XNA - Make your own Xbox 360 games

humndislocation · 20th January 2007, 06:00 PM

I know there's not many people on UGS that are into game development, but there are a few. Has anyone tried XNA out yet? (or been tempted to take the plunge?)

For those that don't know, it lets you program games for your PC and XBox 360. You have to pay for membership to the XNA creators club if you want to run your games on your 360, but it's reasonably priced, and you can make PC games with it for free. As long as you're careful to only do PC specific stuff on your PC version of the game, and vice-versa, then t should be really easy to port your game between the two platforms.

I've just downloaded it today. So far it seems really cool, and that you could definitely make some really cool stuff with it, relatively quickly. I've got next to no experience with C#, but just sitting down with it for 5-10 minutes, I was able to get a little sprite moving around the screen, under the control of the gamepad. It's a hell of a lot easier to learn than any other homebrew console stuff I've tried.

The programming is based on C#, which is a lot easier to learn than C++. The language and libraries simplify a lot of the time consuming, and difficult crap that might put people off trying to learn how to program games. It's also good for people like me, that don't have a lot of spare time for game programming any more.

If you've ever been interested in picking up game programming, but have been scared off by the steep learning curve, then I'd definitely recommend this.

All you need is XNA game studio express, http://msdn.microsoft.com/directx/XNA/default.aspx, and C# express http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualcsharp/

^_mincher_^ · 20th January 2007, 06:45 PM

I'm actually re-learning Java since I've forgotten it completely since finishing Uni. Once I re-acquaint my brain with Java and OOP in general, I'm gonna take a stab at C#. I might just dabble with this XNA palaver.

Also, would it not be nice if the IT forum had a programming sub forum? I think so!

humndislocation · 20th January 2007, 08:18 PM

It would be cool, but I'm not sure that there's enough demand for a programming forum. It's very rare that a programming topic comes up.

Yeah, if you want try out C#, then XNA is probably a fun way to do it.

It's pretty similar to Java, from what I've seen of it so far.

^_mincher_^ · 20th January 2007, 08:22 PM

Cool, I've heard that if you know your Java you can move to C# fairly easily also. I'm actually quite excited about programming again. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I guess.

humndislocation · 20th January 2007, 09:28 PM

Oh dear. I decided to change my sprite into a cats head, and hooked it up to play a sample of my cat meowing when you press the A button.

This greatly confused my cat. I don't think she can recognise the image on screen as a cat, but seeing a moving object on the screen and hearing meowing noises, really confused her.

She started meowing at the TV, and was about to start pawing at the screen, before I stopped her.

I won't be doing that one again

^_mincher_^ · 20th January 2007, 10:56 PM

Fuck sake brian! What a dick you are!

The_Mechanix · 21st January 2007, 01:15 AM

ive not done anything in terms of proper programmind except a wee bit of basic in college. is it easy to learn this stuff without going to classes and what books would ya recommend? i wanna try this stuff in my spare time.

^_mincher_^ · 21st January 2007, 01:31 AM

Its pretty easy yeah. You won't get it over night and you'll probably spend a few nights crying over something that won't work properly. Google is your friend when it comes to learning this stuff.

^_mincher_^ · 31st January 2007, 09:12 PM

Ok I'm all set to give this a gloss over tonight. I found these handy little buggers. Wish me luck!

kj · 31st January 2007, 09:41 PM

I'd love to try this out a bit. Read a bit about it in the official 360 magazine and it sounds really good.

humndislocation · 31st January 2007, 10:27 PM

I've not really had much time to work on XNA stuff, I've mainly been playing games recently, rather than trying to make them.

I've been messing about a bit tonight though, and I've managed to get a simple 3D cat model on the screen, using one of the tutorials.

Hopefully by the end of tonight I can mess about with some effect files.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Mechanix

ive not done anything in terms of proper programmind except a wee bit of basic in college. is it easy to learn this stuff without going to classes and what books would ya recommend? i wanna try this stuff in my spare time.

Forgot to reply to this the first time the thread came around. I can't recommend specific books, because I haven't read any up to date C# books, and there aren't any XNA books yet.

I'd recommend finding a couple of good books on C#, and object oriented programming.

Then just find some XNA tutorials on the internet (they're pretty easy to find), and you can get started making basic games. I recommend you start off trying to make a simple 2D game, like asteroids, before moving onto 3D programming, because there's a lot less background knowledge and math required for 2D game programming.

^_mincher_^ · 31st January 2007, 10:42 PM

Also watch those vids in my last post. They'll at least give you an idea of what is expected.

AlanG · 9th February 2007, 11:09 AM

I don't have a 360 and don't intend to get one. I also have a copy of Visual Studio 2005 Pro, so are there any benefits to me getting this?

Read the blurb when it was announced but stopped when to got to pricing.

