Windows Phone 7 Gaming and Xbox Live

Engadget is running a preview of Microsoft's attempt to bring Xbox Live to upcoming Windows Phone 7 devices. Launch titles will include Guitar Hero, Castlevania, and Halo: Waypoint, and many of the features from the console version of Xbox Live will make the transition intact. Quoting: "Live on WP7 will allow for full avatar integration (we're talking fully rendered, interactive avatars) along with customization (clothes, accessories, and more). The company has even crafted an avatar-centric version of familiar phone utilities like flashlight apps and levels, adding some whimsy to what would normally be pretty staid affairs. Additionally, messaging, friend lists / status, achievements, and leaderboards (with friend comparisons) are all here as well, making for a pretty complete mobile Xbox Live experience. And also just like the console, every game will have a try-before-you buy demo to check out before spending your hard-earned cash."

Re:Profit

[odies]

Eh, nowhere in the article it says it will cost something. Live is free on Windows too (though not so used besides a few titles).

Live is also a lot more than just some stupid avatars. Matchmaking, online games, friends, achievements and so on work great and the same way in every game. If something is good with Windows Mobile 7, it must be the inclusion of Live gaming.

Re:Thanks..

[Anonymous Coward]

nerd rage about a pro-M$ article. Nothing to see here move along...to the macstore

Re:Profit

[UnknowingFool]

The confusion is that MS tends to use the same name for different things. Windows Live is free. Xbox Live is both free and subscription based. The article is talking about Xbox Live [wikipedia.org]. Xbox Live Silver is free but does not include multi-player gaming among other features like Netflix. Xbox Live Gold is subscription based and includes said features. Most likely using some of the features only included in Xbox Live Gold. If you have an account you can access it through the phone; however, additional costs will be required for things like customizing your avatar.

Re:The $50 Monster Cable of Video Games

[AltairDusk]

Having both an Xbox 360 and a PS3 I still choose to pay the ~$30 a year for LIVE (if you're paying more keep an eye on the bargain sites for a 1 year card) over the free online found on the PS3. I tried both and found that overall Live was a better experience. If someone doesn't like it then they shouldn't use it but no reason to trash on it. Microsoft does try to bring exclusives to the service as well, there was a period of time where netflix streaming in HD was only available on the 360 through LIVE and they are rolling out ESPN soon (sadly the NFL won't allow their games to be watched through it).

Why not just play all my games on PC? Well I have two "crowds" of friends I play games online with, mostly split between 360 and PC with a few who use both. In addition I feel certain types of games work better on a tv with a controller while others work better on a PC with mouse and keyboard (or joystick).