What is Microsoft XNA?

Microsoft XNA is a radical new piece of software that allows you to develop your own video games for no cost. Now, this might not sound new and it isn't really new except in the aspect that you can develop a game for the Xbox 360! This is the part that is radical and new. Now you can really make games and play them on your Xbox. Or even market them!

What do you need?

First off you need a computer running Windows XP with Service Pack 2. They will be coming out with a version that runs on Vista but this is currently not available.

You also need to install on your computer Microsoft Visual C# 2005 Express Edition. This is free and easy to get. I will give you the link.

Here are a couple of other requirements that are not mandatory except as specified:

Hardware requirements are identical to those for Visual Studio 2005 plus a graphics card that supports DirectX 9.0c and Shader Model 1.1 (Shader Model 2.0 is recommended and required for some Starter Kits).

The .NET Framework version 1.1 is required if you intend to use the XACT tools for Audio Authoring.

Before you start

Before you start you need to have an active subscription with the Microsoft XNA Creators Club. It's totally free and you get lots of good resources to making games. Sign up here: Microsoft XNA creators club - Watch the video

Resources

• The Official Home Page for XNA
• The Microsoft XNA Development Center
• The XNA forums at Microsoft
• The Read Me file for XNA - You need to read this if you are considering installing and running XNA
• XNA Development Group - An independent website with info and tutorials on XNA

Microsoft® XNA Game Studio Creators Guide

Bring your gaming visions to life with Microsoft XNA Game Studio Express

Create complete 3D games using Microsoft XNA Game Studio Express and this hands-on guide. Written by experienced game developers, Microsoft XNA Game Studio Creator's Guide details the fundamentals of great game programming and offers detailed examples.

Inside, you'll learn to program a game engine, write shader code, create and animate 3D models, and add fluid motion and special effects. You'll also find out how to launch ballistics, add realistic scenery and terrain, and integrate lighting and textures. Step-by-step tutorials on underlying C# code and explanations of vector and matrix techniques are included.

XNA 3.1 Game Development for Teens - XNA 3.0 GAME DEVELOPMENT FOR TEENS is a complete guide to entry level programming and computer game development using XNA 3.0 and the Visual C# 2008 Express programming language for beginners. This book shows readers how to create and execute computer games on their PC, and then how to port their PC games over to their Xbox 360 or Zune player. This book is for anyone looking to begin creating their own computer games with XNA 3.0 and Visual C# 2008 Express.

Beginning XNA 3.0 Game Programming: From Novice to Professional - Would you like to create your own games, but never have the time to dig into the details of multimedia programming? Now you don't have to! XNA 3.0 makes it simple to create your own games, which will run on your PC and Xbox 360 console. Even if you don't know how to program at all, Beginning XNA 3.0 Game Programming: From Novice to Professional will teach you the basics of C# 2008 programming along the way. Don't get overwhelmed with details you don't need to know-just learn what you need to start creating your own games right now!

This fast-paced introduction to XNA 3.0 and the C# language provides you with a quick-start guide to creating high-quality XNA games. You'll be introduced to the key concepts and ideas you need to know in a gradual fashion so that you master one concept before using it as a foundation for the next. Before long you will have the skills to create smooth, professional-looking results in a range of gaming genres. By the end of the book, you will have constructed several working games and have an excellent knowledge base from which to investigate more advanced techniques.

Microsoft XNA Game Studio Creator's Guide, Second Edition

Develop complete 2D and 3D games with step-by-step hands-on instruction, advice, and tips from two industry professionals. Fully revised to cover the latest features, Microsoft XNA Game Studio Creator's Guide, Second Edition lays out the essentials of game programming alongside exciting examples and C# code samples. Learn how to create 3D models, virtual worlds, and add stunning animation. You'll also discover how to incorporate 3D audio into your projects and handle PC and game controller input devices.

• Create, draw, and update XNA game windows and 3D objects
• Add dazzling animation and fluid character motion
• Render photorealistic terrains, landscapes, skies, and horizons
• Program custom lighting and shading effects using HLSL
• Integrate sound effects, game dashboards, and stat tracking
• Work with game cameras, keyframes, sprites, and loaders
• Design natural collision detection, ballistics, and particle effects
• Develop, import, and control Quake II models using MilkShape