20th January 2007, 06:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
humndislocation Hardcore is serious guys Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 5,838 Band: Blasphemous Necrorapist	XNA - Make your own Xbox 360 games I know there's not many people on UGS that are into game development, but there are a few. Has anyone tried XNA out yet? (or been tempted to take the plunge?) For those that don't know, it lets you program games for your PC and XBox 360. You have to pay for membership to the XNA creators club if you want to run your games on your 360, but it's reasonably priced, and you can make PC games with it for free. As long as you're careful to only do PC specific stuff on your PC version of the game, and vice-versa, then t should be really easy to port your game between the two platforms. I've just downloaded it today. So far it seems really cool, and that you could definitely make some really cool stuff with it, relatively quickly. I've got next to no experience with C#, but just sitting down with it for 5-10 minutes, I was able to get a little sprite moving around the screen, under the control of the gamepad. It's a hell of a lot easier to learn than any other homebrew console stuff I've tried. The programming is based on C#, which is a lot easier to learn than C++. The language and libraries simplify a lot of the time consuming, and difficult crap that might put people off trying to learn how to program games. It's also good for people like me, that don't have a lot of spare time for game programming any more. If you've ever been interested in picking up game programming, but have been scared off by the steep learning curve, then I'd definitely recommend this. All you need is XNA game studio express, http://msdn.microsoft.com/directx/XNA/default.aspx, and C# express http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualcsharp/ Last edited by humndislocation : 20th January 2007 at 06:06 PM.

31st January 2007, 09:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
kj gimp Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Scotland Posts: 13,596 Band: A band of merry men	I'd love to try this out a bit. Read a bit about it in the official 360 magazine and it sounds really good. __________________ This community cannot survive without your continued support. galleries \|\| links directory \|\| profiles \|\| wiki

9th February 2007, 11:09 AM	#13 (permalink)
AlanG ModSword +5 of Editing Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Dundee Posts: 3,328	I don't have a 360 and don't intend to get one. I also have a copy of Visual Studio 2005 Pro, so are there any benefits to me getting this? Read the blurb when it was announced but stopped when to got to pricing. __________________ Ernie Ross - "I'm not a rent-a-quote MP" 10 Sep 04 Ernie Ross being a rent-a-quote MP 23 Jul 04

20th January 2007, 06:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
^_mincher_^ Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Corstorphine/Dundee Posts: 1,521	I'm actually re-learning Java since I've forgotten it completely since finishing Uni. Once I re-acquaint my brain with Java and OOP in general, I'm gonna take a stab at C#. I might just dabble with this XNA palaver. Also, would it not be nice if the IT forum had a programming sub forum? I think so!

20th January 2007, 08:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
humndislocation Hardcore is serious guys Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 5,838 Band: Blasphemous Necrorapist	It would be cool, but I'm not sure that there's enough demand for a programming forum. It's very rare that a programming topic comes up. Yeah, if you want try out C#, then XNA is probably a fun way to do it. It's pretty similar to Java, from what I've seen of it so far.

20th January 2007, 08:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
^_mincher_^ Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Corstorphine/Dundee Posts: 1,521	Cool, I've heard that if you know your Java you can move to C# fairly easily also. I'm actually quite excited about programming again. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I guess.

20th January 2007, 09:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
humndislocation Hardcore is serious guys Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 5,838 Band: Blasphemous Necrorapist	Oh dear. I decided to change my sprite into a cats head, and hooked it up to play a sample of my cat meowing when you press the A button. This greatly confused my cat. I don't think she can recognise the image on screen as a cat, but seeing a moving object on the screen and hearing meowing noises, really confused her. She started meowing at the TV, and was about to start pawing at the screen, before I stopped her. I won't be doing that one again

20th January 2007, 10:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
^_mincher_^ Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Corstorphine/Dundee Posts: 1,521	Fuck sake brian! What a dick you are!

21st January 2007, 01:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
The_Mechanix Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Scumdee Posts: 149	ive not done anything in terms of proper programmind except a wee bit of basic in college. is it easy to learn this stuff without going to classes and what books would ya recommend? i wanna try this stuff in my spare time.

21st January 2007, 01:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
^_mincher_^ Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Corstorphine/Dundee Posts: 1,521	Its pretty easy yeah. You won't get it over night and you'll probably spend a few nights crying over something that won't work properly. Google is your friend when it comes to learning this stuff.

31st January 2007, 09:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
^_mincher_^ Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Corstorphine/Dundee Posts: 1,521	Ok I'm all set to give this a gloss over tonight. I found these handy little buggers. Wish me luck!

31st January 2007, 10:42 PM	#12 (permalink)
^_mincher_^ Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Corstorphine/Dundee Posts: 1,521	Also watch those vids in my last post. They'll at least give you an idea of what is expected.