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Geometry Wars, Uno Vista-bound

Microsoft's Robbie Bach talks up game lineup, reveals new casual titles for 360 and PC, lauds Halo 3 and GTA4.

LAS VEGAS--This evening at the Consumer Electronics Show, Microsoft Entertainment division boss Robbie Bach reaffirmed the company's support for Windows as a gaming platform and gave the keynote address audience a glimpse at some of the casual and hardcore Windows and Xbox 360 games on the horizon.

Bach, who spoke during Bill Gates' keynote address Sunday night, also touted Windows-based PCs as one of the most popular gaming platforms.

His 20 minutes onstage highlighted Microsoft's commitment to both its hardware and software initiatives, as well as Bach's rising status within the Microsoft organization.

"The PC and Windows is the number one gaming platform in the world," Bach said. "Two hundred million people every month play games on Windows," he added, referring to both casual and hardcore games. To illustrate how Microsoft is preparing games for both markets, he then showed a brief video highlighting some current and upcoming games for Windows.

In terms of the casual lineup, the video showed a few seconds of gameplay from a number of upcoming games, including the puzzle game Jewel Quest 2, the action puzzle game Luxor 2, the arcade game Bliss Island, and a Windows version of the Xbox Live Arcade game Geometry Wars. In addition, Microsoft showed off a version of Uno running on Windows that was compatible with the company's upcoming Live on Windows initiative, which aims to make a PC version of the popular Xbox Live online service. Indeed, those with the Windows version of Uno will be able to play against those with the Xbox 360 version of the popular card game, and Windows on Live features all the matchmaking and community functionality of Xbox Live.

For more serious gamers, the video gave a glimpse of some currently available Microsoft titles, such as Flight Simulator X, Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs, and Company of Heroes, GameSpot's 2006 PC Game of the Year.

The video also highlighted some upcoming games, such as Supreme Commander, Alan Wake, Shadowrun, Bioshock, Hellgate: London, World in Conflict, Halo 2, Age of Conan, and Crysis. The Crysis footage in particular amounted to only about five seconds of footage, but what it showed looked visually impressive, from a rockslide on a mountain road to a North Korean tank plowing into a flimsy hut.

That pretty much covered the Games for Windows portion of the keynote address, though Bach did discuss the future of the Xbox 360 in 2007. While he didn't show a video of upcoming Xbox 360 games, he did mention Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero II, Mass Effect, and Grand Theft Auto 4 as games to look out for in 2007.

And, of course, he mentioned the most anticipated game for the Xbox 360, Halo 3, which is also due out this year. He gave the keynote address audience a little sampling of the game, but no new footage was shown. Instead, Microsoft showed off the 60-second commercial that aired during Monday Night Football late last year.

92 Comments

  • _Sam_

    Posted Jan 21, 2007 3:33 pm GMT

    well there have been uno games for the pc in the past (I'm assuming) hopefully more of those 360 games are available on vista

  • ricsuave

    Posted Jan 15, 2007 12:48 pm GMT

    "Rawksawce
    smoothn00dle, typing "M$" as opposed to Microsoft or MS does nothing but make you look stupid. >_>"

    As opposed to his whole post in general?

  • Rawksawce

    Posted Jan 15, 2007 6:30 am GMT

    smoothn00dle, typing "M$" as opposed to Microsoft or MS does nothing but make you look stupid. >_>

  • smoothn00dle

    Posted Jan 15, 2007 6:26 am GMT

    This is the stupidest idea I ever heard. M$ is going to cannibalise their own market. Why should I buy Gear of War when I can play PC version with Keyboard and mouse?? Console make money base on Game sold but PC are free. This mean M$ lost large amount of income for Xbox360. M$ may think more ppl play Live with will help their strategies or just the sound of Window platform help them to win wars. In practice, it required dedicated balance and care, sounds simple but is not easy.

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Jan 12, 2007 5:23 pm GMT

    Grid wars 2 is already for pc(its fan based though....a good fan based).

  • blackheart6004

    Posted Jan 12, 2007 11:05 am GMT

    I cant wait for GW to come to my Windows Vista (beta that is).

    My wish has finally came true.

  • gellis1981

    Posted Jan 9, 2007 2:25 pm GMT

    Who do u think Windows is run by?? Microsoft...who runs the 360?? Microsoft...get it?? It's way beyond the fact of the games being labeled as exclusives now...it's a whole new ballgame now and Microsoft is phasing out Sony's gaming community by force or at least in the future. A move like this could of never been done before...now two major platforms, the 360 and PC will be a force to fight against.

  • noelveiga

    Posted Jan 9, 2007 12:05 pm GMT

    Actually the "not truly exclusive" thing has a point. I didn't get a 360 on launch because the best part of its launch lineup was available for PC. With all this push for Vista as a gaming system, Microsoft is making that "let's see what happens" time longer for me. I really want to play Alan Wake, but it seems I won't need a 360 for that. Everybody loves Geometry Wars, but it's not a system seller and now I can get it on my PC...

