XNA, Managed DirectX and Game Programming

Xbox 360 Controller Component for Windows and WPF Applications

In my last post I talked about an Addin for Powerpoint that allowed you to use your Xbox 360 Controller to control the presentation. The addin uses a small component that wraps around the XNA Frameworks Gamepad class that allow the controller to be used inside any windows or WPF Application.

This component can be used in Visual Studio to build Windows/WPF applications.

It wraps XNA Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Input.GamePad class and provides an interface with events associated with each button status change, as well as on game pad connect/disconnect.

You will need XNA Framework 2.0 to use it.

Here is the link to the Direct Download for the Component.

Use your Xbox 360 Controller in Powerpoint

Now here is a different use of the Xbox 360 Controller (With the help of the XNA Framework), Bruno has put together a simple office plug in for power point that will allow the user to use the Xbox 360 controller to control his presentations.

About a week ago I wrote a Power Point add-in which uses my XBox360GamePad Component to enable users to control a slide show with the Xbox controller. Well, it’s kind of geek and maybe useless add-in, but it was a compelling objective who drove me to try MS Office development for the first time. It’s a shame that I don’t have a wireless controller…

I would like to see how it goes with the Big Button Controllers that come with the SceneIt game.

Here is the link to Download the Addin, Note that you must have the Game Studio 2.0 system installed to run this little addin.

Precision Modelling Guide for Blender

For those of you who know how to use Blender or those just starting out, I have found the perfect ebook for you. This ebook will help you to get some real details into your Models and make your XNA Game Stand out.

"The Precision Modelling Guide to Blender is a 151 page walk-through of Blenders mesh modelling tools and design techniques. Illustrated with over 600 images it gives a clear and concise introduction to using blender. By progressing through the guide you will be introduced to many of Blenders commonly used modelling tools and also a few of the not so well known ones. The tools are presented in a real working design example with explanations of why the tools are used and not merely a demonstration of the tools in use.
Don't be fooled by the name the guide is useful to anyone wanting a clear introduction to Blenders mesh modelling tools."

Here is the direct link to the Site where you can download the ebook.

XNA Toolkit on Codeplex

The XNA Toolkit project on Codeplex has had it's first release, included in this release are several camera components, as well as audio and others.

"This is the first release of the XNA Toolkit which provides a collection of useful, reusable game components, services, wrappers, and utilities for implementation in your XNA project.
Hopefully you will find at least something you can benefit from. Enjoy.
Features

• Audio output wrapper
• IInputHandler game service
• InputHandler game component (implements IInputHandler)
• Camera game component (stationary camera)
• FirstPersonCamera game component (first person camera derived from Camera)
• EventLogger utility (used to track user defined events and timestamps in memory and (Windows only) text files) "

Drop on over to the Codeplex site and give them a go, I know that the author would love to hear any feedback or suggestions on the project so that his tool kit can grow.

Link to the Codeplex Project Site.

XNA Animating Sprites

When developing 2d games one of the functions which you are constantly asked to do is to animate the sprites.

I cam across this blog post this morning where the author takes you through the process of animating a explosion. In this example the author uses a simple texture that contains all of the images for the sprite and then animates it.

XNA Dream Build Play Sample Entry for Silicon Minds

The guys from the Microsoft Research group have released a sample entry for the Dream Build Play warm up Comp "Silicon Minds". This sample goes through the basics of what the judges are looking for, for those who are entering please have a look at this as it may help you get a foot in the door.

Link to the Post and the Sample.

A Good Introduction to Powershell

Going through my normal scans this morning I came across a really good article on discovering Powershell. For anyone that is interested in starting out, or would like to have a deeper look I would recommend looking at the article.

Here is the Direct Link to the Post.

XNA 2.0 has been Released

Well it has been a late night, early Morning, or a nice evening for some... but the XNA Game Studio 2.0 has finally been released.

XNA Game Studio 2.0

This release represents the latest addition to the XNA Game Studio family, Microsoft XNA Game Studio 2.0, which enables hobbyists, academics, and independent game developers to easily create video games for Windows and the Xbox 360 console using optimised cross-platform gaming libraries based on .NET.
This release of the much anticipated 2.0 version contains improved performance along with new features such as expanded support for Visual Studio 2005 products, networking and multiplayer support, the XNA Game Studio Device Center, easier Xbox 360 connectivity, improved content pipeline experience, and much more.
For additional setup information and known issues, please read the XNA Game Studio 2.0 Readme page using the link below.

XNA 2.0 redistributable.

The XNA Framework Redistributable provides the necessary runtime components to execute a game on Windows that was developed using Microsoft XNA Game Studio 2.0. This release contains improved functionality along with new features. Installation of this runtime is not necessary on systems that already have Microsoft XNA Game Studio 2.0 installed.
The End User License Agreement (EULA) for Microsoft XNA Game Studio 2.0 covers the terms under which developers may use the Redistributable. For full details, please review the Microsoft XNA Game Studio 2.0 EULA.
The runtime components in the XNA Framework Redistributable require .NET Framework 2.0 and the latest version of the DirectX 9 runtime. These additional requirements are available at the links below.

XNA 2.0 Release - Good news for Students

With the up and coming release of the XNA Game Studio 2.0, Microsoft have announced some benefits that will be offered to faculty members and students in January.

