XNA Game Studio Express

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XNA Game StudioExpress

• Computer Graphics COSC 471
• Jeff Schmitt
• Brian Stephens Jr.
• Manar Deeb
• Presented on 3/15/07

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Objective

• To present a new and interesting development
  environment that is powerful enough to create
  cutting edge games.
• To give an idea on the accessibility of the XNA
  framework and who uses it.
• To provide the information needed to get started
  developing your own games.

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Outline

• Introduction What is XNA?
• Who developed XNA and why?
• What can XNA do?
• Graphical Capabilities.
• Other included utilities.
• Who uses XNA?
• How do you get started using XNA?
• Hardware and Software requirements.
• Resources and available documentation.
• Conclusion.
• Questions?

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Introduction What is ?

• XNA Game Studio Express is an extension of the
  .NET framework that provides a game development
  solution targeted toward students, hobbyists, and
  independent game developers.
• Allows developers to create commercial Windows
  and non-commercial XBOX360 video games.

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Who developed XNA and why?

• The XNA framework was developed by Mircosoft
  concurently with the development of their new
  home video game console, the XBOX360.
• The goal was to provide a unified development
  environment and game API between the Windows
  operating system and the XBOX360.
• This would allow games to be ported from one
  system to the other with minimal cost and time.
• XNA Game Studio Express was released commercially
  in December 2006 giving independent developers
  and hobbyists access to the same tools as
  professional game development studios.

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What can XNA do?

• XNA provides a content pipeline that makes it
  easy develop content and put it right into the
  game.
• Provides libraries for
• Audio
• Content
• Design
• Graphics
• Input
• Storage
• The content pipeline also provides its own
  libraries that control the pipeline itself.

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Graphical Capabilities

• API provides the ability to make 2D sprites and
  3D primitives.
• Textures
• Shading
• Effects
• Lighting

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Other Included Utilities

• The XNA Framework provides audio playback through
  the Microsoft Cross-Platform Audio Creation Tool
  (XACT) and its associated audio engine.
• XACT converts any .wav file into a sound file
  that can be inserted into the content pipeline
  for use in your game.
• Provided with XNA Game Studio Express 1.0.

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Who uses XNA?

• XNA Game Studio Express is a new game development
  solution targeted primarily at students,
  hobbyists, and independent game developers.

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How do you get started using XNA?

• XNA Game Studio Express is directly integrated
  into Visual C 2005 Express Edition.
• Download and install Visual C from Microsofts
  website for free. Visual C includes the .NET
  2.0 framework needed for XNA Game Studio Express.
• Then download and install XNA Game Studio Express
  1.0 also available for free from Microsoft.
• User must know how to program and have a good
  working knowledge of C to really start creating
  original content.

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Hardware and Software Requirements

• Software Requirements
• Currently only usable with Microsoft Windows XP
  SP2.
• Visual C 2005 Express Edition.

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Resources and Available Documentation

• http//www.xna.com/
• XNA Developer Center
• http//msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/directx/aa937791.
  aspx
• XNA Game Studio Express
• http//msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/directx/aa937795.
  aspx

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Global Contest

• www.dreambuildplay.com
• The Dream-Build-Play Challenge is your chance!
  Design and build an original game for Windows XP
  SP2 or Xbox 360 using XNA Game Studio Express
• Worldwide fame and recognition, your entry could
  also win you some fantastic prizes.

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Conclusion

• We recommend this environment especially to the
  students because it is targeted primarily to them
• In addition, Maybe you will win a prize from
  Microsoft for your designed game.

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Questions?