So the new XNA framework 1.0 has been released. You've heard all about it from your friends who clearly play too many video games. Its easy to get started, especially if your C# 2.0 skills are strong. The concept is basically a framework to support the creation of XBox 360 and PC (Windows) games.
XBox 360 games can be deployed to your console with the correct licensing. The same framework can be used to debug the games in a Windows environment. Input data is facilitated by the USB-wired controller, which was plug & play with Vista, or the keyboard/mouse.
Here are a few things I'll cover to get you started
- Preparation
- Links to download
- XNA is not supported under Windows Vista, but there is a work around.
- Documentation and tutorials get you fired up with a simple model render.
- Distribution
Preparation
When getting started I found it useful to understand some math and configuration concepts through experience with OpenGL. However, the basic nature of the XNA framework is pretty easy to pick up and I think anyone who is motivated could do it. So I think Microsoft really hit a homerun there.
Links
MSDN Forums - http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=882&SiteID=1
XNA GSE Download - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=a73a7e71-ff41-432d-a0eb-043e904a1905&DisplayLang=en
Learn XNA - http://learnxna.com/
XNA TUTORIAL VIDEOS - http://msdn.microsoft.com/directx/xna/videos/
XNA TEAM BLOG -
http://blogs.msdn.com/xna/
Vista, Vista
Through links I found at the MSDN XNA GSE forum and the Connect site, I obtained Visual C# Express SP1 Beta:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/results.aspx?pocId=&freetext=Visual%20Studio%202005%20Service%20Pack%201&DisplayLang=en
Download and install Visual C# Express and SP1 Beta (Final SP1 has an expected release in December).
Open Visual C# Express and register it.
Documentation & Tutorials
Check the links section and follow the 3 video sequence to get started.
Distribution
One major con of the existing XNA framework is to distribute an Xbox 360 game you need to send off your source code to your buddy, have him compile and deploy to run the game. Kind of ridiculous, but many people are expecting that to change in the near future.
In the mean time...there is plenty of things to try out. Once I completed the tutorials I began working with the controller to get the space ship to fly around better. I will be releasing some code on this blog as I make different games.
Print | posted on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 7:56 PM