Microsoft Seeds The Windows Phone Games MarketMicrosoft Seeds The Windows Phone Games Market

Windows Phone needs a shot in the arm to spur consumer interest. Windows Mobile 6.5 isn't exactly a media darling and WP7 hasn't launched yet. To help Microsoft has commissioned a company to write at least twenty casual entertainment games, so things like puzzles and brain teasers seem to be the main focus. Will it make any difference?Part of the plan is to populate the Windows Marketplace for Mobile application store with attractive and free games. Microsoft also wanted to make sure the games showed off the devices capabilities. Today Online interviewed the developers at Touch Dimensions, the company Microsoft contracted with. Travis Ho, one of the developers said "We're looking at things that are more natural to play with, such as touchscreens and sensors that let you turn and rotate the device. This allows people to play with games in more intuitive ways."

There are to be around 20 games created by Touch Dimensions. According to the developers, it will range from a digital sketch pad to a Whack-a-Mole clone that lets you swipe at mosquitoes. The digital sketch pad could be interesting and not only pass the time but help users understand how the touch screen on the device can really be used.

You can see some work Touch Dimensions currently does at Today Online's video page. Once there, search the video section for "Autumn Dynasty" for a two minute clip.

It is hard to know how effective this will be. Certainly twenty freebies is better than nothing, and given Microsoft is footing the bill, these should all be high quality games, not something a developer threw together in a few days to get listed in the Marketplace. It will also help set the bar as to what is possible, making other game developers strive for similar quality. That will help the overall ecosystem as well.

It is like everything else Microsoft is doing pending the launch of Windows Phone 7. Nothing earth shattering, but lots of small things to bolster the platform. How much it will actually help is difficult to tell.