Windows Phone

We’re all excited here at my kind of phone, as the first wave of games launching on Windows Phone 7 have been announced (yay!). The announcement was made ahead of Gamescom, which is taking place in Cologne, Germany, this week and by the reaction from all involved the gaming experience on Windows Phone 7 is going to be a game changer.

A whopping 63 games have been announced at launch, with something for every mobile gamer, so you’ll be spoiled for choice at the wide range of fantastic games available from the very first day that you get your Windows Phone 7.

Want proof? Check out this summary video for an exciting preview of the Windows Phone 7 gaming experience:

There’s some cool features in the games that the video doesn’t show you, like how Crackdown that lets you defend your tower against monsters by using any location from Bing Maps as the setting. The range of games on offer looks great, with titles appealing to hard-core gamers down to family-friendly games like Max and the Magic Marker.

As if this wasn’t enough, there’s the great news that Xbox LIVE, online gaming and entertainment service for Xbox 360, is coming exclusively to Windows Phone 7. This means that you’ll soon be able to spot us (and lots of other gamers) staring intensely at their screens as they try to complete the next level on Halo Waypoint or Rocket Riot. Whether you’re waiting for the tube or waiting for a Boris Bike to become available, you can be playing with friends using your Xbox LIVE avatar and gamer profile to keep track of scores and wins. Although it has to be said that you don’t need an XBOX Live account to play games, so you can enjoy the gaming experience on Windows Phone 7 without needing to link in to anything else.

What’s even more exciting is hearing that the most creative minds in game development are bringing their top titles to Windows Phone 7, so you’ll soon be able to get games from the likes of Gameloft (makers of Asphalt 5, Assassins Creed and Earthworm Jim), Konami (who brought us Castlevania and Frogger) Namco Bandai (creators of Flight Control and Puzzle Quest), PopCap (makers of Bejeweled)and THQ (who’ll be releasing several Star Wars games).

With the biggest companies in the market backing Windows Phone 7, expect to see more games and big names from your favourite consoles appearing on Windows Phone 7 in the year ahead.

Here’s a rundown and demo vids of our favourite games so far:

Halo Waypoint
The classic FPS comes to Windows Phone 7 in the form of Halo portal. With videos, photos, blogs and communities dedicated to the Halo universe, you get even more action as it’s all available at your fingertips, on the move and wherever you are.

Rocket Riot
Strap on your bazooka soldier, and get ready for this awesome side-view shooter. Pure frenzied fun – look at those pixels fly!

Max and the Magic Marker
Run, jump, think, and draw with your marker to create new objects in the game world to help Max in this puzzle adventure. We had a big orange marker in our office once. We used it to highlight text rather than go on a magical adventure. We think that highlighting can also be magical adventure sometimes…

Bejeweled LIVE
Addiction, thy name is Bejeweled. The world’s number one puzzle game allows you to match gems and score cascades. And now you can unlock achievements on the go, there’s even more reason to jump in for “just one more level…”

Ilo Milo
Help reunite friends ilo and milo in their world made of cubes in this unique three-dimensional puzzler. We got a little vertigo sickness the first time we played it, but you soon get used to their crazy world! You can also expect a range of Ilo and Milo plush toys coming to a toy shop near you…

If you’re thirsty for more, there’s info and the list of games available at launch over on the dedicated Windows Phone Xbox LIVE site.

Oh, and don’t forget to check out the Windows Phone UK Youtube channel, where plenty more videos like this will be made available.

Which game are you most looking forward to? Any Xbox fans out there?

Happy gaming!