    This is not bad for MS as a company. I'm certainly going to move to Vista when it comes out, and Windows is still a bigger business for MS than Xbox, but their platforms are indeed competing between them. The biggest problem, marketing-wise is that MS never ensures total exclusivity for the 360. Right now I know I can't play Gears of War on a PC, but just as I got to play Onimusha, Devil May Cry, Halo or Grand Theft Auto there's no reason for me to wait if I all I'm interested in is a specific game. After all, bad ports are playable too, and Xbox gamepads are now Windows compatible.

  • nikefreak

    Posted Jan 9, 2007 11:05 am GMT

    "Once again, no Xbox game is truly exclusive."

    Lies... And further, Microsoft implements cross-platform compatibility and extended Live services. And in case you forgot, this is on MICROSOFT Windows Vista... Still exclusive to the Microsoft franchise

  • The_Weekend

    Posted Jan 9, 2007 7:53 am GMT

    UNO!

  • zsc4

    Posted Jan 9, 2007 5:43 am GMT

    Good News yet again.

  • Destroyeron13

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 10:30 pm GMT

    kewl

  • Chief_Kuuni

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 8:54 pm GMT

    sounds better by the minute

  • ffgothic

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 5:01 pm GMT

    awesome!

  • King_Andy

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 4:10 pm GMT

    me like what im hearing

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 4:02 pm GMT

    Once again, no Xbox game is truly exclusive.

  • The_AI

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 3:59 pm GMT

    Uno? That's it. I want Vista.

  • Pete5506

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 2:33 pm GMT

    who dosent like geometry wars, come on

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 2:19 pm GMT

    horay for geometry wars

  • datniccah187

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 2:10 pm GMT

    Love all these ucoming games being announced, makes for a very exciting time.

  • Kholdstare_fire

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 2:09 pm GMT

    Cool.

  • SUPRAMAN84

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 1:44 pm GMT

    Oh I can't wait to play Geometry Wars on my PC. I love that game.

  • Rokin1

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 1:26 pm GMT

    Good thing that there are some PC news.

  • Limonadi

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 1:15 pm GMT

    Great news for us PLAYERS

  • DontEatCream

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 1:05 pm GMT

    OH god, yes. Geometry Wars, here I come!

  • jaredgood1

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 12:45 pm GMT

    "You might want to put more attention into the spelling of the so called OS you want to switch to (Linux) instead of the conspiracy theories you obviously spend time reading into "

    So I misspelled it. Big whoop. Oh, you forgot a period.

  • ObiKKa

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 12:33 pm GMT

    The_Weekend
    "microsoft is just trying hard at impressing themselves sometimes ..."

    Lol, yeah, now that gives me thoughts. It must be because they've already been impressing us off our socks so constantly, that they now probably are thinking "Wow. Am I dreaming?". But, no, just a theory (perhaps created to support your opinion). They were just a happy bunch!

  • TheJuggla17

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 12:29 pm GMT

    This could be awesome actually. Multiplayer UNO across two platforms and possibly an update to Geometry for online play.

    ~fin~

  • ObiKKa

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 12:07 pm GMT

    The Live on Windows initiative is really a great feature. I know of the Xbox Live Anywhere feature, but this is really cool. But after reading a bit more, I realise that both & the same thing, though the Live on Windows, aka Windows on Live, seems to be more comfortably appealing to attract the casual Windows gamers, so it sounds like a branding front for essentially the same feature, just like how Dreamcaster uses the "The Adventure Company" brand to publish adventure-only games, and Disney & its "Touchstone" branding to publish non-cartoon & animation movies.

    "Windows on Live features all the matchmaking and community functionality of Xbox Live."

    Wow, so does this mean that it'll provide the achievement points system, too? That is great for the casual gamers to complete the 200 points for each casual game, & probably up to 1000 points for the games that include the Xbox Live Anywhere. But two PC games, that are using the Xbox Live Anywhere, Shadowrun, & Two Worlds, sounds like it's only just using the online connectivity with the Xbox players. Now I know better! Xbox Live Anywhere is just for that exactly for the PC games to connect to the Xbox 360 games through online multiplayer modes & some stuff to do on your mobile phones/handheld devices with Windows Mobile OSes. Now imagine if a developer gets to make a PC game with BOTH Live on Windows & Xbox Live Anywhere to play alongside the Xbox 360 version! Whoo! Dunno if it'll happen though.

  • R3DN1N3

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 11:26 am GMT

    Bioshock and Crysis, bioshock and crysis..... Aww man someone pass me a napkin I'm drooling on myself.

  • ExTrazz-SeWICX

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 11:24 am GMT

    Microsoft rocks they allways come out with great stuff .. Now Windows Vista is out i have not tryid the real version only beta 2 .. So i hope it will rock Go Microsoft + Sony with there new Playstation 3 It beats the hell out of Xbox 360 and wii ... Keep rockin ..

