| Microsoft has released a game making software | | | | this is required.) This software is also free |
| suite that allows you to make a video game | | | | to download. You also need a graphics card |
| for Windows XP and Xbox 360. You now have the | | | | that supports DirectX 9.0c and Shader Model |
| power to make your own Xbox games at no cost | | | | 1.1. |
| whatsoever. | | | | |
| | | | There are some optional tools and |
| There are plenty of free game making suites | | | | requirements like an audio authoring tool |
| available to you but none of them work with a | | | | called XACT and if you want to use this tool |
| console system. Microsoft has changed all | | | | you will need to install the .NET framework |
| this by making available a platform for | | | | version 1.1 on your computer but this is not |
| making video games that will play on your | | | | mandatory. You can create games without using |
| Xbox 360 system. That's right; you can make a | | | | the XACT tools. |
| game and play it right on the 360 you have at | | | | |
| home. And one of the best things about this | | | | XNA looks like it is going to be very popular |
| is that it is totally free. As a little guy | | | | and there are lots of websites springing up |
| with big ideas you now have the chance to | | | | that are devoted to it and Garage Games has |
| make your game making dreams come true. This | | | | already created a software utility that will |
| new software is called Microsoft XNA. | | | | make game development very easy. There are |
| | | | also many tutorials and examples available to |
| Making a game does take work of course and | | | | help you through the learning process. |
| there are some software requirements needed | | | | |
| so let me review these. First off, you need a | | | | If you always wanted to make a video game for |
| computer that runs Windows XP with service | | | | your Xbox now is the chance to get some |
| pack 2 and you need to install a program | | | | official software that will make your |
| called Microsoft Visual C# 2005 Express | | | | creative game ideas come true. |
| Edition. (XNA is written in C# so that's why | | | | |