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