Moore: Zune will game by '08

Nintendo and Sony are currently going head-to-head in the portable gaming business, but they'll have company down the road. Microsoft, which has long been rumored to be entering the portable gaming market, is adding gaming features to its new portable media device, the Zune.

Microsoft vice president Peter Moore revealed to reporters at CES that the company is planning to add games to the Zune within 18 months, according to a Bloomberg report.

"I love the interface, I love the screen," Moore said of the Zune.

Currently, the Zune functions mainly as a portable music player, like Apple's iPod. However, the iPod remains the dominant music player in the business and recently expanded its functions to include video playback and gaming.

Before the Zune was officially announced, many suspected the device was going to play games. But when the veil was officially pulled off the portable, Microsoft simply said it will offer "great music and entertainment experiences."

It's unclear how complex the games for the machine will be. Games for the iPod, which include more casual titles like Tetris, Pac-Man, and Bejeweled, aren't currently up to par technologically with those of the Nintendo DS or PlayStation Portable.

Microsoft was unavailable for comment as of press time.