| Microsoft has released a game making software | | | | Microsoft Visual C# 2005 Express Edition. (XNA is |
| suite that allows you to make a video game for | | | | written in C# so that’s why this is required.) |
| Windows XP and Xbox 360. You now have the | | | | This software is also free to download. You also |
| power to make your own Xbox games at no | | | | need a graphics card that supports DirectX 9.0c |
| cost whatsoever. | | | | and Shader Model 1.1. |
| There are plenty of free game making suites | | | | There are some optional tools and requirements |
| available to you but none of them work with a | | | | like an audio authoring tool called XACT and if you |
| console system. Microsoft has changed all this by | | | | want to use this tool you will need to install the |
| making available a platform for making video | | | | .NET framework version 1.1 on your computer |
| games that will play on your Xbox 360 system. | | | | but this is not mandatory. You can create games |
| That’s right; you can make a game and play | | | | without using the XACT tools. |
| it right on the 360 you have at home. And one of | | | | XNA looks like it is going to be very popular and |
| the best things about this is that it is totally free. | | | | there are lots of websites springing up that are |
| As a little guy with big ideas you now have the | | | | devoted to it and Garage Games has already |
| chance to make your game making dreams | | | | created a software utility that will make game |
| come true. This new software is called Microsoft | | | | development very easy. There are also many |
| XNA. | | | | tutorials and examples available to help you |
| Making a game does take work of course and | | | | through the learning process. |
| there are some software requirements needed | | | | If you always wanted to make a video game for |
| so let me review these. First off, you need a | | | | your Xbox now is the chance to get some official |
| computer that runs Windows XP with service | | | | software that will make your creative game ideas |
| pack 2 and you need to install a program called | | | | come true. |