AfterDawn: News

Microsoft to open its source to indie gaming

In a recent announcement following the Gamefest event in Seattle Washington, Microsoft has announced that it will roll out a new product entitled XNA Game Studio Express. Within this product, potential game developers can join what they're calling the Creator's Club

Members of the Creator's Club will pay a $99 yearly subscription fee and be granted access to a wealth of information and tools to help independent game developers, hobbyists and even the curious homebrew developer to create, design and share user-created games via Xbox Live!. Additionally, if a user so chooses to develop for Windows XP based PCs, tools will also be available for that and can be shared through other channels within the Creator's Club.



A Microsoft representative was quoted in saying the Creator's Club "...will democratize game development by delivering the necessary tools to hobbyists, students, indie developers and studios alike to help them bring their creative game ideas to life while nurturing game development talent, collaboration and sharing that will benefit the entire industry."

User-created games will not be available for distribution to the public immediately, as Microsoft would like to test the service to monitor for potential hazards.

XNA Game Studio Express beta is expected to be released August 30, 2006 while the final version is planned to be launched around the holiday season.

Source:
Gamasutra


Written by: Dave Horvath @ 14 Aug 2006 6:10

• Previous article

• RIAA targets dead man's children

• Next article

• FPS controller for Xbox 360?

• 13 comments

• ronnie101

  sniff sniff, i smell a loop hole to home brew applications.... yummy

  14.8.2006 06:49 #1

• Bubba1982

  F*** M$! How dare they cash in on user created games and software.

  14.8.2006 07:44 #2

• willizm

  ""F*** M$! How dare they cash in on user created games and software.""
  
  
  If you don't like it, then don't do it. Go be the developer to make the next 'cube' or something else on a linux system. Don't understand people that get miffed about crap they don't have to buy.
  
  This is probably a good thing for any kid that is wants to get thier feet wet in developing games for consoles.

  14.8.2006 09:01 #3

• b18bek9

  looks like microsoft knows their expesnive toy is going to be modded like crazy so if they are going to get any money xbox live is the only way figuring ppl are going to be modding their 360 an not just makin back up games on disk......smart figurin its their last resort rite now

  14.8.2006 10:19 #4

• Davedough

  Even the mere concept of opening up a console for things like custom maps or mods for existing games has crazy potential. Imagine going to Live Arcade and downloading new Halo 3 maps or something like that. A Ghost Recon mod where instead of having 5 marines, you have 5 samurai in ancient Japan, each with different chakra powers... I dunno, I'm just pulling stuff off the top of my head. But, if done right, this could open up a whole new world for console gaming that has only been touched upon by the few brave enough to dive into console exploits.
  
  Additionally, aside from loopholes, cracking and all that, this gives developers out there that aren't in the industry a chance to shine and have their work noticed. How many times have you sat there with controller in hand and thought of 100 different ways they could have made a certain game better. Or even just thought of a game concept that you feel should be done. Or watch as your favorite show gets butchered into a licensed piece of crap? This could bring about interesting possibilities in the console market that since has really only existed on PCs.
  
  I'm not jumping on any bandwagons, in fact, I dislike M$ quite a bit, but this is one of the better ideas I've seen them come out with in a long time. If done correctly, this could be a good thing.

  14.8.2006 10:37 #5

• ZippyDSM

  MS is only cashing in on it if they someoneget Copyright or other thigns that will hurt the home deveolper.If soemoen makes a good enogh game he can then sell it to a big dev ,tricky this is,but I can see how it would work.

  14.8.2006 13:16 #6

• LastMastr

  I think its cool ive always wanted to learn about homebrew and a community like that seems the perfect place to learn...unless theres people willing to teach.

  14.8.2006 19:38 #7

• johnodd4

  sounds great but with one draw back did anyone read that the software will come with a boot file to run on the xbox 360 no whichmeans you have to send in the application to microsoft for them to create a boot file so even if you create homebrew you still cannot run it which eans you cannot even generate a linux installer or other dashboard installer without microsoft

  14.8.2006 20:23 #8

• s3a

  Quote:"sounds great but with one draw back did anyone read that the software will come with a boot file to run on the xbox 360 no whichmeans you have to send in the application to microsoft for them to create a boot file so even if you create homebrew you still cannot run it which eans you cannot even generate a linux installer or other dashboard installer without microsoft"
  _________________
  If you know a person in Microsoft that will "help" you or if you work in Microsoft...you can accomplish those "goals"!
  
  P.S.
  This is a very smart move from Microsoft and very bad news for us because we won't have free homebrew...or who knows, it might turn out good for us! (when I say us, I do not mean me because I don't have a 360 and I never will unless I get it for free...lol)

  14.8.2006 20:42 #9

• ZippyDSM

  s3a
  Ya but it wnt even take a half a year for it to be hacked,all it would be to make a buiding tool and a boot disc,MS might start it but the comunity will finish it.

  14.8.2006 21:16 #10

• mystic

  hodini is a $17,000.00 program and they are letting home brew for under $100.00 this is great... but if the game goes public bet they ( microsoft) gets a cut.....

  15.8.2006 08:07 #11

• damo_red

  not a bad idea, obvisouly there will be a cut for microsoft depending on how many times a game is downloaded via xbox live. but its an excellent idea, and good oppertunity for people wanting to get into the gaming industry.
  
  who nows, other game developers may sniff around and you could get a job.

  15.8.2006 08:27 #12

• madman91

  Paying for open-source. What else will they charge us? Pretty soon you will enter a microsoft building and they will charge you for every breath you take.

  21.8.2006 13:10 #13