Frontier's David Braben on how Windows Phone is bringing the mobile market to console and PC devs

It's evidence of Windows Phone's standing within Microsoft that the mobile version of Xbox 360 hit Kinectimals wasn't farmed out to an additional studio, but rather handled by the same developer, Frontier.

As such, it's little surprise that the two versions of the game are designed to link up – evidence of the greater ties Microsoft will look to foster between its console and mobile platforms in the years ahead.

According to Frontier founder David Braben, however, the similarities between the Xbox 360 release and this new Windows Phone version are only possible because smartphones now facilitates the kind of experience consumers are used to sampling on either console or PC.

We caught up with David to ask why Frontier has been more than happy to open mobile Windows with Microsoft.

Pocket Gamer: How did you approach bringing the Kinectimals franchise to mobile?

David Braben: We looked at how people like to play games when on the move – typically in five or ten minute chunks – and looked at how best a game would work around this.

We also looked at how regular play could be enhanced using the GPS and camera.

Essentially, we looked at it afresh, and we wanted to make sure the game worked well as a separate experience. Hopefully that is what we have done so a great many people will enjoy it, and it will have reasonable longevity since it takes many hours of solid play to complete.

You’ve added in the option for players to link up their game with their Xbox 360 account. Do you think there will be a big crossover between the two platforms?

The game is a great stand-alone, but I think the cross-platform integration is a fun new experience for consumers, unlike anything they've seen before.

We expect to see lots of people taking advantage of it, especially to share the exclusive cubs they import into the game.

Do you think the Windows Phone version will act as a promo tool for the 360 release, or vice versa?

They are both great games, and either can happily exist without the other - as in fact Kinectimals on Xbox 360 has done successfully for exactly a year today.

That said, I would like to think both will have a positive effect on the other to introduce new families to the Kinectimals franchise.

As a studio with experience on PC and console, how did you view Windows Phone as an opportunity?

Frontier has had PC and console experience going back decades, and as a company we have grown alongside them.

We have watched with growing interest as the mobile market has raced through a similar trajectory as we have done in console, though it has rattled through this progress in just a few years.

Even a year ago, almost all mobile games were essentially 2D experiences, and this year they are getting close to console performance.

In effect, the mobile market has now come to us. This year we have moved our entire tool chain on to the mobile platforms, so it is very easy for us to make high-end mobile games, starting with Kinectimals.

There is quite a mix of different apps on the marketplace already, but fortunately nothing else like this, so I think it fits in well.

At the time of writing, we're off to a really strong start in the Windows Phone Marketplace, so of course I hope it stays that way.

What's your opinion of Mango? Where should Microsoft go next?

Mango is a big improvement, and of course we support it and will do so going forwards. It's not my place to say where Microsoft should go next, but it doesn't take a genius to see what is possible.

I think they are going to be a big boost.

Nokia has been a powerhouse of delivery of handsets in the past, principally on Symbian in my experience at least - having personally been a big fan of theirs. I think their move to Windows Phone is the first step of them returning to their past strengths.

While I don’t have anything to announce in this interview, there's certainly more to come.

Thanks to David for his time.

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