XNAResources.com - XNA/GSE News and Information

From the Ashes...

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST

I know it's been a LONG time since we've seen anything around here, but I've recently picked XNA back up and have been playing with it again. It is nice to see the progress that has been made since the pre 1.0 version we were working with. I'm playing around with a couple of new ideas for XNA work (and I even have an XBox 360 now!) and while I can't promise a bunch of speedy updates, I am planning on resurrecting XNAResources and adding some new tutorials and the like. <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2F&itemDate=2008%2D8%2D28+0%3A0%3A0&itemTitle=From+the+Ashes%2E%2E%2E" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2F&itemDate=2008%2D8%2D28+0%3A0%3A0&itemTitle=From+the+Ashes%2E%2E%2E" /></a />

XNA 1.0 Refresh is out!

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 08:00:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/xnaupdate.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> The 1.0 refresh is out!!! Jump over to http://www.xna.com and grab it while its hot!! <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fxnaupdate%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D4%2D24+8%3A0%3A0&itemTitle=XNA+1%2E0+Refresh+is+out%21" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fxnaupdate%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D4%2D24+8%3A0%3A0&itemTitle=XNA+1%2E0+Refresh+is+out%21" /></a />

XNA DevTags Launched!

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 21:45:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/devtag.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> We have just launched a new feature here at XNAResources.com! After launching our new link directory we have a great opportunity to give users a way to show off their XNA developer credentials! We are calling the new feature DevTags! They were designed to be just like the XBOX Live GamerTag but instead of showing your gaming skills they show your development skills! All you need to start using the new DevTag is to register in our link directory and add links to your resources in our directory... those resources will make up your DevTag! Over time as users rate your listings in our directory those ratings will make up your DevTags rating! We currently have 2 versions of the DevTag available that you can embed on any website... one it HTML based and one is IMG based for areas that don't allow you to post script data... So what are you waiting for??? Go register in our directory and get your new DevTag setup and start showing off your XNA to everyone! If your already registered just login and update your profile and grab your DevTag code! <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fdevtag%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D4%2D4+21%3A45%3A0&itemTitle=XNA+DevTags+Launched%21" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fdevtag%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D4%2D4+21%3A45%3A0&itemTitle=XNA+DevTags+Launched%21" /></a />

XNA WindowSystem Initial Release

Mon, 2 Apr 2007 00:00:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/xna_news_windowsystem.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> Aaron over on Aaron's Blog has release the first version of his XNA WindowSystem, a complete GUI toolset for XNA. The system is implemented as multiple XNA Game Components, is skinnable, and features the following controls: Check Boxes, Combo Boxes, Dialogs, Icons, Images, Image Buttons, Text Buttons, Labels, Menus, Context Menus, Message Boxes, Radio Buttons, Radio Groups, Vertical Scrollbars, Text Boxes and Windows. Aaron has release the source code, so head on over and check it out. (And I recognize those tile images from his testing application! :) ) <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fxna%5Fnews%5Fwindowsystem%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D4%2D2+0%3A0%3A0&itemTitle=XNA+WindowSystem+Initial+Release" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fxna%5Fnews%5Fwindowsystem%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D4%2D2+0%3A0%3A0&itemTitle=XNA+WindowSystem+Initial+Release" /></a />

XNATextures.com Launched!

