Babaroga CEO Djokovic says Xbox Live is the competitive edge for Windows Phone 7
If you can dream it, you can do it
Windows Phone 7's association with Xbox is going to be an advantage, for a certain audience at least, when the platform finally hits the shelves.
The platform's close link with Xbox 360 is also viewed as positive move by the development scene, providing even the smallest of studios with the opportunity to reach out to Microsoft's sizeable console userbase.
That's the view of US outfit Babaroga – a developer that's no stranger to linking up its mobile efforts to console releases, having previously connected its version of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2009 to the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions.
We caught up with studio founder and CEO Andreja Djokovic to ask why he thinks it's time to get connected.
Pocket Gamer: How did you get involved with developing for Windows Phone 7? Andreja Djokovic: We've been around a long time and we've seen the mobile games industry evolve tremendously.Windows Phone 7 is a logical progression of that, and the idea that a mobile device could connect to consoles has been something we’ve expected to see for some time.
When the opportunity came up to work with Microsoft, the idea of connectivity stuck with us. We developed a relationship with it working on games for the original Zune and Zune HD, hoping that the natural connection between Zune and Xbox would evolve - they are both on the same development platform, after all.
With Windows Phone 7, this is turning into a reality – the promise of this platform’s connectivity opens up many exciting new opportunities for developers.
What is the platform like to work with?One thing Microsoft has always been strong on is developer support. The tools and the platform were both created with the developer in mind, which certainly makes things easier for us when it comes to development.
Working on the XNA platform allows developers to concentrate on executing their vision instead of coping with intricacies.
What opportunities does Windows Phone 7 have to offer?Windows Phone 7 has many opportunities and advantages for us. Not only is it easy to develop for - with a very low ramp up time - but there is also the element of Live and Xbox 360 integration.
The platform specifications read like something you would expect from a handheld gaming platform, and we’re excited for the chance to show what we can do with it.
Do you think Windows Phone 7's emphasis on games will give it an advantage over other smartphones?
Absolutely. I think that this has the potential to put Windows Phone 7 ahead of the pack.
With Windows Phone 7, the limiting factor in game design resides with the designer, and not the physical limitation of the platform. If you can dream it, you can do it.
Likewise, there are so many more options for the player within the game – from seeing what their friends are playing to checking the leaderboards out. The Xbox Live functionality can really help provide a competitive edge for mobile gaming.
What specific aspects of Windows Phone 7 are you looking to take advantage of?The obvious answer here is Live connectivity. This has the potential to begin the next evolution of social gaming, giving developers much more in terms of flexibility and the opportunity for creation.
I’d say more, but I wouldn’t want to give away any company secrets!
How would you say it compares to the likes of iPhone and Android?Windows Phone 7 hardware and performance is easily on par with currently emerging devices, but the real differentiating factor is that the development is so much easier than on an iPhone.
The fact that there is so much more you can do in less time reduces the risk of truly ambitious projects on the platform.
Would you say the smartphone market is becoming overcrowded?New devices and platforms in the marketplace gradually makes it impossible for a single developer to tailor titles to support all platforms and device combinations.
At the same time, many platforms have gone away as well. There are a few factors that drive success of a platform, and one of them is great support for developers and ease of content creation. When it comes to games, Microsoft has shown it's figured that out.
Any future plans for Windows Phone 7?We think the platform has tremendous potential, and we will continue to bring content to it. Currently we have Zombies!!!! ready to launch, and then there are three other very high-profile titles we're working on.
Thanks to Andreja for his time.