Microsoft Spreads the Game Development Wealth with XNA Game Studio Express

Microsoft

Microsoft has announced a program that would allow the small guy to build 360 games like the pros.

Chris Satchell, general manager of Microsoft’s Game Developer Group, announced details of the program at Gamefest 2006 in Seattle. The XNA Game Studio Express, based on the XNA platform, will run off Windows-XP based PCs and provides end users with Microsoft’s “next-generation platform for game development.”

This budding game development community can also subscribe to a “creator’s club” where (for US$99) they can test and share their prototype games, as well as access additional materials to help complete their projects. To quote the press release, “This represents the first significant opportunity for novice developers to make a console game without a significant investment in resources.” The platform will also be capable of creating games for Windows XP, the press release noted.

In the same event Mr. Satchell also cited academic institutions that were interested in including XNA Game Studio Express (and the XBox 360) in their curricula, such as the University of Southern California, Georgia Tech College of Computing, and Southern Methodist University Guildhall.

Not forgetting the established game developers, an XNA toolset geared to their needs is also slated to be released in spring 2007. A beta version of XNA Game Studio Express will be available for free download on August 30.

Microsoft

Microsoft has announced a program that would allow the small guy to build 360 games like the pros.

Chris Satchell, general manager of Microsoft’s Game Developer Group, announced details of the program at Gamefest 2006 in Seattle. The XNA Game Studio Express, based on the XNA platform, will run off Windows-XP based PCs and provides end users with Microsoft’s “next-generation platform for game development.”

This budding game development community can also subscribe to a “creator’s club” where (for US$99) they can test and share their prototype games, as well as access additional materials to help complete their projects. To quote the press release, “This represents the first significant opportunity for novice developers to make a console game without a significant investment in resources.” The platform will also be capable of creating games for Windows XP, the press release noted.

In the same event Mr. Satchell also cited academic institutions that were interested in including XNA Game Studio Express (and the XBox 360) in their curricula, such as the University of Southern California, Georgia Tech College of Computing, and Southern Methodist University Guildhall.

Not forgetting the established game developers, an XNA toolset geared to their needs is also slated to be released in spring 2007. A beta version of XNA Game Studio Express will be available for free download on August 30.

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