Getting Started with Making Games in XNA Game Studio Express

At some point or another, we have all had the dream to make a video game. There has always been a certain brick wall between our dreams and reality. This brick wall is composed of mathematics, physics, computer programming, and of course the luxury of time to burn.

But Microsoft tore the wall down with the release of XNA Game Studio Express- simply referred to as XNA. This framework allows hopeful game developers to create video games in a simple environment, which requires much less time or effort as compared to conventional means.

Although Microsoft graced the game development community with XNA, there is still a learning curve present. Don’t expect to create the next Half Life 2 in a few days. Do, however, expect to get on the right track to releasing the next killer game for the PC or Xbox with a little determination and hard work.

What Is XNA Game Studio Express?

In case you were wondering, XNA doesn’t stand for anything cool. In fact, it doesn’t stand for anything at all! So what kind of power can a tool that doesn’t have any substance to its name have, anyway?

XNA Game Studio Express is a combination of tools that allows developers, students, and hobbyists to create games with relative ease. Although you won’t need to know the specifics about each tool, it’ll help aid in the development process and your general knowledge of how things work. The basic tools and components that XNA is composed of or interacts with are listed below. (Don’t worry if these seem intimidating- we’ll focus on some components more in future sections!)

Basic Tools and Components XNA is Composed of or Interacts With

• XNA Framework – The XNA framework is a bundle of libraries used for development. It functions via an application program interface- or API. This API allows games to be ported to and from Windows machines and the Xbox 360 console. The API also handles DirectX and the .NET platform- two tools used for general programming and multimedia programming.
• XNA Framework Content Pipeline – The “Content Pipeline,” as it is commonly called, is a set of tools that helps reduce the learning curve associated with game development programming. It streamlines many actions related to getting the content into the actual game. (For instance- you can add an image file to a game with a simple upload and code reference. Then the Content Pipeline automatically converts the file into a usable entity!)
• Microsoft Visual C# Express – Microsoft Visual C# Express is a toolset that allows programmers to create and manage programs with relative ease. In many aspects, this is just like XNA Game Studio Express, with the emphasis on general programming rather than game development. XNA Game Studio Express actually uses this program to operate- so be sure to brush up on your C# skills!
• DirectX – DirectX is a set of APIs that were created to work with multimedia development. The reason why XNA Game Studio Express is preferred by beginners is because DirectX can be very tough- it has a very steep learning curve. Thankfully, we won’t have to work directly with DirectX to make a game- which makes the development process much speedier.

What Kind of Games Can I Create With XNA Game Studio Express?

This is the million dollar question: how far can you take the XNA Game Studio Express? You wouldn’t want to waste your time learning a language and development scheme, just to realize you can’t make the game you had in mind- would you?

As you can see from the above example, there isn’t much limit with XNA. We can create 2D, 2.5D, and some very stunning 3D environments. Given, it would probably be impractical to create Halo 3 with XNA Game Studio- but don’t let that discourage you in the least bit.

We are only seeing the very beginning of what’s to come. XNA Game Studio Express is still fairly new to the game development community- we’re still eagerly awaiting those “No way you made that with XNA!” games that converts every last developer to the XNA cause. (Not that those games don’t already exist- we just want more of them!)

Software Requirements for Developing XNA Game Studio Games

Sadly, you won’t be up and running with a simple download. Instead, Microsoft thought it’d be fun to make developers go through several separate download and installation processes. But first thing is first: let’s make sure your computer can run the software before downloading anything!

Minimum Requirements for Creating XNA Game Studio Games

• Windows XP (With Service Pack 2) or Windows Vista
• 1 GHz CPU or higher is recommended
• 256MB RAM is recommended
• At least 500MB free space- over 1GB is recommended

Requirements for Playing XNA Game Studio Games

• Graphics card that supports DirectX 9.0c Shader model (Model 2.0 recommended)
• Sound card that supports DirectX 9.0c
• If you would like to develop games for the Xbox, a control is necessary

Installing the Necessary Software for XNA

Before continuing, be sure that any previous versions or betas of the software you are about to download are removed from your computer. Otherwise, the versions may conflict with each other and you’ll have a mess on your hands. The download process can be followed as seen below.

1. Download Visual C# 2005 Express Edition – (Be sure to select C#, not C++)
2. Download Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 – (Scroll down and select “VS80sp1-KB926749-X86-INTL.exe” – Be sure you download the right one!)
3. Download XNA Game Studio 2.0

XNA Game Studio Express – Is It Worth the Hassle?

Is XNA Game Studio Express worth the hassle of learning? In most cases- there is no doubt. It allows for a much easier solution to creating games, which allows developers from all ages and backgrounds turn their dream into reality.

It couldn’t be easier; you won’t pay a dime in getting everything installed and setup. Learning the system is a bit tedious at times- but the reward at the end is more than worth it.

Download and install all the necessary software, try your luck at game development, and maybe even call a few friends in to help! (You might even make some money off your game, if you put some time into it!)