XNA Game Studio Express - Amateur games ahoy!

The flash game development scene thrives because it allows people who would otherwise not be able to grasp a higher-level programming language like C# create games. The effort saved by the ease of ActionScript is spent tweaking game mechanics, sketching new game play concepts and expressing the unique perspectives of many amateur flash game developers.

This fresh look on game creation may be coming to a 360 near you soon. Microsoft has released XNA Game Studio Express.

XNA Game Studio Express is a new game development solution targeted primarily at students, hobbyists, and independent game developers. XNA Game Studio Express is based on Visual C# Express 2005 and lets developers create games for both Windows and Xbox 360. XNA Game Studio Express contains the following:

* The XNA Framework, a set of managed code development libraries that make it possible for game developers to be more productive when creating games for Windows and the Xbox 360.
* The XNA Framework Content Pipeline, a set of tools that allow developers to more easily incorporate 3D content into their games
* XNA Game Studio Express also contains a full set of documentation, how-tos, and starter kits that demonstrate how best to use the content pipeline and XNA Framework.
* XNA Game Studio Express runs side-by-side with other versions of Visual Studio without interference
* XNA Game Studio Express has now been released, and can be found here. It supports both Windows and Xbox 360 game development.

There have been plenty of other ways to “make games” such as the FPSCreator and other products from The Game Creators. Of course, modding has always allowed enthusiasts to essentially skip the dirty work and create something of their own. However none as powerful as the XNA Game Studio with DirectX and C#.

With all of the hype around user-generated content on the web, it was just a matter of time until something similar could be done for games. We have Newgrounds pumping out catch phrases (and the rarely monetized game like Alien Hominid) for years, and deviant art occasionally producing a Line Rider. There is a whole lot of static. There are also a lot of poor games sifting to the top of these communities where flash developers may value the game, but most gamers don’t.

I hope that Microsoft and XBox Live can remedy this with a well trimmed offering of homebrew games.

I’ll be sure to let everyone know when Later Nerdz Games publishes it’s first title. :P