The Zune, which was introduced to the public in November of last year, was seen by many as Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s extremely popular iPod. The device eventually drew speculation as a possible portable handheld game machine. Now, Microsoft has confirmed this speculation, stating game content will be available for the Zune in approximately 18 months. Titles for Microsoft’s media player will most likely be Flash-based games or other games that don’t require heavy computing or graphics power.
The possibility of games appearing on the Zune was previously hinted at by Chris Lewis of Microsoft Europe when he said, "You can already plug your Zune device into your Xbox 360 to stream music, pictures and video content. Looking ahead, the vision for connected entertainment provides a number of consumer scenarios and with our heritage in Xbox and Games For Windows, gaming is certainly something we’re considering for the device."
The ability to play games on consumer devices, outside of dedicated gaming hardware, is becoming more and more prevalent. Games are played on cell phones, PDAs, and now media players like the Zune and iPod. As this trend continues, the typical gamer may not remain the hardcore fan, but may instead transition into a more casual gamer. Those in the game industry who recognize this trend will be able to reap the rewards, while those entrenched in franchises and repeat titles will have a difficult time making the change.
