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