OK to answer some of the deluge of questions I have received about Zune Games after putting up this how to on Getting Games on Your Zune, I will answer the top questions I have received:
How long does it take to do this?
Well it depends - it depends on your Internet connection and if you have UAC enabled, have more than one Zune, have trouble finding and downloading games, etc. To better gauge the time, my 10-year-old daughter did the step-by-step how-to in about 8.5 minutes after seeing the games on my Zune (yeah, I timed her) and was playing games and using applications. Her favorites are the Calculator,Zune Clock, Scrambled Albums, zJewels and XnaTetris. She wants to make her own games and an ebook reader for the scripts of her plays, but thinks its way too hard. She may do it for a summer project.
What are the games in the pictures?
The games are Galactic Wars 3 aka GW3 on the 30GB Zune and Rock Rain SD on the Flash Zune. You can get them both from the links provided in the original post as well as the direct links provided. I think I got them all from Zuneboards. There is a collection of games for the Zune in a Zune Games Package available here.
Is there a web browser for Zune?
Not at this time - due to the fact that the Zune doesn't currently support web/Internet HTTP hooks required for a web browser. It would be nice if one could sync to the Zune Marketplace directly or surf the Internet, but currently its not available. Also from what I have been told that the WiFi currently only supports Ad-Hoc WiFi connections: Zune to Zune, Zune to PC, etc. There easily could be the possibility of an application supporting an Instant messaging or chat client with a selectable keyboard, preset messages, and maybe someone will create one. I
Will this tutorial ever work on 64-bit machines?
Yes the final CTP will support 64-bit systems. Current workaround is to use a Virtual 32-bit image and install the necessary software.
What are the controls on the Zune?
OK the controls are pretty intuitive, but all games and applications should have a help file with it. Control varies from game to game, application to application, but most are modeled after the Xbox 360 controller since it is using similar code.
Most use the DPad up/down/left/right to navigate menus and control the game. If you have a ZunePad/TouchPad/Squircle it will map to a thumbstick on the XBOX360 controller. :)
The Play/Pause button acts like the A button on an Xbox controller.
To select a menu item, the Center button is used. In a game the Center Button is like the B button on a controller
The back button is like the back button on a controller and exits the game/pauses it/brings up an options menu depending on how the game or application is written.
Why does the Zune shut down after I exit a game and reboot?
This done "by design" to clear available memory from run away threads still running in the background(the kernel is based on WinCE/PMC OS) as well as for DRM and music protection, which are disabled when an application or game starts to allow access to it. There is a way to do this in the game itself and return the the main menu, but I don't know if all games and applications implement this so I think to be safe than sorry, they went with a "soft reset".Maybe this will change in the future.
Can I beam/send/squirt games from one Zune to another?
Currently I don't see a way to do this, but maybe in the future, plus if developers want to be paid for their hard work this would defeat it unless they want it to be available for free.
Can Zune applications and games support Visualizations and Music?
Yes, if the game or application is designed to do so. One of the cool things is the ability to bring up album art and music that resides on the Zune and use them in games and applications.
Can the Zune run Windows Live Gadgets or be used as a Vista Sideshow device?
It is possible via MTP and Sync Center, but I haven't seen any official documentation or announcement on how to do this yet since the Zune doesn't support MTP. It would make sense and add value to the device, like sharing Xbox Live content would, but probably has been placed on the back burner. I have seen some preliminary device mockups and some units from Toshiba looked strikingly similar to those of the Zune. Robert McLaws posted it about it a while back here. Note if you checked your Windows Vista Update there was a new SideShow universal driver update, I found it mentioned on the Sideshow team blog in a post here, after my Control Panel popped up and I just happened to notice the Windows Sideshow Icon and wondered why it popped up.
How do I delete games from my Zune?
OK head to the Main Menu (hold down back button) -> Games ->Select the game you want to delete from the list->select "- delete" -> Confirm "delete game and all saved content by moving the Directional pad to the left and selecting yes and select. The game will be removed from your device. Now only if they would allow the same thing for pictures, videos, music, and podcasts. :)
When can I buy Games for my Zune?
Good question. Nothing has been officially announced, yet. However there are alot of games people would love to see on the Zune like Hexic, Zuma, Snails, Pacman, Defender, Frogger, and other games for Windows Mobile and Xbox Live Arcade that would port over rather nicely. The only games that are available now are free so try them out. :)
Where can I get more games for my Zune?
Besides the links I mentioned before you can also find some games over at GameProjects.
Hope this answers most of your questions.