Your Thoughts on Xbox LIVE and Windows Phone?
It’s been a few days since we announced that we’ll be bringing Xbox LIVE to Windows Phone 7 Series. To recap, we stated that starting this holiday you’ll be able to:
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Collect Achievements and build your Gamerscore
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View Xbox LIVE leaderboards
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See your Xbox LIVE Avatar
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Access Spotlight feeds, including the latest tips and tricks, game news, updates and more
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Add Xbox LIVE friends to your friends list while out on the go
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Play turn-based (asynchronous) multiplayer games
We’re curious what you think! Anything strike you as particularly exciting? What sorts of Xbox LIVE-enabled experiences would you like to see us enable in the future? What questions do you have?
Although I won’t be able to answer all of your questions at this point in time, we should hopefully be able to address some of them. And I can tell you the product teams who are building the product will be reviewing your feedback as well, so it’s a great opportunity to speak up! Finally, though I am happy to also discuss on Twitter (via my Ozymandias account), please be sure to leave your comment here on the blog so the product team can access your feedback!
All that said, this is a public forum, and you should assume that anything you post might be read or used by pretty much anyone on the net, including Microsoft. Short form, if you think you have a killer idea that you want to go make a business from, you should not post it here. Otherwise, we look forward to the conversation!
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Bring it to the Zune HD!
To see what friends are currently on or not. To control what demos I download to the xbox. Hey, if Xbox has wake-on-LAN capability, why not use the phone to turn it on before you get downstairs…I am impatient and don’t like waiting for the power cycle
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Notifications when friends log and out of Xbox live would be cool. That way I could think about stopping what I am doing and join them for a play session.
Being a recent purchaser of a Zune HD, of course anything that comes up for WinMo 7, I’d like to see on the Zune as well.
The biggest obstacle I have to upgrading my phone is the cost of data plans, though. I currently don’t have any plans on getting any smartphone, be it WinMo, iPhone, Blackberry, or Android, if adding data doubles my monthly cell phone bill (which it would; I pay less than $30/mo/line for my wife and I for what we use).
So it’s hard for me to say what I’d like to see, considering I won’t be able to participate (unless it comes to the Zune HD).
A definite wish is being able to buy content once and play it anywhere, though. The promise of the upcoming Game Room, where you can buy an arcade game that you can play on the 360 and PC, is a step in the right direction. More of that = good.
I want the Xbox Live app to come to the Zune HD. If its already done why not release it now?
Also please make a Zune HD phone. Just tweak the case to make it a phone. Im not so into the current device.
Open the app store to anyone. What the heck is wrong with you guys keeping it at a 1 on 1? Do you like losing to Apple? Seems like it.
i’d like to see the ability to add stuff to the xbox 360 download list
Will the windows 7 phone be on verizon? Also this is sick live ona phone!
@Matt: we did announce that Verizon would be adding Windows Phone 7 Series devices to their portfolio. http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2010/feb10/02-15MWC10PR.mspx
1 vs 100 would b awesome. awesome games that are better than scrabble would be nice, like the psp has awesome games or even the ds has good games that should implemented into this phone. i love the idea of this phone but i cant wait for 10 years in the future when i can play halo at the airport.
It can’t get here quick enough. I will be trading in my current phone as soon as the first Windows 7 phone is released!!
@Tommy: Funnily enough, I feel the same way…
I am curious what the achievement structure will be for the WP7/LIVE games. Will they follow the existing XBLA model (12ach/200gs) or will a model unique to the WP7 platform be used?
@UberToast: I don’t think we’re going to be breaking what’s obviously a pretty good model… think you’ll be happy.
I know what I want and I’m sure 99% here would want, is an accessory (the likes of an Xbox 360 controller) that the WP7S (that name needs to be changed) snaps into that gives you real physical gaming controls instead of touchscreen buttons and controls. I am so over having finger’s in the way playing games (see pic http://tinyurl.com/yfwagah) and not having the feeling of real buttons.
There are tons of games on the iPhone I would have bought if there was an accessory the likes of an Xbox 360 controller that the iPhone snapped on to. Make it happen Microsoft and it will be Game Over for the competition.
I like the idea of mike_w regarding video clipping – very nice.
Since it has a mic, I’d like to be able to send and receive xbox live messages (voice and text). Access to marketplace and being able to edit your avatar on the go would also be a plus.
That said, I’m really excited about what has already been announced and I can’t wait to hear more.
