I had this idea last night that there could be a standard chat api for all zune game programs.  This would make it so it didn't matter what game you were playing, you could still chat with anyone around.  It would be a simple api easy enough for beginners, but have a standard set of variables for chat data transfer and maybe some standard artwork.  You would put the api code in your zune game and be able to chat to other zunes even though they have a different game, but just the api.  Would this be possible?

Certainly possible.

Typing with 3 buttons is pretty hard. Someone has an IM type app here http://www.zuneboards.com/forums/applications/26850-very-beta-zune-messenger.html

You should start with something like that and propose your standard rather than trying to get others to do it for you.

 

Since the range for the Zune network functionality is 30 meters, what are the odds that you won't be in vocal range anyway? :) I guess if you're playing in different floors of a house or something it might be useful, but it's not something that would be high on my priority list for putting into my Zune game.

I agree there is a practicality issue, but I think it would be nice to be able to chat to a zune owner even if they don't have the same game I do.  About creating it, I don't really have the time to and I'm really not the most professional out there to make an api.  If someone would really like to help the community out this would probably be it.  It doesn't have to be a huge project, just a couple cleanly coded classes and like I said before some artwork would be nice too.

Interestingly, the XNA EULA explicitly states "You may not implement any text chat functionality in any programs". I don't know if that was changed with 3.0, but it's something to look into...

 

The 3.0 CTP EULA, as far as I can see, makes no mention of text chat at all. Granted you still have to comply with any laws about text chatting and encrypted text. I don't know if the Zune wireless is encrypted or not, but that would be something to look into if you wish to comply with the EULA and laws.

Do note that this is just the EULA for the CTP; the 3.0 RTM EULA will be a different EULA so you'll have to re-evaluate things again at that time.

That part of the EULA was clarified by MS to mean only over Live networking. It was due to laws about encrypted traffic. Since the Zune's dont use live networking this doesn't apply.

See the FAQ on this very subject http://forums.xna.com/forums/t/7645.aspx

I forgot about that whole discussion. Nevermind...

 

Jim Perry:

Since the range for the Zune network functionality is 30 meters, what are the odds that you won't be in vocal range anyway? :) I guess if you're playing in different floors of a house or something it might be useful, but it's not something that would be high on my priority list for putting into my Zune game.

 

I think this is aimed more at kids playing with their Zunes in school, and situations similar to that.

Something New:

I had this idea last night that there could be a standard chat api for all zune game programs.  This would make it so it didn't matter what game you were playing, you could still chat with anyone around.  It would be a simple api easy enough for beginners, but have a standard set of variables for chat data transfer and maybe some standard artwork.  You would put the api code in your zune game and be able to chat to other zunes even though they have a different game, but just the api.  Would this be possible?

 

That sounds like a great idea! I don't know how your going to integrate the menu with the menu already in the game or while listening to music? It would be really cool if you could send your favorite music or anything else on your zune through the message, instead of leaving to the social menu.Good luck with it I will hope to see it here or in zune boards!