Here's a video of Bill Gates showing off Microsoft's new 'Live Anywhere' service - a multiplayer gaming infrastructure that embraces Xbox 360, Vista PCs and mobile phones. Technology Blog has collated some info here.
So will we see games that actually play across all formats. The demo shows Xbox 360 vs Vista, but can mobiles fit into that mix? Microsoft's E3 conference press release certainly suggests this is the case:
"Spanning Windows Mobile®, Java and BREW-based handsets, the world-class mobile games service will give gamers on-the-go access to cross-platform gaming communities at any time, from any location. By this time next year, users will be able to send messages, access friends lists, download the best of mobile game content, and sample, purchase and play favorites such as "Bejeweled," "Zuma" and "Hexic" as part of the integrated gaming world."
An integration between Xbox Live Arcade and mobile phones makes great sense. The former provides an easily accessed mainstream portal for casual and retro titles - these are the sorts of games that would do astonishing business on mobile if more people knew how to download them. Or just if more people cared. The Xbox connection may provide that added stimulus...
