Friday, November 26, 2010

Microsoft launches new casual games hub that connects MSN, Bing and Live

MSN Games social hub
Using the consummate magic of Facebook Connect (or Windows Live ID), users of Microsoft's game portals can now stay in touch with their friends while they play Bejeweled thanks to a 'casual games hub.'

From what I can see, this games hub takes the form of a 'dashboard' that wraps around each of the games, whether you play them on MSN Games, Bing or Live Messenger. Take a look at the screenshot above -- it's the only real way to explain how it works. You can now challenge your friends to games or see their high scores while you game. You can also see your News Feed -- pretty convenient if you're not the type that keeps Facebook open in a tab 24/7.

To accommodate all of these changes MSN Games has been completely overhauled. It's now rather beautiful! (Does anyone remember how it used to look back when it was called 'Zone'? Those were the days...) Oh, there's also a 30-second unskippable pre-roll video commercial before you can play each game -- is that new?

Live Messenger has also been updated, according to the screenshots at LiveSide. No one at Download Squad is seeing the changes yet, however -- but perhaps the patch will come tonight!

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Microsoft launches new casual games hub that connects MSN, Bing and Live originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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