I like where this is headed but would like to know what type of games is coming to the phone and would they be the same games that are on XBL and PC like Game Room compatibility? Also will there be a box marketplace? to buy Avatar clothing, games, and videos? I would also like to know if I am able to send and receive Xbox Live messages from my friends. Lastly it would be cool at some point to be able to use my phone to some how talk to my friends on Xbox. Like while they are on a party chat I can still talk to them via my phone.
And like many other people will we see some form of this on Zune HD.
I’m still waiting for a good XBL iphone app.
So what do you want to see in an Xbox LIVE iPhone application? Are you talking about games on the iPhone that connect to Xbox LIVE? Or a companion application that lets you access your friends, content, etc? Or something else?
I would love an iPhone app that lets me browse the equivalent of the dashboard. Let me see friends, send messages, view/compare achievements, view leaderboards, browse/queue up/buy marketplace content, check my purchase history.
Obviously I’d love proper Live-integration in games as well. While there are things like OpenFeint (which work really well), it would be great to have actual Live functionality with achievements and everything on platforms other than Windows Phone 7 series (can’t see myself moving to the platform, sorry).
Honestly, the service was presented as “Live Anywhere” in 2006 and I was soooo excited because I’ve used a PDA with Windows Mobile at that time. Finally the service it found it’s way to Windows Mobile 7 but over the years I did not hear any comment of Microsoft about it why this is no big deal any more.
There are tons of apps for the iPhone and Android already which have the functionality which is mentioned above. Furthermore Windows Mobile Phones and Zune players do not have a critical mass in Europe (on some markets not even available) why this service is moribund for this market.
Maybe interessting for the XBOX Live fellows in Northern America and definetely a good news for all XNA developers.
Bring this to the iPhone and (among many others) will be all over it.
However there is no Windows phone in my future.
Not so much wanting the phone for gaming, but I think it’s a great opportunity to boost the not-often-used messaging options (video/voice/text) between XBL gamers. I think MS could really make that a useful feature — and if there’s some way (either on the phone or via the Xbox) to post or share your XBL pics, videos and clips to your Facebook or Twitterpic — or to a social profile created on XBL (like a more gaming-oriented Zune Card)? — then that would be a real achievement for integration.
I’m assuming the Xbox marketplace is going to be enabled? So I can queue up new XBL content for download, add pts, etc.? This assumes too that XBL is going to push update notifications to me regarding the games I’m got in my Played Games history?
As a Zune owner, I’m happy that my Pass subscription should carry over to the phone. And the HD’s UI is brilliant, so I’m thrilled to see a modified version take over the face of my phone. Whomever designed that interface should be the recipient of a very large promotion.
I’m looking forward to a tie-in game like Fable Pub Games did with Fable 2. Some WP7 game that you can play on the go that will help you in a bigger game on your home console.
Please don’t limit these features to Windows phone. Some of us prefer to buy each of our devices on their own merits, and not just all from the same company. Just because I prefer to use say an iPhone for my phone doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t like to be able to manage my Xbox Live while away from my 360.
@Bazfum: Similar to my earlier comment – what does “manage my Xbox LIVE while away from my 360″ mean to you?
I would like to see marketplace in a smaler scale, so I can put things on my download list. And send messages pluss get some kind of notification when you recive a message on xbox live. Can’t wait to get me a phone with windows phone 7 os!
I think it is going to be a great idea.
Please don’t take offence:
As long as you guys make the accounts work smoothly with each other.
Allow a one time Gold account purchase on Xbox360 or others, be automatically Gold account on all the other connected devices of course.
Please don’t be the lazy bum zune devs “no offence guys but your just stalling for that paycheck” & actually release apps/games/programs quickly, not 6 months for one sad Facebook app, that is truly just pathetic.
Allow 3rd party apps/programing.
& Please!! Please don’t do another ZUNEHD launch move, Please would you launch the device in Canada I seriously don’t understand why the Zune team can say launching in Canada is not a good business plan for the first year or two “thats what they told me”.
I really want to point out the fact that every partner you showed at MWC is pretty much every country other then Canada, no we don’t have AT&T or Sprint or T-Mobile, we got Rogers.ca but they always take a while to move from the usa to Canada. So please partner with one up here, use Bell the fasted fiber optic, cellular network in Canada they helped host the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
I really really want a reason to replace my Sonyw580i & say no I don’t want an iPhone I want a 7 Series, I can’t do that if you make us wait 1 year after launch for it to slowly crawl over the boarder.we got like 2 WMP us here I have only ever seen 2 or 3 in a store “futureshop/bestbuy”, not sure why, I’d really like that to change though.
