Xbox LIVE Games for Windows Phone 7 Can Play Nice with Bing Maps

Microsoft has been working to make it possible for Xbox LIVE games for Windows Phone 7 to play nice with Bing Maps. Case in point: Crackdown 2: Project Sunburst.

The Redmond company announced no less than 50 gaming titles for the next generation of its Windows Mobile platform earlier this week, at Gamescom 2010, the world’s largest gaming conference in Cologne, Germany.

Developed by Microsoft Game Studios (MGS), Crackdown 2: Project Sunburst will be available for owners of Windows Phone 7 devices, extending the experience of the Xbox 360 franchise.

Not only this, but Crackdown 2: Project Sunburst by MGS has embraced Bing Maps, Microsoft’s mapping, search and location platform, according to Chris Pendleton, the Bing Maps Technical Evangelist for Microsoft.

“With the impending release of Windows Phone 7, I’ve been working with both the Windows Phone and XNA teams on creating experiences that will involve Bing Maps,” Pendleton stated.

“As a preview, Crackdown 2: Project Sunburst is the first game to be shown and announced to use an XNA control with Bing Maps for Windows Phone 7. Hot. The game uses Bing Maps as a backdrop for an attack and tank-like game for blowing stuff up (or protecting stuff). Here are a couple screenshots used from within the game,” he said.

Of course, it’s bound tat game developers that are targeting Windows Phone 7 will also be interested in leveraging Bing Maps for their titles.

And this could be perfectly possible, provided that Microsoft shares the Bing Maps XNA control it has built and leveraged for Crackdown 2: Project Sunburst with the world.

It will be an excellent move from the software giant, and one that in addition to making possible to have enhanced mapping content for Windows Phone 7, would also attract attention over the possibility to leverage Bing Maps as a gaming platform.

Pendleton noted that Microsoft will “sort of” offer the Bing Maps XNA control to third-party developers.

“Let’s just say, it exists and we’re investigating the best way to go big with it. We are One Microsoft and the fact that the XBox team has invested time in building a control that uses Bing Maps is absolute greatness,” he explained.

“With the massive adoption of GPS on mobile devices, you can imagine all the killer game titles we can get out there for location-based gaming. And, with all the killer imagery and data we have in Bing Maps?”

“Plus, since it’s all tied into XBox Live we could potentially do some REALLY interesting things with location aggregation to your online account profile in the cloud. All from your phone! I’m definitely looking forward to this next generation of location-based gaming,” he noted.