it for the masses.

The most useful situation would be if you were the type of player who uses point cards and doesn't have any CC info associated with their Gamertag. Buying points via phone could save a trip to the store AND keep the evil empire away from your bank info. However, if this comes to the US we foresee many, many XBL brats using their phones to avoid bugging mom and dad for their credit cards ....

Japan can now buy MSpoints via cell phone originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 25 May 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft: No Live Anywhere announcements in the immediate future

Ross Miller — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Microsoft Xbox 360, Mobile

At E3 2006, Microsoft announced Live Anywhere, an initiative to bring Xbox Live, well, everywhere. The goal was for integrated play (MMO enhancement?) and Live access from Xbox 360, PC and mobile phones. MTV Multiplayer contacted Xbox Live executive John Schappert for an update on the program.

In an email response, Schappert said, "We continue to make progress against the vision laid out for LIVE Anywhere and remain committed to building out the network that connects you to your games, your friends and your entertainment in a variety of ways." He also cited XNA and Zune integration as an example of this.

Microsoft also told MTV that there no Live Anywhere announcements were expected in the immediate future. The PC aspect of Live Anywhere -- Games for Windows Live -- has materialized to mixed results and acceptance.

Microsoft: No Live Anywhere announcements in the immediate future originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mobile Live Anywhere still a bridge to be built

James Ransom-Wiley — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:56:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Microsoft Xbox 360, Online, E3, Business, Mobile, Casual

During E3, Microsoft invited us to suffer through a 30-minute Xbox Live marketing spiel (we were lured by the promise of Xbox Live Arcade content -- there wasn't any), puffed with ridiculous figures like the 3 billion hours we've spent collectively on Xbox Live as a community that will soon surpass America's largest city, New York, in total population. Xbox Live general manager JJ Richards acted out these statistics with sweeping gestures and broad smiles, and an air of braggadocio. It was JJ's job to make sure we left that room knowing Microsoft commanded the leading online service for consoles. We did (though we knew it already, thank you).

JJ was there to demonstrate that Microsoft had fulfilled all of its goals and then some since the last E3, using terminology like "neighborhoods" and "districts" to imagine for us a bustling virtual metropolis catering to all types of consumers. He spoke of a "bridge" that had been erected across the ever-flowing void to Windows, connecting an untapped community of gamers to the Xbox Live vision. But further down the void, a second bridge, still under construction, has stalled. When we brought up the topic of Xbox Live for mobile, JJ became visibly peeved, as if we had just smudged the picturesque canvas he was painting aloud. He dodged the topic, firing off some jargon about "pacing" before getting back to the success story.

Microsoft has been busy expanding Xbox Live into Games for Windows Live and the apparently groundbreaking Video Marketplace. So it's not surprising that the mobile aspect, complicated by numerous variables, has been removed from the vision's foreground. But we're still curious. After all, back at that last E3, we had seen a working prototype of mobile Live Anywhere, through which PR man John Porcaro was able to browse our Gamertag profile using his phone. It's exciting technology that the community could use. No rush, but we'd appreciate an actual update. How about it, Microsoft?

Mobile Live Anywhere still a bridge to be built originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Live Anywhere nowhere to be found in Enemy Territory: Quake Wars

Ludwig Kietzmann — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 23:23:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters

As the first game to support Live Anywhere, Shadowrun has erected a rickety bridge between the realms of the PC and the Xbox 360, allowing players to dash across and kill each other using their peripherals of choice. Perhaps it is in the interest of peace then, that id Software has ruled out the possibility of cross-platform multiplayer for their upcoming shooter, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars.

"Console players will not play against PC players," says id co-owner and creative director, Kevin Cloud, in an interview with GameZone. "Consoles require a certain [adaptation], and that wasn't something that we wanted to take on." While there's no immediate framework to necessitate play between the PS3 and PC just yet, Live Anywhere promises to bring more convergence between Microsoft's Vista and 360 platforms -- but could the $50 Live entry fee for Xbox-PC multiplayer prove to be a turn-off for developers and gamers alike?

