Dark Zune

Here is a great video showing a Zune 4/8 Test Version with the Games menu. Currently we have seen four games in this video, Alien Takeover, Hexic, Zauri and Marblets (a bubble buster type game). Games are not sendable (at this time). The games show a type of meta data or description and you can flick left and right to change game. On the new Zune devices (Zune 4, 8 and Zune 80) the touchpad can be used. Zune 30 owners are not left out though, as games will also be developed for the button interface also. The games are limited to being 2d, although have some stunning graphics and everything is very slick and flawless. The XNA Api will be available for developers to create their own games for the Zune, although this is very locked down and will probably still prohibit any further hacking (atleast we have game support now though). Music and its album art, aswell as pictures can all be intergrated into games if wanted. This could open up games such as “whats the song name” or a jigsaw of a picture or album art. You can also listen to music while inside the games. Games will also feature wireless later down the line, this will be a local wi-fi (eg. Zune to Zune - there is no Xbox or PC direct compatiblity confirmed yet), which will unlock multiplayer wi-fi games with other nearby Zuners which is a pretty sweet feature.

View the Zune XNA Games Video here.

The announcement we have all waited for since November 14th 2006 - The Zune will be given games! Microsoft GDC report that there will be games on the Zune by the end of the year!