Sun, 1 Apr 2007 17:00:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/xnatextures.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> Today is an exciting day at the XNAResource network! Today we launched XNATextures.com! The second site in our XNAResource network of sites! The site was formerly known as The TextureBin and already has over 1700 seamless high resolution textures! XNATextures.com is membership based though... we offer 3 types of membership: Free 15 day Trial - Same as the standard below but limited to 15 days. Standard Membership - Access to all the content on the site in lower resolutions (500 pixels wide). Premium Membership - Access to all the content in the standard membership AND full access to high resolution versions of all the textures as well as bump maps, alpha maps, and games sized versions (powers of 2) of the textures in high resolution. The Standard membership carries a ONE TIME FEE of $25 and the Premium membership carries a ONE TIME FEE of just $50... you never have to renew your membership and you get access to all the content on the site! We are charging for our memberships because the hosting costs are just too large to offer the content free of charge... the one time fees will help us to maintain the hosting for the site and offer our visitors a premium collection of seamless textures that just keeps growing and growing for a small one time cost that is nearly half the cost of regular texture cd with a fraction of the textures. Take a look at the site we have some sample texture packs for download and you can register for a free 15 trial and the only information we ask for is a valid email address. <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fxnatextures%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D4%2D1+17%3A0%3A0&itemTitle=XNATextures%2Ecom+Launched%21" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fxnatextures%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D4%2D1+17%3A0%3A0&itemTitle=XNATextures%2Ecom+Launched%21" /></a />

XBOX 360 Elite... Some speculation...

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:00:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/elite.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> Well... we just find out today that the new XBOX360 Elite is in fact a reality!!! I started looking at this and my mind started running off in various directions on whether or not this is something the 360 needed to have done to it and how this brings the price closer to the PS3 and started to wonder if that really added anything positive for the 360s position in this next gen war... and then I suddenly came to a realization!!! This Elite 360 has nothing to do with gaming at all... it has EVERYTHING to do with the Video Marketplace! Lets take a look at a few things that we already know and have heard in the past about the 360 and Microsoft... Microsoft has never really been crazy about either of the new next gen HD media formats... They didn't include one of those new media formats in the Elite... The hard drive is a HUGE jump from the tiny 20 GB drive we have now to the 120 GB drive... Even though they added the 1080p update to the 360 there are not really any games that support it... The Elite has an HDMI port most likely for HD content... like movies and TV shows... About a year ago we heard about a "deal" between Microsoft and DirecTV and it was going to have something to do with a new black XBOX 360... The LIVE service just got a huge upgrade that brought all xbox.com site down as well as the service for almost a full day... Now... lets take a minute to "dream" here... we all know that Microsoft wants the 360 to be a centerpiece in the entertainment center providing more than just a great gaming experience... what if the plan here is take the first jump in offering consumers an alternative to a normal cable of satellite subscription??? What if they are going to try to offer a "pay only for what you want and watch" type of service? If you do the math with the current pricing on the VMP you can figure out a few things... I currently have a $99/month subscription to DirectTV... I will use that as my basis for this assumption... lets take the $99 a month and spend it on video content on the Marketplace... we will take half of our montly allowence and spend it on TV shows... and half on Movies: $50 / Month gets us: - 25 SD TV Shows a month ... or... - 16 HD TV Shows a month the other $50/month gets us 16 SD movies per month... or... 8 HD movies per month Now... you could always allocate that money however you want... if you watch more TV than movies you could easily fit in all the tv shows you currently watch in any give month and of course in the tv "downtime" you could alway just not spend the money each month and save yourself some bucks on your subscriptions! You wouldn't have to worry about commercials... or watching your shows when they are actually on... just buy the content and watch it whenever you want! Of course movies would be the exception... since you only have 24 hours to watch them... but the TV shows can be saved as long as you want... Think of how cool it would be if you could setup rules on the VMP like we have on Tivo... and "Season Pass" a TV series and have it automatically buy the new episodes and download them for you... The one hitch here would be sports and shows that you would have to watch right away... like Survivor or some other results based show where if you don't watch it when it airs you could be spoiled as to what happened before you watch it... that might be where DirecTV comes in... providing some way to watch the content live over you 360 using some kind of streaming tech to the LIVE datacenter... maybe has something to do with that big upgrade yesterday??? And lets not forget that we will soon see a LIVE service on Windows... does that mean that the Video Market Place may also make its way to the Windows world? Maybe not... at least not yet... because then we need to worry about securing that content on the PC and we all know how that kind of stuff goes... but think of how HUGE this whole thing could be for Microsoft... what if they actually can provide the first real freedom from you cable network and ditch the idea of having to pay $X per month for 200 channels when you don't watch more than 3 or 4 shows to beging with?? Of course we know IPTV is coming as well... that just make the offering even more comprehensive! That would take care of you sports, reality shows, news... etc... Thoughts anyone?? I know this isn't really XNA news but with a big upgrade to the 360 like this it really got me thinking! <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Felite%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D3%2D28+10%3A0%3A0&itemTitle=XBOX+360+Elite%2E%2E%2E+Some+speculation%2E%2E%2E" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Felite%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D3%2D28+10%3A0%3A0&itemTitle=XBOX+360+Elite%2E%2E%2E+Some+speculation%2E%2E%2E" /></a />

