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Microsoft releases XNA Studio Express

Toolkit for regular Joes to make Xbox 360 games debuts today; XNA Creators Club offers assets, information, samples for aspiring game developers.

Most of the community aspect of the Xbox 360 has been made famous by Xbox Live. But when Microsoft said it wants gamers to be involved with the Xbox 360, most didn't realize it meant actually making games.

Today, Microsoft released XNA Game Studio Express, a suite of applications and tools designed to facilitate game design by eliminating the need to write repetitive code.

The download is free from Microsoft's XNA Web site, and requires a Windows XP-based PC. The kit itself is based on the Visual C# 2005 Express Edition and Microsoft's .NET Compact Framework.

Also debuting today is the XNA Creators Club through Xbox Live Marketplace. Those who join the group will have access to various resources, including assets, samples, and white papers from game vets. The XNA Creators Club costs $49 for four months or $99 for a full-year membership.

"The XNA Creators Club is really the first of its kind--an opportunity to join a community of other developers who are empowered to bring their game ideas to life on a next-generation console system," said Microsoft's general manager of the Game Developer Group, Chris Satchell. "What users will see today is just the beginning of the plans we have to revolutionize game development one creative game idea at a time."

173 Comments

  • cazzyno1

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 3:44 am GMT

    Has anyone tried it yet ????

    Whats it like , i quite fancy making the next big game and are microsoft not going to start to sell the games and the developer gets 70 % of the takings :O

  • codyboy4

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 9:57 pm GMT

    i cant wait for this game to come out.

  • Absolutezerr

    Posted Sep 3, 2007 12:10 pm GMT

    Ha... I'm not paying fifty bucks to hold onto it for four months, that's like an MMO fee in order to do WORK.

  • judge__judy

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 12:02 am GMT

    Haha cool now I just need to learn how to develop games. Should be EASY

  • pp222

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 1:15 pm GMT

    *Sigh* This is great and all but why do MS have to charge money for every little thing?

  • theKSMM

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 8:00 am GMT

    I hope that they'll expand this platform to work with all .NET languages (beyond just Visual C# Express). And I also hope that they'll provide a place for people to post their creations for other users to share / download. This could be the new place for indie developers to strut their stuff. Kudos to Microsoft. They really came to play ball this round.

  • Vash67

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 7:18 pm GMT

    I'm really interested but I know I'll never actually make a game...

  • MrSickVisionz

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 4:41 pm GMT

    This is really cool. I'll never work use it, but I know some people area gonna make some interesting stuff from this.

  • red_shock

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 9:25 am GMT

    Killer2401 said, "Why do they have to make game makers so hard to use?"

    It's not a game maker. What you could use is TorqueX which is probably what you're more thinking about. It uses XNA underneath and acts like one of those drag-and-click games. And of course it still runs on the 360.

  • killuminati4181

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 5:36 am GMT

    kool

  • WaylanderFW

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 4:26 am GMT

    innovative!

  • Sanguis_Malus

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 4:21 am GMT

    From acorn's grow Oak trees !!!

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 1:38 am GMT

    Hope this will be a success!

  • ZZoMBiE13

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 8:24 pm GMT

    Any of you aspiring game designers need some help with character design or drawings? My PM box is always open.

  • wenbin09

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 7:33 pm GMT

    This is a great idea!!!

  • Azazel29

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 7:28 pm GMT

    awesome.. gonna have to check it out to see how awesome though

  • IpodHero176

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 5:48 pm GMT

    Interesting

  • nestea_king

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 5:40 pm GMT

    Best idea MS has made since XBL.

  • red_shock

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 5:36 pm GMT

    Eh, I regret my negative thoughts... XNA is a cool idea for beginners. They don't have to deal with the lovely pointers that are rather more benefitial for the bigger guys. Cool tool for a different crowd, but still gets to use DirectX underneath which is neat...

  • Levrar

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 5:14 pm GMT

    This is great, I know C++ so this is something I can relate to.

  • johnman05

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 4:21 pm GMT

    game industry is going to get crowded

  • torres_unix

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 4:06 pm GMT

    The "Game Programming Gems" series will come in very handy. Good luck to all future developers!

  • TiRoSu13

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 4:04 pm GMT

    Cool beans.

  • awarriorofgamin

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 3:54 pm GMT

    same shasam712 this gives me a chance to pursue a future carreer i hope

  • shasam712

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 3:30 pm GMT

    I am going to download this and give it a go. Perhaps it's time to start a side project ...

