Microsoft’s new Windows 8 phone, easier for devs to make games
Microsoft has had a very busy week in mobile news, only two-days since Microsoft revealed the new ‘Surface’ tablet, the company announced the new Windows 8 platform for mobile phones. The new platform will allow greater features, better games and an easier way for developers to make them.
The new Windows Phone 8 will work with Direct X, it will share many of the same drivers and coding that will work on Windows 8 PC. This will allow developers that are accustomed to, or creating for, PC platforms to port the game directly for mobile. One of the biggest changes that comes with the new system is the ‘dual-core processor’ support for mobile phones. Microsoft had limited its previous phones to single-core processors to undercut the cost of other brands. The new phones will not be limited, it will support multiple core functionality (up to 64 cores actually). Microsoft also stated that the new coding for Microsoft Phone 8 will make it easier for developers to bring their application and games from an iOS structure or Android.
In a look to the future of consumer spending, Microsoft enabled Near Field Communications (NFC) for the device. NFC allows phones to interact with other devices by swiping it, allowing consumers to pay at the counter with their phone.
The home-screen will receive an updated look, with multiple-sized tiles that users can control and adjust the layout as they see fit. Screens for the new phones will also receive an update (WXGA 1280x768px, 720p is 1280x720px, WVGA is 800x400px).
Games are always an important factor in phones and Microsoft wants consumers to know they have that in mind. Gameloft displayed its titles; ‘N.O.V.A. 3′ and ‘Asphalt 7′ and of course Zynga’s popular titles ‘Draw Something’ and ‘Words With Friends’ will be coming to the phones.
The Windows Phone 8 SDK will release this summer, the Windows Phone 8 devices are set to launch this Fall.