Oh and could you pretty please make the 3rd chassis like a Sony Ericsson w580i, I want a vertical slider, but not massive in size, i want it to hide in my pocket not fill it with no more space like those bulky HD2′s & iphones. I want a cell phone not a TV remote in my pocket.
Okay I’m done talking for now, please don’t take offence, and please try and launch 7series in Canada around the same time as the rest of the world is getting it.
@Jeffrey: No offense taken. It’s great to hear your interest… and I’ll pass along the strong Canada interest. if it’s any consolation I’m Canadian by birth myself – Toronto.
Would like to see small tie-in type games on it, akin to the Sega Dreamcast’s VDU piece. Nothing required, but still a cool feature.
Be able to watch all the videos I’ve bought off of live on the device as well.
1 vs. 100 would also be awesome on the device, even more games if MS has any other ones planned. Would be easier to participate while going about the house or such.
Share netflix video, like through xbox so me and friends can watch the same video.
Hi the only reason I am not going to grt this phone because I can not pull my xbox live account because I forgot my live I’d password I wish they add a different way to pull account like credit card number or somthing if I can get my xbox live I’d in that phone I buy 2 of them thanks
It absolutely needs the ability to see which of your frinds are online while you are at it beat the folks who are responsible for th GFWL client for the same thing.
@Tony: I rather think the GFWL folks are a bit tired of me beating on them… seriously.
But will definitely pass along the feedback!
I like the sound of live on mobile but don’t like the windows 7 mobile OS. I would love to see live on Android, that would be so cool. The ability to check your gamertag, chat to ppl on live, play specially created phone live games on a android phone against users of windows 7 phones.
Seamless integration of Xbox live features between Xbox 360 and window 7 phones…Party Chat, Text and Voice Messages, Zune video and music purchases.
Imagine that you turn on your window 7 phone and sign into the Live service. You see that your friends are online playing a game. Send them an invite to an Xbox live party chat. Your friends join in on their Xbox headsets and you talk to them on your phone. When you login to your Xbox, the party chat continues on your Xbox 360 headset and you can join their game.
I would love to be able to play 1vs100 on a Window 7 phone while my friends are playing on there Xboxes.
Allow user customization of the information they want on their mobile device.
The current incarnation of LIVE has about 6 useful panels of stuff I use regularly with another two dozen plus panels and even entire blades that I could really care less about. If it was customizable, I’d remove over half of the choices so that I could a) reduce the click-count I have to go through get to useful panels and b) minimize the information to noise ratio.
I could understand if Silver (i.e. free) forced me to have an ad-filled UI, but with gold? Not a fan. At all.
So what does this have to do with mobile? You guys are entering a space that Apple controls the mindshare of with a very clean presentation and simple UI. Yes, it does not let me do things I’d like (folders, seriously), but it wins in many other ways. In non-tech ways. Sure, your phone will likely offer complete access to the memory and all other kinds of “techy” things that will appeal to only a fraction of the users you’re after. The masses you want that will push your device don’t care as much about that as a good and easy to navigate user experience.
So if you take anything from LIVE, take the idea of it (friends & achievements) in a boiled down state, but not the presentation of LIVE and manners of accessing it. A touchscreen immediately makes people think that the blades / panel UI scheme would work well, and yeah, cover flow proves that it can work, with emphasis on can, not does. If the current amount of fluff panels was implemented on a mobile I’d love to see my roaming data charges for downloading pages of marketing videos, ads, and other fluff on my phone. No, I’d really not love that, actually.
Yes, I’m being overly pessimistic, but I’m spoiled by Apple’s device and annoyed by LIVE’s control of information, especially for paid users. Consider me a naysayer… for now.
Also, having free development tools and a consolidated and secure store environment is a huge plus for Apple. That’s not something I’ve ever seen MS offer. Maybe that’ll change with the MS phone?
@Adam: Lots of good thoughts… and of course, you hit on a bunch of stuff I can’t talk about. Good work.
I will say that I think the next few weeks will be interesting to you… and that dinner offer is still open.
Xbox integration with WP7. What I want is simple:
* Some very nice online multiplayer games are already available when WP7 phone is released.
Not just tech demo or trailers NOW, but never (not yet) materialized on time when the consumer has WP7 phone.
That would be certainly a let down.
Btw, you mentioned turn-based multiplayer game, does it mean that MMORPG games like “Ragnarok Online” is NOT possible? Because that would be awesome, MMORPG games on the phone. I imagine some kind of “WoW” would be possible
@Gordon: You will see games at launch. I have no doubt of that – lots of great interest (and action) from partners!
