Microsoft: Windows Phone 7 ‘can be a great alternative to the DS and PSP’

Microsoft announced its initial line-up of Windows Phone 7 games yesterday, featuring a fine assortment of iPhone conversions and exciting original propositions.

Some of the games appear to be set to tie in very closely with the Xbox Live experience.

Microsoft’s Kevin Unangst has confirmed in an interview that the company is aiming for an experience that’s "much more like the Xbox and Xbox Live Arcade portfolio" than its direct rivals.

Indeed, he has revealed that the company is setting its sights on the handheld market as much as the smartphone one: “This can be a great alternative to the DS and PSP, as much as we think [it can be to] the iPhone and the Droid,” he said.

Part of this console-like service will be “a demo built into every game."