This is an excerpt from Microsoft’s Press Release about our CES2007 keynote address by Bill Gates:
In addition, during the CES keynote address, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and Entertainment and Devices Division President Robbie Bach demonstrated the ease and simplicity of connecting people who play games on a Windows Vista- based PC to friends who play on the Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system for a cross-platform game challenge with "UNO(R)" (Mattel Inc.) – one of the many new upcoming casual games optimized for Windows Vista.
Connecting Windows Vista and Xbox 360
Delivering on a vision that Microsoft presented at Electronic Entertainment Expo 2006, Microsoft Game Studios’ "Shadowrun" and Mattel’s "UNO" are part of the first wave of Live titles that bring the benefits of Xbox Live(R) to gamers on Windows Vista, including an active community of nearly 5 million gamers, a single identity for each gamer across Windows and Xbox 360, as well as Achievements, which redefine what it means to conquer a game and share accomplishments with friends. The Live gaming and entertainment network will enable gamers to play and communicate online across both of Microsoft’s gaming platforms, bringing more players and their friends together to play and connect in new, exciting ways. In addition, "Halo(R) 2" for Windows Vista (Microsoft Game Studios/Bungie Studios) will also support Live, including enabling Windows gamers to communicate with Xbox Live gamers and earn Achievements in the famed "Halo 2" campaign – a first for any "Halo" title on any platform.
(More available here: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/jan07/01-07CES2007PR.mspx)
This means that Windows Vista gamers will be able to buy Mattel’s UNO and play not just against other Windows Vista gamers over the Internet but also against folks playing on Xbox Live on Xbox 360’s as well. With the exception of certain games like World of Warcraft, most online PC games have a relatively small community online to play against online. What’s cool about this announcement is that anyone playing UNO on Windows Vista will be able to play against any of the 5 million+ Xbox Live online gamers out there, allowing them to immediately play with (and Voice communicate with) a very large contingent of other gamers online with varying skill levels and ages.
This has more than just good implications for UNO itself: It provides an opportunity for families to better play with each other or kids to play with other kids across the Internet.
- FAMILY PLAY
Kids & adults can now play against each other at home… the parent on the home PC, and the kid on the Xbox 360 - PLAY WITH OR WITHOUT AN XBOX
Kids can play with other friends & family members across the Internet regardless of whether they have Xbox 360’s or not.
Kurt Shintaku's Blog 