| Developing for Windows Live Messenger
Where we see Windows Live Messenger in the future
We are continually looking to develop Windows Live Messenger into an exciting gaming platform. Messenger plans to expand our 3rd party developer ecosystem, as well create a rich user interface for game discovery through Game Closet. We are also looking to progress the Messenger community through bots (play against the computer), non-buddy play (finding new friends to play with via anonymous matchmaking), tournaments, n-way play (games with more than 2 players) and cross-platform services. We look forward to working with new and current developers to bring about these goals.
Developing for Windows Live Messenger games
Your company has a fantastic idea for a game, or a working version of the game on another platform. Now is the time to contact the Microsoft Casual Games team with any questions, and to help determine how your game might fit into the Windows Live Messenger Games portfolio. The following process outlines the steps you will take along the way.
1. Submit the concept - Contact the Windows Live Messenger Portfolio Planning team mcgnew@microsoft.com to pitch your game, determine if your title is a good fit, and to discuss the business details.
2. Kickoff – Get engaged with the Microsoft Casual Games production team. Once a standard NDA is signed the production team will assist you with prototyping your game using the Windows Live Messenger Activity API, and the Microsoft Casual Games GDK to adopt in-game services.
3. Build a great Windows Live Messenger game – Your company delivers a complete, tested application to the Microsoft Casual Games team. Work with the Microsoft Casual Games team along the way to check progress of the title at various milestones.
4. Submit to compliance testing – Microsoft Casual Games are certified along with all Windows Live Messenger activities.
5. Release to market – The Microsoft Casual Games team schedules the release, certifies the game and props the game. The title is made available in Windows Live Messenger for customers to invite their friends to play.
For a library of developer reference material and a list of upcoming developer events, please see our Developer Resources page.
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