  • red_shock

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 3:29 pm GMT

    If you want to use XNA but know nothing of programming, you might try out TorqueX (note the 'X'). It uses XNA underneath and acts like one of those GameMaker programs. Here you go:

    www.garagegames.com/products/torque/x/

  • Killer2401

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 3:26 pm GMT

    I have the beta and trust me, if you are not a code expert you have no hope of making any sort of game.
    Why do they have to make game makers so hard to use?

  • Autolycus

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 1:54 pm GMT

    cesarotromundo
    i hope this is not too difficult as i plan on going to college for this. We shall see
    -----

    I did the same thing 8 years ago. My family has a programming background, i was making basic programs when I was like 10. V.Game programming is so difficult, that i couldtn follow through because of all the useless crap you need to learn in between! Good lukc and stay with it

  • red_shock

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 1:44 pm GMT

    Q: When are we going to be able to download and play these games?

    The normal gamer won't be able to play them during the first version of XNA. The last time I looked at it, the one with the subscription has to download the source code, compile it, then run it on the X360 from the computer. Funny thing is the computer can already play your games for free while you're just paying to have the data sent over to the X360.

  • cesarotromundo

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 1:36 pm GMT

    i hope this is not too difficult as i plan on going to college for this. We shall see

  • Autolycus

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 12:48 pm GMT

    Only members of the Creators club are going to be able to share content, i believe

  • JLCrogue

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 12:45 pm GMT

    When are we going to be able to download and play these games?

  • snarple_basic

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 12:18 pm GMT

    Thanks Autolycus reason i ask was i know i have seen reactors logo on the back of a lot of games. I have a feeling it would make a lot of coding easier for video games but just dont know if it would be used in this program also.

  • Autolycus

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 11:55 am GMT

    neogrunt123
    what? what kind of dumbass would claim that ps2 game is written in assembly???!!! I developed a game in ps2 environment and the only thing that resembles assembly is VU microcode and that is only small portion of the whole game engine. PS2 development is certainly more difficult than other game devs. ... but one would be fool to think the ps2 games are all written in assembly.
    -----

    The countless threads that I have read and partcipated in from w/ developers gave me that information. Obviously I havent programmed in the PS2 enviroment and I have no desire to, if I am wrong, its only because ACTUAL DEVELOPERS said what I said. It is more then likely that some package is out now that allows the developers to write games in the C++ enviroment and has the compiler do all the work. However, if you are aware of Sony at all, this is what they intended(to have the games written in ASSEMBLY), just because someone else makes a different compiler doesnt mean you arent supposed to do it...



    As for the 3DS Max question, I believe the physics engine applied inside of the rendering, is proprietary to their software. I don't believe you would be able to export their data into a game engine. However I dont know for sure, I just know that the "engine" in 3D Apps(i use lightwave 3d) is unique to their platform/application.

  • snarple_basic

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 11:29 am GMT

    It sounds like you still have to do caculations for stuff like physics. My question is im a 3ds max user. And 3ds max has reactor built in which is a physics engine. Is it possible to eliminate alot of the work with just building a environment in 3ds max and then give objects reactor physics, then use this program?



    I would like to get into game design but dont know anything other then how to make the models. If anyone is out there doing shareware games like this and wants a modeler to help with i would be interested. You can email me fraaank@franksstudio.com

  • red_shock

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 10:47 am GMT

    I program in both C++ and C#. After you set up your game initialization (quite easy nowadays in DirectX/XNA), its back to the main portion of your code: Math (Calculous/Trig for the most part), AI, Physics, Collision, States... this is where you are still on your own. This is not language-specific. C++ has always been around because of its great performance to pull off games like Oblivion and Gears of War. C# has been used for tools for professional games, and this is the second marketing aim which was first MDX (Managed DirectX) which clearly failed towards professionals, and now C# is targeting beginners specifically with XNA. In a sense, it's now like, "hey kids, make your own 360 game!" Even a MS friend of mine is upset with the way Microsoft marketed this. It's a sandbox, a kids toy that sits ontop of C++/DirectX so you don't go out of bounds nor blow up your 360.

  • neogrunt123

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 10:46 am GMT

    what? what kind of dumbass would claim that ps2 game is written in assembly???!!! I developed a game in ps2 environment and the only thing that resembles assembly is VU microcode and that is only small portion of the whole game engine. PS2 development is certainly more difficult than other game devs. ... but one would be fool to think the ps2 games are all written in assembly.

  • PSP360Gamr83

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 10:35 am GMT

    this is nothign like sonys program for the playstation by the way. XNA has been around for a while and is only an offshoot of Visual C#, wich is a program that let you create games and programs for Windows and Xbox 360.