Off Topic - Making a browser recognize your RSS feed...

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:00:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/rss.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> This one is a little off topic... just a tip for you community site guys out there with a site that has an RSS feed... If you are using something like Community Server or Live Spaces this probably isn't relative to you but if you have written your own feed you might this will help with some feed readers, etc... You can make IE/Firefox see your feed and light up the RSS feed icon on the browsers toolbar by adding one line (or more if you are publishing more than one feed) to the of your HTML... just add the following tag: The title is what shows up as the title and the href is the location of your feed or feed generator... if you have more than one feed just list them in a row... they will all show up under the icon as seperate line items. Hope that helps someone out there! <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Frss%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D3%2D19+21%3A0%3A0&itemTitle=Off+Topic+%2D+Making+a+browser+recognize+your+RSS+feed%2E%2E%2E" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Frss%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D3%2D19+21%3A0%3A0&itemTitle=Off+Topic+%2D+Making+a+browser+recognize+your+RSS+feed%2E%2E%2E" /></a />

New Link Directory at XNAResources.com

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:30:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/directory.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> We have just updated our link directory here at XNAResources.com! The new directory allows you to register for an account and then submit and maintain your own listings! We get a pretty good deal of traffic from sites like Google to links in our link directory so hopefully this new directory will be a good way for all you developers out there to get some more traffic to your websites! We haven't populated it with much yet... we want to get as many people as we can to submit and maintain their own stuff in the directory so we will give it a few days and then we will start adding some stuff in bulk... but please if you want to have your XNA stuff listed in our directory register for an account and add whatever you want! Also... if you feel like there should be a better break down of the categories just let us know and we will rearrange things as everyone sees fit. Jump on over to the new directory and check it out! <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fdirectory%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D3%2D19+17%3A30%3A0&itemTitle=New+Link+Directory+at+XNAResources%2Ecom" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fdirectory%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D3%2D19+17%3A30%3A0&itemTitle=New+Link+Directory+at+XNAResources%2Ecom" /></a />

Download the XBOX Live Achievement Unlocked sound!

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:49:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/majorsound.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> The Major has just posted the XBOX 360 'Achievement Unlocked' sound to his blog... this might be very help to anyone out there trying to add achievements to their game... it could really help make those achievements feel real! Download the sound from the Major's Blog here... <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fmajorsound%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D3%2D15+16%3A49%3A0&itemTitle=Download+the+XBOX+Live+Achievement+Unlocked+sound%21" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fmajorsound%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D3%2D15+16%3A49%3A0&itemTitle=Download+the+XBOX+Live+Achievement+Unlocked+sound%21" /></a />

Graphics for Programmers Tutorial Series Launched!

