Microsoft is readying a Tablet PC game software development kit (SDK) and a new Tablet-PC-specific game, both meant to attract new developers and users for Tablet PCs.

The Redmond, Wash., software maker is co-developing both the SDK and the new game, called Arcs of Fire, in conjunction with software partner 3 Leaf Development. 3 Leaf officials did not respond to a request for comment.

Microsoft expects to release a first beta of both the new game and the game SDK in early January, confirmed Frank Gocinski, ISV and business-development manager for Microsoft's mobile platforms division.

"There are a lot of casual game developers who don't build games full time," Gocinski said. "And a lot of these guys in their day jobs are enterprise customers and software developers."

Microsoft is hoping that by making the Tablet PC more of a gaming platform that it will encourage more of these kinds of customers to test drive Tablets, according to Gocinski.

The game SDK "will focus on the intersection of Tablet Development and Game Development to provide functionality common to games that leverage the Tablet's pen capabilities," according to a posting on 3 Leaf's Arcs of Fire Web site.

There already exist a few games and gaming-type PowerToys designed for the Tablet. Microsoft has published a Hoop Strategy Game and a Tablet version of the Word Search Game. But beyond those few options, there are few, if any, games that take advantage of Tablet-PC-specific features like pen input and digital ink.

Arcs of Fire will be a game like Tank, a simple 2D war game, Gocinski said.

"We'll be taking that basic concept and extending it for the Tablet," he explained. "The pen will be the emphasis."

Arcs of Fire will rely on the Tablet stylus for taking aim, setting velocity, and the like, Gocinski said.

Gocinski said testers of Arcs of Fire will have a lot of input into the design of the game. They will be able to submit testing feedback via the same forum mechanism upon which the Xbox relies. He also said Microsoft is planning to provide users with the full Arcs of Fire source code and full derivative rights, but did not specify under what type of license Microsoft plans to make this available.

Gocinski said to watch for Microsoft to develop two other non-military games that are Tablet-specific. He said he wasn't sure what they would be yet, as Microsoft is looking to rely on community input and feedback for ideas.

One Tablet user said he didn't expect the game SDK or Arcs of Fire to change the Tablet landscape much.

"Tablets can't have good video cards - except for the HP model, sort of - and there are too few numbers of Tablet gamers for the major game houses to bother to care. Gaming has largely gone console and handheld, anyways, off the PC," said the Tablet customer, who spoke to us on condition of anonymity.

(This is an edited version of an article which appeared in the December 6, 2004, issue of the Microsoft Watch newsletter. Want to see what other Microsoft news nuggets you might have missed? Sign up today for a free two-week trial subscription to Microsoft Watch.)