Microsoft’s XNA framework, which is enabling game developers to target the PC and the Xbox 360 together, will soon allow the Zune to be targeted as well. What does this mean? Why do we care?

In theory, the XNA initiative is supposed to open the doors of game development (and really more importantly – distribution) to the niche and hobby classes. Since these are the classes that have traditionally created real strategy games (original and board game ports) in the past, we would expect XNA to lead to more of our favorite little strategy games making it across the digital divide.

So far, the results are mixed. We’ve got Settlers and Carcasonne and Alhambra and a few more titles bubbling down into Xbox Live Arcade, but these have been made by real game companies (smaller ones, yes) and not hobbyists. My opinion here is that this is not really XNA’s fault, but more that it is still a very complex ordeal to make a polished game, doubly so if it’s to include online play, and trebly so if it’s going to have some of that shiny 3D goodness. We’re still waiting on GarageGames’ “Builder” app to make the jump to 3D, but when that happens it might be a turning point. So for now the table is set, the doors are flung wide open, but the guests at the banquet are few. It’s going to take a little longer to get a good reading on this one.

Meanwhile, making games on a small mobile platform is an interesting zigzag. Even though the Zune has small market share, it’s positively huge compared to any single mobile phone (iPhone notwithstanding), so mobile game developers are probably eager to get on board. Soon we’ll have all the Tetris and Bejewelled clones we’ll ever need. But again, the question is whether it will attract the class that makes strategy games? No doubt that a Zune game would require far fewer art assets, and that alone can make a huge difference. So the watch is on.

Of course, it begs the other question, which is, what kind of strategy games can you play on a 320×240 pixel screen anyway? I’m pretty sure I saw a mobile version of Settlers of Catan once and it was pretty squashed. Can you think of any existing board games or strategy card games that might work OK?

If not, maybe it’ll have to be all-new games. Especially ones for up to eight players. I imagine bidding/auction games might do well – the sort of stuff that keeps everyone engaged at once, rather than the strictly round-the-table one-at-a-time order.