Fri, 9 Mar 2007 15:01:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/gfp1.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> We have just launched the first installment in our new tutorial series called: Graphics for Programmers! Hopefully we can help some of you one man team programmers out there add some graphical goodness to your XNA creations! The first part in our tutorial series focuses on creating shiny stuff with Adobe Photoshop and is a great place to start if you are looking to spruce up your menu buttons and interface elements, etc... have a look at the new tutorial and let us know what you think! <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fgfp1%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D3%2D9+15%3A1%3A0&itemTitle=Graphics+for+Programmers+Tutorial+Series+Launched%21" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fgfp1%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D3%2D9+15%3A1%3A0&itemTitle=Graphics+for+Programmers+Tutorial+Series+Launched%21" /></a />

XNA GSE Update coming in April!

Thu, 8 Mar 2007 23:18:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/xna_news_launch.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> Some big news out of Microsoft today... XNA Game Studio Express will be getting and update in April! Checkout the XNA Team Blog for a full list of the changes and additions to the upcoming version! <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fxna%5Fnews%5Flaunch%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D3%2D8+23%3A18%3A0&itemTitle=XNA+GSE+Update+coming+in+April%21" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fxna%5Fnews%5Flaunch%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D3%2D8+23%3A18%3A0&itemTitle=XNA+GSE+Update+coming+in+April%21" /></a />

XNA Creators Club Online Community is now LIVE!

Mon, 5 Mar 2007 22:12:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/ccsite.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> Head on over to http://creators.xna.com and register for the XNA Creators Club Online community. There is all kinds of great stuff there including: A brand new starter kit - Marblets Several samples including a skinning (animation) sample using the XNA Framework Content Pipeline! Downloadable sample games. New developer forums. Video tutorials. Much, much, more! Head over to the site and check it out! <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fccsite%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D3%2D5+22%3A12%3A0&itemTitle=XNA+Creators+Club+Online+Community+is+now+LIVE%21" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fccsite%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D3%2D5+22%3A12%3A0&itemTitle=XNA+Creators+Club+Online+Community+is+now+LIVE%21" /></a />

Details from the GDC about the Dream Build Play Contest

Mon, 5 Mar 2007 15:46:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/dream2.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> Some details about the Dream Build Play contest have creeped out the of the GDC... The contest will be offering over $40,000 in cash and prizes... the grad prize winner will not only get $10,000 but they will also have the opportunity to publish their creation on the XBLA! They also talked about the release of Schizoid, the first XBLA game created using XNA... That makes you wonder how and Arcade title is being released when we still don't have access to network functions in XNA but maybe this is something from inside MS built using a new pre-release version of XNA... who knows... exciting times though. Hopefully the entire community will start to pick things up as the GDC wraps up. <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fdream2%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D3%2D5+15%3A46%3A0&itemTitle=Details+from+the+GDC+about+the+Dream+Build+Play+Contest" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fdream2%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D3%2D5+15%3A46%3A0&itemTitle=Details+from+the+GDC+about+the+Dream+Build+Play+Contest" /></a />

David Edery on XBLA Strategy

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:54:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/gamasutra.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> Over at Gamasutra they have just posted a pretty interesting Q&A with Microsoft's David Edery, the Worldwide Games Portfolio Plannerfor XBLA... Edery gives the community some insight on what makes a good XBLA title... pretty much a must read if you are interested in taking the game you develop in XNA and moving onto some real commercial distribution on the 360 platform. Head on over and checkout the article... <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fgamasutra%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D2%2D15+16%3A54%3A0&itemTitle=David+Edery+on+XBLA+Strategy" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fgamasutra%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D2%2D15+16%3A54%3A0&itemTitle=David+Edery+on+XBLA+Strategy" /></a />

SpriteCache 2.0 RC Released

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:36:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/sprite.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> SpriteCache aims to be a complete replacement for XNA's SpriteBatch class. The objective is to create a more powerful and robust solution without sacrificing ease of use. There is little to no performance difference between the two classes. Some of the features: Translation, Scaling, Rotation Colour modulation (tinting) of individual sprite corners Easy shader attachment (on a per sprite basis!) Draw calls similar to SpriteBatch They have just released the 2.0 Release Candidate so jump on over to the site at CodePlex and check it out! <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fsprite%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D2%2D15+16%3A36%3A0&itemTitle=SpriteCache+2%2E0+RC+Released" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fsprite%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D2%2D15+16%3A36%3A0&itemTitle=SpriteCache+2%2E0+RC+Released" /></a />

