DS helps MS design games

By Robert Purchese Published 14 November, 2007

They could almost be related.

Microsoft believes working with the DS will help it design shorter and more casual games that are perfectly suited to Live Arcade.

The comments were made by Microsoft Game Studios boss Phil Spencer, who told Develop his decision to let Rare make Viva Piņata for DS was beneficial all round.

"Rare has a history in making handheld games and titles for Nintendo platforms. When we acquired the studio that expertise was there and the team was there. At Microsoft we had a discussion - do we want to build on that expertise? We decided yes," said Spencer.

"Not so much because we need to support Nintendo - its platform will do fine without us - but because it is important for us to build that experience as a publisher and game developer and understand what it means to build lightweight, maybe shorter session experiences, and maintain that design innovation."

Spencer believes these "shorter, arcade experiences" are a crucial part of what MSGS can offer. He will still work on monster projects like Halo, but he sees sense in also giving us something we can pick-up and play in bite-sized chunks.

Live Arcade does this already, and because of it he says it shares lots of similarities with handhelds. And, looking to the future, it is an area it can only get stronger in the more it learns about it.

If only all decisions seemed as straightfoward - we're still not convinced this festive red knit sweater compliments our trousers.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (12) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • seasidebaz #1 4 years ago

    "Not so much because we need to support Nintendo -

    shouldnt that be the other way round? hehe

  • Inquisitor #2 4 years ago

    You've got to admit, it's fairly heart warming to see two of the big three finally working together on something.

    After all their petty squabbling it's a breath of fresh air.

  • Killerbee #3 4 years ago

    shouldnt that be the other way round?

    Exactly what I ws thinking. I very much doubt the decision to convert Viva Pinata for the DS was anything to do with wanting to support Nintendo's platform. Far more likely they (quite correctly) spied an opportunity to make some cash out of a game that wasn't that well received (in sales terms) on the Xbox 360, but should be right at home on the DS.

  • jonsaan #4 4 years ago

    To date. All Rare portable games have been rather Meh.

  • The_Inquisitor #5 4 years ago

    Perhaps Sony could benefit from the same initiative. : )
    If anyone needs 'understanding what it means to build lightweight, shorter session experiences, and maintain that design innovation', then it's Sony.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #6 4 years ago

    Does this mean Rare will convert Viva Pinata DS for XBLA?!?!?!?!!!!!!!

  • wizbob #7 4 years ago

    'boss Phil Spencer, who told Develop his decision to let Rare make Viva Piņata for DS was beneficial all round' - man applauds own decision - sounds like my workplace. 'Good idea Boss!'

  • symbiote #8 4 years ago

    "Microsoft believes working with the DS will help it design shorter and more casual games that are perfectly suited to Live Arcade"

    Microsoft believes working with the DS will help it to design cheaper and more shit games that are perfectly suited to Live Arcade.

    Fixed.

  • cawley1 #9 4 years ago

    >To date. All Rare portable games have been rather Meh.

    Bollocks! Battletoads on the Gameboy was fucking great back in '91!
    Edited by 1 at 14/11/07 @ 18:06

  • bushwod #10 4 years ago

    What a pile of PR horse shit.

    Killerbee+1

  • linksdad #11 4 years ago

    Most XBLA games are perfect for picking up and playing for a short amout of time and puting down again.... forever!

  • Pulsar_t #12 4 years ago

    ^ So are the vast majority of DS titles I'm afraid.. Screw the endless onslaught of pony games!