MMORPG games are certainly possible – all it takes is the right partner with the right idea… but the platform can absolutely support it. Time and space… time and space.
I do love that Live will finally be on a mobile device. However, limiting it to what will be a very small minority of mobiles, of witch very few will be available in Australasia is kinda sad. So no portable Live for me.
Hi all
An other good reason to put off getting a new phone, I had a WinMob 6.1 phone (idiot/friend dad the idea that putting it under her car was a good place to keep it safe, then she ran over it. Funny now, but not then) I am using a LG viewty in the mean time, that’s just say it is a bit of a downgrade.
So roll on the 7 Series, there are some good ideas posted here, hope some of them make it in.
@Lyndon: I’ll just point out that as we launched Xbox LIVE for Xbox we had similar conversations with folks like you. And although we can’t do everything right off the bat, we certainly can prioritize based on the interest we hear. I would not be at all surprised to see a lot of these ideas eventually come to be over time. One of my favorite (and probably overused) phrases is simply “time and space” – give us a bit of that, and I think we’ll for for WP7 similar grand things as we did for Xbox LIVE over the last seven years.
Good to see you are asking our opinion!
Xbox live button: number of friends on line not including messenger. No avatar.
Inside app first page:
list/button of friends showing the total.
Below that a list/button of things new in marketplace (mobile only) showing the total.
Below that a list/button of things new in marketplace (xbox 360 only)showing the total.
Obviously there could be other lists/buttons but this is the upfront information I would like to see without a swipe.
Ability to use the phone as a optional keypad for weapon selection or as a hud
Customization is definitely something you need all alerts, menu positions and messages should be able to be altered (I understand turning off is probably not a option for menu items because of branding but changing order would be good). I would also suggest the ability to trim down download intensity as some places around the world you still pay by the MB no GB.
Ozy, one more question:
Do we really need to have an Xbox to be able to use / enjoy the WP7 Xbox hub?
What if the multiplayer game is hosted on Xbox live? Do we need to have Xbox Live account, meaning we must own an Xbox to have that account.
Great Q&A/feedback on what you want from #XboxLIVE on #WP7. Dev team reading – bring it on! (w/thanks!) http://www.ozymandias.com/your-thoughts-... #WP7dev
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@Ozymandias I put a comment on yesterday with 3 suggestions but it looks like it didn’t make it through moderation
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@andy_brodie Can you check again? Be sure to click on the “older/newer” comments link at bottom… all non-SPAM comments should be there.
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@Ozymandias Alas, I was about the 5th comment and I remember the ones above me. No matter, I’ll repost them tonight!
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@Ozymandias Urg, no ignore me… failure to comprehend website strikes – you got ‘em
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@andy_brodie Great – glad to hear we got your comments! Thanks for taking the time!
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RT @Ozymandias: Great Q&A/feedback on what you want from #XboxLIVE on #WP7. Dev team reading – bring it on! (w/thanks!) http://www.anysurfer.be …
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Are we going to see a further evolution to the New Xbox experience to closer match the hubs in the Metro interface?
It would be nice if there was some commonality in layout/functionality between screens.
I’d like to see integration over XBOX LIVE to the Microsoft Surface platform. The way I see this working is as follows:
1) Each phone has a unique MS Tag
2) When a XBOX Live/WP7 game session is started, the player logs in by starting the game on the Surface table and their XBOX Live app on the WP7
3) The XBL app shows the MS Tag, and the player sets their phone face down on the Surface table. The Surface reads both the MS Tag and the shape of the phone. The user is now connected to the game running on the surface, and the phone auto-downloads whatever app is needed to connect to the game and display information
4) The user is prompted to flip their phone over to see the screen; the Surface table can keep track of the phone’s location by it’s shape.
5) Through the XBOX Live connection, the Surface game can send the W7 Phone any needed information. For example, a character bio sheet for a D&D like game, a control surface/location marker for an RTS, or a way to show “something else” over what is being diplayed on the surface table (i.e. the table is showing a sattelite image, the phone is showing an infa-red image of whereever the phone is).
Here’s what I’d like to see in an Xbox Live app (or hub, or whatever)
1. NXE-type interface – I do realize the current screenshot is based in the hub system (which is pretty much NXE, but in a different way), but it would be nice if both were consistent, whether it’s the Xbox that gets the Metro UI or at least only the Xbox Live on mobile getting the NXE (though I’m guessing it’s not likely at the moment)
2. WP7S version of at least popular Xbox games – Hopefully, game developers can jump onto the WP7S bandwagon, so we can have multiplayer games everywhere (it’s kinda my dream to see MS connect gaming everywhere, via Xbox, PC, Zune, Web, Mobile, etc.)
