Microsoft's cross-platform gaming across Windows Phone 7, PC's and the Xbox 360 that was discussed in Dubai earlier this year may not be available in its entirety when Windows Phone 7 games launch for mobile devices, but they will be able to do turn-by-turn phone-to-PC gaming and eventually realtime phone-to-console gaming eventually, a Microsoft representative has confirmed.
"We announced yesterday over 50 titles — Xbox Live gaming titles — on the phone. And so if I'm playing 'Crackdown 2' on the phone and I get an achievement there, that achievement is gonna show up on the console," Microsoft Canada mobility solutions manager Greg Milligan told rgbFilter (via Joystiq and WMPoweruser). "Some of the games we also announced support multiplayer, turn-by-turn/phone-to-phone gaming or phone-to-PC gaming. So I have my phone, and you have your phone, and I'm on the bus someplace, you're in the office someplace and I ping you and I send you a little message saying, 'Let's play,' we can do a turn-by-turn-based multiplayer game."
Asked about possible realtime functionality, Milligan said such options wouldn't be integrated at launch, but they are part of his company's plans later on.
"Initially, we're turn-by-turn-based," he explained. "We are working on realtime phone-to-console, likely initially through wifi again, operator networks being receptive to that. That's not on day one. Day one will be turn-by-turn, as well as companion-type gaming where if you play a level on the phone, then it may unlock a level or a weapon or some special achievement on the console game."
As far as timeframes go, he wouldn't get more specific than in the "near future," though that could mean the days of going on raids with your MMO team during your morning commute are close at hand.
Are you looking forward to cross-platform gaming via Windows Phone 7? Are you disappointed that it won't be possible in realtime on day one? Share your reactions in the comment section below.