Gallery: Enemy Territory: Quake Wars

[Via CVG]

Live Anywhere nowhere to be found in Enemy Territory: Quake Wars originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Apr 2007 23:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More evidence Live Anywhere reaching Zune?

James Ransom-Wiley — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 13:55:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Microsoft Xbox 360, Online, Business

Digging through the source code of Zune.net a curious mole stumbled upon an intriguing line of code that referenced the production domain: "gamercard.zune.net."

Perhaps it's just lazy (copy/paste) coding, as a Generation Zune commenter points out -- Xbox.com's source has the same line of code, with "xbox" instead of "zune" -- but why wouldn't Zune feature Gamercard compatibility? That Zune will be part of the Live Anywhere network has been rumored before, and there's no good reason to believe it won't.

We already know (see 2old2play) that MS Passport-associated Gamertag's will become your Zunetag. In fact, Microsoft has already reserved said Gamertags so that if you ever decide to go Zune, you're proper handle will be waiting. We're not convinced that Live Anywhere is a critical selling point for Zune, but tossing the feature in for Xbox Livies is a no-brainer.

[Via Gamertag Radio]

More evidence Live Anywhere reaching Zune? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Nov 2006 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: MSFT's Zune to feature Live Anywhere

Christopher Grant — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 19:55:00 EST

Filed under: Portable, Microsoft Xbox 360, Peripherals

Microsoft's Xbox-team-created, would be iPod killer, the awkwardly named Zune, will supposedly share the Live Anywhere architecture with cell phones and Vista boxen, extending the Xbox experience to your music playing handheld (not Xboy). Digital Music News reports:

"Part of the plan to attract [iPod] users involves a 'Live Anywhere' architecture, which includes WiFi-based sharing, a 'we not me' community approach, and 'connected entertainment'. Driving the project will be the Xbox team and philosophy, which confirms earlier reports. According to recent sources, the player will be spearheaded by 'the team that designed and launched Xbox,' and the 'intention is the use the Xbox and the Xbox community as an entry point' for the upcoming release."

Sounds really swell, all right. Problem is, with a rumored $399 price point (that's the same price as an Xbox 360!) for a 30GB Zune, Microsoft's going to try their hand at the luxury pricing model that's been working well for some while resulting in a lot of flak for others. We know J is cooler than a ship full of tattooed ninja pirates (his stylist told us as much), but will his stewardship coupled with the Xbox "philosophy" really sell MP3 players. Go ahead and color us skeptical ... but be gentle.

[Via Engadget]

Rumor: MSFT's Zune to feature Live Anywhere originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Jul 2006 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Live Anywhere could enhance MMOs

Jennie Lees — Thu, 11 May 2006 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: PC, E3, MMO

With the upcoming Live Anywhere service from Microsoft, various gaming platforms will unite in new ways. For MMOs, this means some exciting scenarios in the realm of pervasive gaming, gameplay that will follow you around, creating a seamless virtual world across your PC, phone and console.

Checking in-game auctions from a mobile phone has been on our MMO wishlist for some time -- Live Anywhere will enable that, and other immersive features. Levelling up crafting skills via casual mini-games; chatting with guild leaders via PC or phone-based VoIP; sending in-game mail and IM from normal mail and IM clients.

We'll have to wait and see if Live Anywhere will support more unification, such as matching friends lists and clan systems both in-game and outside it, but there are definitely some really cool possibilities that this vision opens up for MMOs. It's up to Microsoft and developers to really deliver on this potential.

Live Anywhere could enhance MMOs originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 May 2006 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget & Joystiq's live coverage of Microsoft's Xbox 360 E3 event

Akela Talamasca — Tue, 09 May 2006 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: E3

2:42 pm - Koolaid blood spills from corpses, buildings demolished, apocalypse. The Gears of War trailer is the very first thing shown, and the applause is decent, but not deafening. CliffyB onstage now, giving us a playable demo of Gears of War. The game looks even better than our preview back in September at the Tokyo Game Show. It's come along nicely, with added HUD elements and a targeting system.

Continue reading Engadget & Joystiq's live coverage of Microsoft's Xbox 360 E3 event

Engadget & Joystiq's live coverage of Microsoft's Xbox 360 E3 event originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 May 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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