Ad Viewing Required For Free Zune HD Games 131
UnknowingFool writes "In releasing the Zune HD, Microsoft decided not to open up software development on the new Zune to third parties yet. Today, Microsoft released a handful of free games for the Zune HD: Texas hold 'em, Sudoku, Space Battle 3, Shell Game, Of the Future, Hexic, Goo Splat and Chess, as well as calculator and weather apps. Users, however, are required to view an ad (up to 30 seconds in length) while the game starts up. While ad-supported free games are also on other platforms, like the iPhone, the difference here is that those iPhone games are from third parties and not from Apple."
Reader Rock3t notes related news that the Zune HD will be getting 3D games.
Re:Isn't "HD" High Definition? (Score:3, Informative)
Ah, that's another brilliant piece of marketese, everyone assumes it has something to do with HD video. In reality, it refers to the Hybrid Digital FM radio.
Yes, really.
Re:Does that mean... (Score:0, Informative)
Yes, Microsoft in fact spent countless amounts of money and time opening up XNA development for the Zune HD, just to not allow XNA development for the Zune HD. In fact, they figured, "Hey let's waste fuck loads of cash doing something completely and utterly pointless for no reason whatsoever because it's not like we're a business in a recession where staff cuts are being made and departments need to justify their existence by doing something useful is it? Let's create Zune HD development tools even though we're not going to allow 3rd party apps on the app store!" -
http://www.develop-online.net/news/32857/XNA-Game-Studio-31-adds-Zune-HD-support [develop-online.net]
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/a177633/xna-development-now-available-on-zune-hd.html [digitalspy.co.uk]
But then, you did read it on Slashdot so obviously you must be right, it must be true.
Re:Isn't "HD" High Definition? (Score:4, Informative)
You're confusing the definition of HD radio with the Zune HD.
Re:Isn't "HD" High Definition? (Score:5, Informative)
Do you really have to spread your fud? I'm not a microsoft fan, but at least be honest.
"The Zune HD utilizes the Nvidia Tegra 600 chip [3], allowing it to play 720p video through the optional HDMI Zune dock on a high-definition television. Otherwise, content will be scaled down to 480x272 pixels on the player's OLED screen.[5]" From wikipedia.
Also from wikipedia:
# Video support: [14]
* DVD resolution and frame rate, up to 10 Mbps bit rate, CBR or VBR for:
o H.264, Baseline profile up to Level 3.1 + B-frames support [14]
o WMV Main and Simple Profile, Advanced profile up to Level 2.
* 720p HD resolution and up to 14 Mbps bit rate, CBR or VBR for above supported video profles
* MPEG-4 Part 2 Simple Profile up to 4.0 Mbps bit rate
# 720p high definition video output - HDMI or Composite (additional dock required for both)
Re:big deal? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Isn't "HD" High Definition? (Score:5, Informative)
Yes, you can playback 720p if you buy a $90 dock, for a $219 player. Meanwhile, back in reality, this means that the Zune cannot play HD video (it's only 480x272) unless you spend a significant amount of additional money (40%). They should have called it the Zune HD-ready.
The HD in the name, however, does not refer to that feature, but to the HD-radio.