Redmond is co-developing a new Tablet game software development kit, as well as new Tablet-specific games.
Microsoft is readying a Tablet PC game software development kit (SDK) and a new Tablet-PC-specific game, both meant to attract new developers and users for Tablet PCs.
The Redmond, Wash., software maker is co-developing both the SDK and the new game, called Arcs of Fire, in conjunction with software partner 3 Leaf Development. 3 Leaf officials did not respond to a request for comment.
Microsoft expects to release a first beta of both the new game and the game SDK in early January, confirmed Frank Gocinski, ISV and business-development manager for Microsoft"s mobile platforms division.
"There are a lot of casual game developers who don"t build games full time," Gocinski said. "And a lot of these guys in their day jobs are enterprise customers and software developers."
Microsoft is hoping that by making the Tablet PC more of a gaming platform that it will encourage more of these kinds of customers to test drive Tablets, according to Gocinski.