Skip to main content

What video game developers think of Surface

iPad killer or Microsoft's secret weapon in the battle for the next generation?

It is, undoubtedly, the biggest tech story of the week: Microsoft's announcement of its iPad killer: Surface.

At least, that's what we had been led to believe. It turns out Surface is a hybrid of tablet and PC, performing the role of both with its ultra-thin keyboard built into its screen cover. And it comes in two flavours, the Windows RT model and the fancy pants Windows 8 Pro model, which, we all expect, will burn a rather large hole in our wallets.

While the RT model is most like a tablet, the Pro is an altogether different beast, and packs some serious horsepower. So, depending on which Surface you're talking about, the product it will "kill" changes.

"Everyone is talking about Surface being a challenger to iPad or Android tablets - but unless I'm mistaken, Surface Pro is actually taking the Macbook Air head on, and that's where I think it will have the most success," Nick Baynes, former game director at Pure and Split/Second developer Black Rock, and now chief of his own studio Big Bit, tells Eurogamer.

"With RT, I'm not entirely sure what it offers over existing tablets from a consumer perspective that existing Windows Mobile tablets don't already - sure it'll be faster and smoother, and it's got the keyboard built in with the case (do the mass market who buy tablets care about keyboards?), but I don't see a killer reason why people that choose Apple or Android over Windows now are going to change their buying selection to Surface.

"I don't think iPad has anything to worry about for now, but consumers who are considering an Android tablet may prefer to go with a Windows branded device for consistency with their PC set up."

So, perhaps not the iPad killer some had called for. But for Microsoft, that's not the point. The gargantuan tech company has for some time now pushed its multi-screen strategy above all others, the idea being that whatever screen you are using, whether it's a phone (a Windows Phone, Microsoft hopes), a tablet, a laptop or a desktop, your experience is consistent, and your profile, as much as possible, is shared across all devices, powered by the cloud.

Microsoft multi-screen had been brewing for some before it exploded at E3 earlier this month with the announcement of SmartGlass, a new set of features for streaming content between Xbox 360, Windows tablets and phones. All this will better come together later this year with the launch of Windows 8. And this, according to James Duncan, creative director at RedBreast Studio, is what Surface is really about.

"I think Microsoft surprised a few people with the announcement, specifically the design," he tells us. "There are some clever, considered touches there. It's clearly been designed to kick start Windows 8 as a viable tablet contender.

As a developer I'd like to know more about the app ecosystem which will really be the driving factor behind its success. It's this, coupled with the price that will decide whether Apple finally have a serious mass market tablet contender - James Duncan, creative director at RedBreast Studio.

"As a developer I'd like to know more about the app ecosystem which will really be the driving factor behind its success. It's this, coupled with the price that will decide whether Apple finally have a serious mass market tablet contender."

Clearly Surface is designed to pick away at Apple's iPad and Mac lines, but what's less clear is its potential for gaming. Epic's Unreal evangelist Mark Rein summed up his thoughts on Twitter in his trademark enthusiastic style: "Microsoft NAILS IT! Way to go Microsoft! Surface looks AWESOME! Can't wait to get some Unreal Engine games on those babies!"

So, Unreal made games on Surface. But there's more. Given both devices have a USB port, and run Windows operating systems, it seems certain that plugging in an Xbox 360 controller will work with Surface. "If so: bravo!" was Rein's reaction.

Digital Foundry's Richard Leadbetter has already delivered his verdict on Surface's gaming credentials, and emerged impressed. But will developers embrace Surface as a game development platform with as much vigour as they have the iPad?

"As a games designer I don't see anything immediately obvious in the interface that jumps out at me enabling innovative new experiences that can't already be created on existing hardware," Baynes says. "The pressure sensitive keyboard is interesting from a gaming perspective… but isn't really usable when mobile."

Ben Murch, of Hunters: Episode One developer Rodeo Games, is just as cautious. "As a developer it has a long way to go before it's anything Rodeo would look at supporting," he tells us. "Apple have over 300 million devices all embracing the App Store environment that a small studio like us can compete in.

Surface will support the likes of StarCraft, Crysis, Diablo and other huge AAA games. Trying to compete for gamers' time against those would be madness - Ben Murch, of Hunters: Episode One developer Rodeo Games.

"Surface will support the likes of StarCraft, Crysis, Diablo and other huge AAA games. Trying to compete for gamers' time against those would be madness. We'll see how it gets on and if it grows a community that would fit our games."

This wait and see approach is unsurprising. Yes, there will be developers who embrace Surface from day one - encouraged, no doubt, by Microsoft's special brand of back slapping - but for those still struggling to find profit in the Wild West that is the App Store, Surface is a distraction easy to dismiss for the time being.

Looking further ahead, though, we can perhaps allow ourselves a tinge of excitement. Microsoft's next Xbox is expected to launch late next year, and may well be powered by Windows 8 to help unify the experience across multiple devices.

Yes, it will come with a traditional controller (and Kinect 2, we've heard), but we expect to be able to use Surface as an alternative touch-screen controller for multi-screen gaming, with the help of SmartGlass and, perhaps, Bluetooth, for reduced latency.

This is the most interesting thing about Surface for core gamers, those early adopters who will pick up the next Xbox at launch and enjoy the next big thing from the likes of 343 Industries, Rare, Lionhead, Turn 10 and Epic. On the face of it, Microsoft's new device seems squarely aimed at Apple. But dig beneath the surface and it looks increasingly like one of Microsoft's most secret weapons in the battle for the next generation.

Read this next

seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com