  • SilV3RSix

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 11:18 am GMT

    vaejas
    "You know, the Mac had Achievement Points way back in the mid-80s.
    I was on top of the Hypercard leaderboard for three years running. "

    MSoft already has Office for Mac and Live Messenger, so there is no reason why a Live game client couldn't be extended to Mac as well... imagine Mac/PC/360 users all in the same game space... wow. Sony Online Network what?

  • Icekxg

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 10:16 am GMT

    Ha, I always said there was a reason they pulled that Grid Wars game off the net...and what do you know, Geometry Wars for the PC? *sarcasm*BIG SHOCKER there*end sarcasm*.

    Also, I have to agree with dragg0n, Windows Live is gonna be nice. Hopefully will eliminate needless IP address entries to join a friends game.

  • gatsbythepig

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 10:11 am GMT

    sweet

  • nikefreak

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 9:45 am GMT

    "Vista's DRM issues practically guarantees my switch to Lynix. Screw Big Brother and the OS he rode in on. "

    You might want to put more attention into the spelling of the so called OS you want to switch to (Linux) instead of the conspiracy theories you obviously spend time reading into

  • jaredgood1

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 9:42 am GMT

    Vista's DRM issues practically guarantees my switch to Lynix. Screw Big Brother and the OS he rode in on.

  • vaejas

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 9:35 am GMT

    You know, the Mac had Achievement Points way back in the mid-80s.
    I was on top of the Hypercard leaderboard for three years running.

  • dragg0n

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 9:07 am GMT

    I like the Windows version of live idea.

  • imbacon

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 8:52 am GMT

    Microsoft keeps giving people more goodies!

  • blacktorn

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 8:50 am GMT

    We were told nothing new in the keynote,except the awesome fact that i can play my xbox live games on windows vista,also the fact that i can use my wireless 360 controller on vista is good news to me,but i really don't want to spend 150GBP on vista,and thats just the home basic edition...

  • Haloman04

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 8:43 am GMT

    I bought my HD tv for like... $300 two years ago, where the hell have you been?

  • Scaryclouds

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 8:43 am GMT

    Cloud 737:
    "Zzzzzz...zzzzzz...zzzzz...Oh, is it over yet?
    Man, what a boring conference. And still, no new updates were offered at all. As expected from MS, of course.
    They need to make some BIG show like Sony likes to do to capture the audience.
    Oh, joy of joys, they showed Luxor 2 and Geometry wars, cause all gamers were so eager to see some new footage that they could have eaten their shoes off.
    And as expected, for the serious gamers, MS offered not-so-new footage of several games. Next time I suffer from insomnia, I`ll go to MS`s conferences."

    Yea it is a shame Microsoft didn't spend more time talking about how many consoles they plan to ship by March. Because in my book its more important to know how many units a company has shipped over why I should by one.

  • TheSystemLord1

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 8:41 am GMT

    striker2k3
    another reason why we don't need xbox360... -Yeah, if you want to pay 3000 to play Alan Wake the way it was meant to be played when it will look almost identical with no hiccups on a $400 machine

  • striker2k3

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 8:36 am GMT

    another reason why we don't need xbox360...

  • gatsbythepig

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 8:34 am GMT

    well it's news

  • gothicdragon216

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 8:34 am GMT

    "Zzzzzz...zzzzzz...zzzzz...Oh, is it over yet?
    Man, what a boring conference. And still, no new updates were offered at all. As expected from MS, of course.
    They need to make some BIG show like Sony likes to do to capture the audience.
    Oh, joy of joys, they showed Luxor 2 and Geometry wars, cause all gamers were so eager to see some new footage that they could have eaten their shoes off.
    And as expected, for the serious gamers, MS offered not-so-new footage of several games. Next time I suffer from insomnia, I`ll go to MS`s conferences."

    this wasn't E3, this was a business keynote. There aren't lines of gamers and half naked women jumping around in cosplay, there are suits, and ties, and press. This isn't a publicity meeting, it's a business meeting, and it's supposed to be professional.

  • isahunt

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 8:18 am GMT

    "If you don't have live, then it would make sense that people on PC will have to pay the 50 a year to get the gamertag and install the software."

    Dream on.

  • cjcr_alexandru

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 8:18 am GMT

    If you can play the same game online both on PC and on X360, why would you play it on X360? All PC games are free to play online.

  • rmcdonnell

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 8:10 am GMT

    omegacis:
    I am all for having a greater pool of people to play with, but I am not so sure that mixing PC players with 360 players on live is all around good. My main beef with it is for FPS games, like Halo2. Maybe its just that I suck, but the keyboard/mouse combination will always allow for quicker response time than the 360 joypad does. I think that if they start allowing PC players into live, they need options to make games "360 only" or "PC only" to even things out.

    That being said, I think that PC/360 playing of games like Uno, gauntlet, contra, etc is a fantastic development.

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