Microsoft XNA Game Studio Express

As defined in the MSDN XNA Developer Center, the « Microsoft XNA Game Studio Express enables hobbyists, academics, and small, independent game developers to easily create video games for Windows and the Xbox 360 console using optimized cross-platform gaming libraries based on .NET ».

web_micosoft_xnagamestudio

Derivated from the Microsoft Visual Studio, this game editor is very easy to master for .Net developper, but perhaps more complicated for non .Net developers. Based on the .Net framework and the DirectX multimedia API this IDE for game developers concentrates a powerful set of technologies for 2D and 3D game development. Moreover Microsoft supplies with he XNA Game Studio a complementary audio tool, called Microsoft Cross-Platform Audio Creation Tool – XACT.

web_microsoft_xact

Once the game developped, files may be transfered thanks to the XNA Game Studio Device Center either towards the XBox or towards the Zune MP3 player.

web_microsoft_xnagamedevicecenter

XNA Creators Club Online

web_microsoft_xnacreatorsclubonline1

Creators Club is the place to go for anyone who is currently developing games with Microsoft XNA Game or interested in learning how.

Microsoft Xbox

Of course game developed with the Microsoft XNA Game Studio find their place in the Microsoft XBox. Being not a game player (for the moment), I can’t recommend this box or not. Try it by yourself!

Microsoft Zune

If the Microsoft Xbox is well-know, the MP3 player Zune remains confidential. Nevertheless I recently browse the Zune site, and the experience was not bad. The site is very light with a nice graphical content. Like Apple, with less content. So simple.

web_microsoft_zune

Then, of course, I downloaded the Zune application (the equivalent of iTunes for Apple), and I must admit that I really appreciate the very pure design. Moreover the Zune advertisement created by Yves Geleyn is a very beautiful and poetic use of textures and patterns.

web_microsoft_zune_maininterface

At last Microsoft confirms its new artistic, graphic and webdesign orientation (I think about Silverlight and the Expression softwares) with the Zune arts gallery.

web_microsoft_silverlight

web_microsoft_expression

web_mircosoft_zuneartsgallery

I softly recommend these sites.

PS: To learn more about :
¬ Microsoft’s game world, visit the Games for Windows
¬ Yves Geleyn on Motiongrapher and on DigUp.tv.

About this entry

You’re currently reading “Microsoft XNA Game Studio Express,” an entry on dkor

Published:: 30 March 2009 / 09:00

Category:: Design

Tags:: DirectX, Expression, Game, Microsoft, Microsoft Silverlight, Visual Studio, XACT, XBox, XNA, Zune, Zune arts gallery

mygameproject2009 4.8.09 / 4am

I am writing a game using the XNA framework at the moment, I am video bloggong the process. As I have little to no experience thanks for the recommendations. If you have any more I would love to hear them, I can be found here: http://mygameproject.com.

P.S. I love the minimilist theme.

Christo

dkor 4.8.09 / 8am

Hi Christo!
Your project seems to be very interesting and very, very ambitious. I like it.
If you need help, I would be glad to be here.
Nevertheless your choice of Microsoft XNA Studio Game is a good one I think. As you should know, this technologies is also one entry key for Microsoft Robotics (for real time rendering) and Microsoft Surface. I will write more about this both technologies soon.
By the way stay tuned on these pages of my blog : https://dkor.wordpress.com/about/3d-softwares/microsoft-xna-game-studio/ and https://dkor.wordpress.com/about/robotics/microsoft-robotics/ for having information, links and more.
At last have a look at this french company : SimplySim, http://www.simplysim.net
Let’s me know about your project!
Have a good day and thanks for your comment.

Microsoft Robotics « dkor 4.20.09 / 7am

[…] recently wrote a post concerning the Microsoft XNA Game Studio. By extending the learning of this technology, I discovered that the Microsoft Robotics Developer […]