Santa Festive Game Leverages Windows Azure and Silverlight

What better way to celebrate Christmas than taking Santa himself into Windows Azure, given Microsoft’s increasing focus on the Cloud?

Microsoft UK has put together a festive game which provides an example of the kind of experiences that are made possible by leveraging technologies such as Windows Azure and Silverlight.

The game is available to all users, although only a specific audience can also have a chance at winning the prizes that the Redmond company is offering.

“To help you get into the holiday spirit, the Microsoft Partner Network folks in the UK have created Festive Game, a fun and addictive application built on Silverlight and powered by Windows Azure.

“The goal is to get Santa as high up into the clouds as you can and you're rewarded with Windows Azure links after each level,” a member of the Windows Azure team stated.

Since the Santa Festive Game was put together by the Microsoft UK Partner Network it shouldn’t be all too difficult to guess that members of the Microsoft Partner Network in the United Kingdom are the intended audience for this project.

The software giant is offering them the chance to win multiple Xbox 360 consoles with Kinect NUI sensors.

According to the Redmond company, the contest will run until January 5th 2011, so there is plenty of time for partners to play the game and enter the competition.

The winners will be selected at random and will not be ties in any way to the actual score of the games, Microsoft revealed.

“2010 has been an incredible year. Microsoft has refocused our effort, energy and resources to the areas we believe drive the most value for you and your customers,” Clare Barclay, Director, Partner Strategy & Programmes, Microsoft UK.

“This was the year we fully launched the Microsoft Partner Network, set out our commitment to supporting you and your customers' transition to the cloud and delivered an incredible line up of technology to help you grow your business.

“I'm excited about the future and the power of our partnership with you through the Microsoft Partner Network. Partners remain central to Microsoft and our mission of making IT simple, affordable and accessible to help the people of the UK realize their full potential.”