3. Each game has a similar ‘hub’ UI – Until MIX10 happens, I have no clue how app development will work. I’m hoping though, that each game will utilize the hub system, similar to the ‘artist pages’ work on the Zune HD (like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/trokair/3960226424/in/set-72157622342746357/ ). Instead of panels for songs, albums, bio, and other stuff for each artists, you’ll have panels for play, about, leaderboard, store (for in-game extras & purchases), settings and more for each game. “Play” could allow you to launch your game with a screenshot of where you stopped, your current stats, or a new game. About can do what the Zune HD does for each app, listing what category it’s in, version, publisher, brief description, and such. I could go on and on, but couldn’t you envision how each game can do the hub/panel approach that Metro is based on?
4. Xbox Live Marketplace and game trials – Would be convenient to able to download from your phone instead of having to download on the desktop software, and sync. Trials ranging from an hour to a whole day would be nice if game developers allowed their content for certain trial time restrictions to entice people to buy it. Also, you can have FULL access to the catalog, and pre-buy stuff to download onto your Xbox once you get home and turn it on (like Live Mesh?).
5. Xbox Live Chat and Party support – Would be nice to use the phone’s voice/text/video features to be extended to Xbox Live (and Windows Live!) users. Hopefully you can still have a ‘Party’ and just watch on your mobile device.
Anyway, the sky is the limit to how much Xbox integration can go into a mobile app/hub. I hope Microsoft really does work hard on the Xbox aspect of WP7S, because it’s a MAJOR advantage Microsoft has over the other smartphone platforms, where a popular video console system can connect to a potentially popular mobile version of it.
“NXE-type interface”
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I’ll keep this short.
Most important feature of XBox Live/Windows Phone integration would be alerts when your friends are online.
With ability to set “do not disturb” times.
As a bonus with ability to only alert for a particular game.
Thanks for considering.
It’s been announced that WP7 will only support asynchronous (turn-based) games over XBox Live. However, for years, it’s been possible on the Zunes to have live, synchronous implementations (such as in the Pong demos) using XNA over a local network. Will that support still be possible? I’d really like to see realtime synchronous support in games over local WiFi in WP7 (phone to phone, especially).
I’m very interested to see some RPGs, RTSs, and some classic games come to the X-Box on Windows Phone 7. Games like Civilization, Age of Empires, Final Fantasy, Fable, and even Pac-man and the like would be great to fill out a game catalog.
Lots of new followers – welcome all! Quick heads-up, looking for feedback on #XboxLIVE on #WP7 – dev team reading. http://www.ozymandias.com/your-thoughts-...
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RT @Ozymandias: Lots of new followers – welcome all! Quick heads-up, looking for feedback on #XboxLIVE on #WP7 – dev team reading. http: …
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RT @Ozymandias: Lots of new followers – welcome all! Quick heads-up, looking for feedback on #XboxLIVE on #WP7 – dev team reading. http: …
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Hey Ozy,
Just saw the application screen and was wondering if that was configurable because I don’t think a straight up and down single file list would suit the amount of apps that I would use.
Would it be possible to give a few options like:
- Hexagon list like 6.5
- list like contacts list (ie filter by letter).
- a user creatable folder view (work,drawing,fitness,etc)
It would be cool if these could be turned on and off in combinations. For example I would probably do hexagon but have folders.
This is everything I suggested Zune should have years ago!!
Dont forget a unified custom soundtrack interface like iphone has!
Oh, make sure there is some interface to use PC controllers. Be it bluetooth or 360′s wireless thingie
Or even have the 360 wireless dongle built into a TVout dock
This would mean a required port on every device, which unifying it now would be very smart and beneficial. Use ZuneHD’s port for example.
Letting us plug the device into a 360, and have it show up as a destination for games/music/videos/downloads (you’ll have to actually enable copying stuff off the 360). Have the 360 be able to play games straight off the device.
All of the previous suggestions are great. I thought of a cool perk for WP7S owners who also have Live Gold accounts. You know how your Avatar can have accessories (the Modern Warfare 2 UAV would be a good example)? Allow the avatar to have a WP7S device to signify ownership. Maybe cheesy, I know, but could be a neat little differentiating perk for those that actually bought a device.
I would like to see the phone work as a remote control with the xbox. There is nothing more annoying for my wife then navigating movies on netflix with a controller. You could add some functions to the remote control app like checking what your friends are playing without interrupting your movie as well as add movies to your instant que in netflix.