  • Autolycus

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 10:32 am GMT

    if you have any idea how much logic and math are used to create 3D enviroments, you'd probably enjoy every single game you play because of the work that is put into them. Just because you dont like it, doestn mean it didnt require a talent that you dont have...




    XNA is soo important to the development of the 360 its not even funny. While C++ is used for the PS3, its still ExTREMELY difficult to program for. The ps2 was all written in assembly, which if you know anything about it, is a real PITA. ITs absolutely amazing the system succeeded at all. Too bad that's the most we'll ever see outta sony again(bad company ethics)

  • red_shock

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 10:29 am GMT

    jordanbijl asked, "So can you actually make full "xbox 360 commercial quality games" or just crappy 2d games?"

    You can make 2D and 3D games up to the quality of the origional XBox (most of them). Games you see like Oblivion, GoW aka today's AAA games - no.

  • axillia

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 10:20 am GMT

    Now if I could only read the language this might be useful.

  • red_shock

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 10:07 am GMT

    You'll have to consider your fresh ideas for XNA has to have source code available, your ideas will be publically available even for free etc. I think a small portion of the real industry will rape your ideas and make a profit out of it. I'm sure its going to be a small percentage, but the best you can do is do give your source code, but have the code written in DLLs if you're worried about it. It's probably the best you can do, although I don't know if Express allows the creation of dlls (components), but the other editions of Visual Studio do.

  • stejmatty

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 9:28 am GMT

    someone plaese make more maps for marble blast ultra, and add a custom ball creator. if any1 can do that, i will love them forever... untill the day the map dies out... lol

  • thepalatinepoet

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 9:26 am GMT

    So, guys, as a compsci major, I think you'll find XNA will warn you about the same thing I'm going to:

    Programming is not for everyone. It gets ugly real, real fast. But the more the merrier, so try it, and if you like it, and want to learn more, ask around.

    I'd avoid creator's club until you're well into the habit of writing code in your head and doing draw-distances by formula. It's not that writing games is tough, it's that game design requires a good idea AND a lot of other things.

    Say, step-by-step logical deduction/induction, understanding of data access (meaning, if you want more than 10 frames per second you better figure out how to avoid bogging yourself down), consistent style of code-writing for debugging purposes, and, above all, patience.

    Professionals spend years on a game, and half the time we don't even like it. *cough RedSteel cough* So when you spend 5 months and you still don't know why your ball bounces off the wall the wrong way one out of every 3 times, don't say you weren't warned.

    If you find yourself enjoying this masochistic activity, though, feel free to enter the industry.

  • rgsniper1

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 9:18 am GMT

    --Well, I can see a number of people have called out JaRoc, but what I want to know is: What, exactly, does he claim they're copying...--

    - Read the post I made 3 post after his. I put a link to what he's reffering to, it was created in 1997 by sony. Honestly this isn't directed toward you, but it's funny how people can rip on others but then when they have some sort of proof it all goes silent. Sony made the Net Yowruzie , which is a development kit for consumers to make playstation games. Again it came out in 1997. And again I'm a MS fan and don't really like Sony as a company at all.

  • chalo_7777

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 9:16 am GMT

    it is said that you can make games similar to Halo 2, and by that I mean that you can reach that quality level...woot!! Power to the people!!

  • audioaxes

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 9:15 am GMT

    uh frogman666 that doesnt make sense
    that would be like someone suing adobe because their kid used photoshop to draw a nake babe

  • jordanbijl

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 9:02 am GMT

    Wow...

    So can you actually make full "xbox 360 commercial quality games" or just crappy 2d games?

  • DarthKalo

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 8:56 am GMT

    frogman666
    wow now all kinds of teens will make adult oriented content and the parents will sue microsoft for putting such content in their hands....microsoft must like giving away free money . It's not Microsofts fault that the parents have no control over their children.

  • Takalth

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 8:55 am GMT

    I think many people here don't realize how much easier game development in XNA is than C++. XNA managed to abstract out almost all of the "annoying but necessary" code so you can just sit down and write the code that makes things happen, rather than spending your time battling resource management, deciphering cryptic objects and functions, and other things that send a hobbyist's ambition to the grave. XNA would be worth using even if you weren't making XBOX games because it's so much easier to program for the PC.

    The other issue people don't see is that the price of game development is going up faster than the number of games sold. Unless they can start selling as many games for $100 as they did for $50, game companies are going to have to do something to cut down development costs. Managed DirectX (which XNA is built on) has been increasing in performance very quickly, and will probably continue to do so. A few years from now, I expect to see it used for commercial games, because a 10% loss in performance is a small price to pay for a 30% reduction of development time.

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