Dream, Build, Play : Warmup Challenge

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 18:10:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/dream2.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> The folks over at Dream, Build, Play have posted details on the first part of their contest. In what they are calling the 'Warmup Challenge - Relatives of Spacewar', the goal is to create a game based on the SpaceWar Starter Kit. From the "How to Play" page: Create a game based on the Spacewar Starter Kit... either the Spacewar codebase or content, or both. The only requirement: Your game must be derived from the version of Spacewar that's a part of XNA Game Studio Express. Use as much or as little of the Spacewar Starter Kit as you like. Just remember that the relationship to the Spacewar Starter Kit must be obvious to our judges. The five best entries will each receive a prize of $500, but you need to act fast, as the deadline for submitting your game is Feb 28, 2007! <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fdream2%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D2%2D13+18%3A10%3A0&itemTitle=Dream%2C+Build%2C++Play+%3A+Warmup+Challenge" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fdream2%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D2%2D13+18%3A10%3A0&itemTitle=Dream%2C+Build%2C++Play+%3A+Warmup+Challenge" /></a />

Karvonite Persistence Framework Now Supports XNA

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 17:55:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/xna_news_karvonite.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> We have received word from the folks over at http://www.karvonite.com that their free .Net Persistence Framework now has support for both XNA and the .Net Compact Framework, including the XBox 360. From the site: Karvonite is a FREE persistence framework with a propietary data storage engine for the .NET Framework 2 and it focuses on the manipulation and persistence. This technology provides a new direction for how small to midsize applications can store and deploy data. Karvonite is not an O/R mapping tool for a very good reason. There is no relational world to map to. In Karvonite, object data is persisted to an object library. Karvonite persistence framework is well-suited for applications where XML files or .NET serialization features are not enough and the horsepower of a SQL engine is unnecessary. <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fxna%5Fnews%5Fkarvonite%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D2%2D13+17%3A55%3A0&itemTitle=Karvonite+Persistence+Framework+Now+Supports+XNA" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fxna%5Fnews%5Fkarvonite%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D2%2D13+17%3A55%3A0&itemTitle=Karvonite+Persistence+Framework+Now+Supports+XNA" /></a />

Running Game Studio Express in Windows Vista

Thu, 8 Feb 2007 15:50:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/vista.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> Anyone who is still trying to figure out how to get XNA Game Studio Express working in Windows Vista need only jump over to Dave Weller's site (http://www.letskilldave.com)! He has just posted great step by step instructions on how to get GSE up and running... so if you have already moved to Vista or are thinking about moving to Vista take a look at this article and get yourself setup to create games! <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fvista%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D2%2D8+15%3A50%3A0&itemTitle=Running+Game+Studio+Express+in+Windows+Vista" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fvista%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D2%2D8+15%3A50%3A0&itemTitle=Running+Game+Studio+Express+in+Windows+Vista" /></a />

Dream Build Play Registration is UP!

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 19:17:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/dream2.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> The Dream Build Play website has finally launched! Registration is up and working but it looks like we will have to wait until February 5th for the rest of the details about the contest... Run over and register right away!!! <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fdream2%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D1%2D31+19%3A17%3A0&itemTitle=Dream+Build+Play+Registration+is+UP%21" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fdream2%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D1%2D31+19%3A17%3A0&itemTitle=Dream+Build+Play+Registration+is+UP%21" /></a />

