Microsoft to link up PC and console gamers

[administrator]

WINDOWS Vista and Xbox 360 gamers will soon be able to challenge each other online for the first time as Microsoft's Xbox LIVE gaming network opens its doors to PC titles.

The IT giant behind both the Xbox 360 console and the Vista operating system today announced the extension of the LIVE online games and entertainment network to the Vista platform.

Halo 2 will be the first title to support the LIVE platform when the Vista version of the game launches in May. The system, however, will only support PC-to-PC challenges.

In June, first-person shooter Shadowrun will become the first game to connect Vista gamers with Xbox 360 players in cross-platform matches using a single service.

The cross-platform online combat option will be available to gamers with the $79.95 a year premium gold subscription.

Microsoft said existing LIVE members could access their account and the full functionality of the service on both platforms at no additional cost.

An electronic version of the classic card game UNO is set to launch later this year on both Vista and the Xbox 360 and will also support cross-platform play.

Xbox group marketing manager Nick Segger said the cross-platform union made the gaming experience more dynamic for both gamers and developers.

"For the first time, if you're a PC gamer you'll be able to play against a guy on an Xbox 360 and vice versa," Mr Segger said.

"So that age old question – which is better for gaming, the mouse and the keyboard or the games controller – will be able to be decided once and for all."

"What it does is give publishers and developers the opportunity to release games across platforms because the development tools for making games on PC are similar to the ones we are used to making games on the XBox 360."