XNA Creators Club Academic Trial Memberships Now Free to Qualified Students and Faculty

Since its release last December, XNA Game Studio has been an incredible success, with 750,000 downloads, adoption by more than 300 universities worldwide and at least nine textbooks on the tools in development. In subjects from computer science to fine arts, introductory courses to graduate and research projects, XNA Game Studio is helping faculty members and students explore the boundaries of applied gaming technology in education. Along with XNA Game Studio 2.0, Microsoft will also provide a free academic trial membership in the XNA Creators Club beginning in January, allowing faculty members and students to use XNA Game Studio 2.0 and Xbox 360 for instructional purposes.

Read the full Press release on XNA Game Studio 2.0 Here.

Dream Build Play - Some AI Resources for your XNA Game

With the announcement of the Dream Build Play warm up challenge, I thought I would put together a small list of resources on AI in Game Development.

• AI Forums on GameDev.net: Link
• Game AI for Developers: Link
• Links and Resources for AI: Link
• Generation5 (Old site but might find some good information there still): Link
• The Game AI Page: Link
• Wikipedia, Game AI: Link
• AI Wisdom: Link
• AI-Depot, Artificial Intelligence in Game Design: Link
• Simple A* Tutorial: Link
• Simple A* Tutorial using Pacman as a Base: Link
• Pacman Ghost Psychology: Link

The above links should get you started, but if you do have any more please comment so I can add them to the list.

Dream Build Play - Warm up Challenge

If you now drop over to the Dream Build Play site you will see that the Warm up Challenge has been announced.

Silicon Minds...

artificial intelligence noun: the capability of a machine to perform functions that are normally associated with human intelligence, such as reasoning and optimizations through experience

[Abbreviation : AI]

With this years warm up, we are being asked to put together a game that shows an innovative use of AI. In reward of this we are being offered a chance at an interview with Microsoft Research, Rae, or Lionhead studios for an internship position.

Drop on over to the Dream Build Play site for more information.

Dream Build Play 2.0 - Warm Up Challenge Coming Soon

If you drop over to the Dream Build Play site you will notice that this years warm up challenge is coming soon.

This year's warm-up challenge is in partnership with Microsoft Research,
Rare LTD and Lionhead Studios.  Check back soon for information
on the Silicon Minds warm-up challenge starting on Dec 8th, 2007.

Direct link to the Dream Build Play Site.

XNA 2.0 Beta Ending Soon

Looks like the release of XNA 2.0 is just around the corner. The Microsoft XNA Team have announced that the Beta for XNA 2.0 will be ending soon.

This week will be you last chance to download the beta and try out the new version before it goes to final release.

This Friday, December 7^th, will be your final chance to download the beta of XNA Game Studio 2.0. We are ending the beta program in preparation for our final release.

Also note that once this date hits we will loose the ability to use the live system until the release.

Additionally, the Games for Windows - LIVE online functionality will become disabled. You will still be able to use XNA Game Studio 2.0 Beta to program System Link games, but you will not be able to log on by using a LIVE-enabled Gamertag.

Here is the direct link to the post on the XNA Team Blog.

Hello World in XNA

Nazeeh has posted a really good article that goes through a good introduction to the base game project that is shipped with the XNA System, he also takes you through a simple hello world example. For those who are interested in understanding the basic layout of the default template I would highly suggest this post.

On a Side note Nazeeh is also a member of the XNA Team, here is a link to the post.

Game Development 101 - The Start

After only just posting about Pieter's new project, he has posted the first small article. In this first article he goes through the simple prototyping for the game and talks about the type of game that he is going to be putting together.

First I created a solution and properly decided what I was going to do, the game will be a simple strategy game, but with some nice twists which will become clearer as we move on.

And here is a brief rundown of the objects he is working on.

Terrain
We need a terrain for our tanks and soldiers to walk on, so a terrain object was necessary.
Soldier, Tank
We need soldiers and tanks that will walk on our terrain, this goes for us and the enemy player.
Skybox
We need to create a world and this is what the Skybox will be, some people prefer a skysphere, but we will just use a box and this will contain our atmosphere (we need to breath) :)
Input
We need some way to control our players don't we?
GUI
We cannot live without this, we need to be able to give commands to the players by clicking on a command and ordering our troops to get going with whatever command we gave it.

Looks like this is going to be an interesting project, here is a link to the post.

Game Development 101 - using XNA

One of our fellow MVPs, Pieter Germishuys or http://mdxinfo.com fame is finally jumping back into the XNA Scene. Peter is planing on putting a small development series together that will use the XNA System.

So, after a series of discussions with community members, it seems that I will be doing a series on XNA-GSE. I am starting tonight and will blog my progress as I continue. Think of it as a game developer blog. I am thinking of creating a cute and fun game to play.

The game won't be intense with physics but I think it will be an awesome adventure and the game will evolve as you guys (the community) add your comments. I want you to interact with me and tell me what you want to see.

The plan is to start tonight and blog my progress as well as the tools I am going to use and so on.

Currently, I am going to use C# Express and XNA-GSE, there will be a physics library used but we will see later what that entails.

Stay tuned... :)

 

If Pieter follows his previous articles this coming series will be one to watch.

Here is a direct link to the Blog Post.