Sega's latest Sonic sports synchronous play across Xbox 360 and Windows Phone
First game to jump into the cloud
Building on the growing links between the two platforms, it's been revealed Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode II will be the first game to feature synchronous play across Xbox 360 and Windows Phone.
Its release comes two years after Microsoft first demoed the feature, which allows games to be played on one device before being picked up at the same stage on the other.
The game's status as a feature leader wasn't revealed via a massive press splash, however. Instead, digital grand manager Ken Balough lifted the lid on the set up during an interview with Official Xbox Magazine.
Sonic start"One of the cool things about it is that the Windows Mobile 7 (sic) and the Xbox are going to be able to work in tandem in ways that are completely new," Balough said in the interview.
"So when you pick up the Windows Mobile 7 and you'll be able to play Sonic Episode II, save it, stop, boot up your Xbox 360 and pick up right where you left off.
"And that's a really cool thing Microsoft has going between the devices and I'm a huge fan of it..."
Despite Microsoft previously making much of ties between Windows Phone and Xbox 360, developers working across the two devices have yet to take full advantage.
Cooperation between the firm's smartphone and console platforms – and, indeed, Windows 8 – will likely ramp up when Windows Phone 8 launches towards the end of 2012, however.
[source: WPCentral]