Bullet Hell Tactics

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 09:01:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/bullethell.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> The folks over at http://shmup.blogspot.com have been hard at work over the past 5 months on a game called Bullet Hell Tactics! They have just posted a video and some screenshots of the so far pretty impressive XNA built shoot-em up! Jump over to the site and take a look! <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fbullethell%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D1%2D31+9%3A1%3A0&itemTitle=Bullet+Hell+Tactics" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fbullethell%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D1%2D31+9%3A1%3A0&itemTitle=Bullet+Hell+Tactics" /></a />

Leveler 3D converted to XNA

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 11:19:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/leveler.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> The folks over at www.tridexconsultants.co.uk have just finished converting a 3D level editor tool called Leveler 3D over to XNA! The tool is for VB.NET developers... the level editor for VB.NET should be uploaded this week for everyone to download and test out. Here is a link to a demo of the version of this app when it was made for Managed DirectX... take a look! <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fleveler%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D1%2D29+11%3A19%3A0&itemTitle=Leveler+3D+converted+to+XNA+" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fleveler%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D1%2D29+11%3A19%3A0&itemTitle=Leveler+3D+converted+to+XNA+" /></a />

More details about the Dream Build Play contest... sorta...

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 09:08:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/dream.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> David Mitchell has just posted some more "information" about the Dream... Build... Play... contest over at the XNA Team Blog... If you want to get even more excited about this competition go checkout this post... there isn't that much more information in the post but he does indicate that the site for/about the contest should be launching within the new week!!! Take a look at the article here... <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fdream%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D1%2D25+9%3A8%3A0&itemTitle=More+details+about+the+Dream+Build+Play+contest%2E%2E%2E+sorta%2E%2E%2E" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fdream%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D1%2D25+9%3A8%3A0&itemTitle=More+details+about+the+Dream+Build+Play+contest%2E%2E%2E+sorta%2E%2E%2E" /></a />

New XNAStage Release!

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 17:38:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/xnastage.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> XNAStage is an XNA GameLibrary focused on providing timeline based sprite rendering including extensible sprite and tween classes. Includes powerful 2D text libraries that support scaling, rotation and borders and can be treated like any other sprite. The main use for XNAStage will most probably be things like in game menus, dialogs, credit screens, splash intros, and level end scenes, etc.. Take a look... <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fxnastage%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D1%2D23+17%3A38%3A0&itemTitle=New+XNAStage+Release%21" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fxnastage%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D1%2D23+17%3A38%3A0&itemTitle=New+XNAStage+Release%21" /></a />

Game Career Guide XNA Article

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 11:52:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/primer.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> There is a new article up over at Game Career Guide that goes over XNA and has some great interviews from members of the XNA Team as well as some of the big community developers out there... take a look... <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fprimer%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D1%2D19+11%3A52%3A0&itemTitle=Game+Career+Guide+XNA+Article" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fprimer%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D1%2D19+11%3A52%3A0&itemTitle=Game+Career+Guide+XNA+Article" /></a />

Nuclex.Fonts - Proper Text Rendering System

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 19:00:00 EST

<img src="http://www.xnaresources.com/images/blogimages/propertext.png" width="250" height="188" border="0" align="left"/> The folks over at http://www.nuclex.org are close to finishing up their new Nuclex.Fonts Propert Text Rendering System. The font importer integrates with the XNA build process, so there are no external utilities involved. Just add an XML file with import instructions to your project for any font you want to have available in your XNA application and compile. A platform independent .xnb file will be generated (the exact same way it happens when you add a bitmap or effect to your project). The system is just completed yet but there is a workable version available for download... Check it out... <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fpropertext%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D1%2D16+19%3A0%3A0&itemTitle=Nuclex%2EFonts+%2D+Proper+Text+Rendering+System" /><img border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?feedUrl=http%3A//www.xnaresources.com/rss.asp&itemLink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Exnaresources%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fblogimages%2Fpropertext%2Epng&itemDate=2007%2D1%2D16+19%3A0%3A0&itemTitle=Nuclex%2EFonts+%2D+Proper+Text+Rendering+System" /></a />