Super Secret Communications X004Y: Game design considerations

  • Article

Super Secret Communications for Game Designers: AppHub

image

https://creators.xna.com is “under construction”, now there is the AppHub for you needs for software to utilize for your Imagine Cup Projects.

Some basic suggestions, use with judgment on your part, this is for developing that component of growing up that your parents are always telling you to do a better job of utilizing: Judgment.  In this case you will need to figure out if what I am saying in this Super Secret Communications is BS or useful, I think it is useful.  Buy why should you trust me?  Is it because I am an older white guy who talks a good game and has a bald head?  Or are the suggestions something that is useful for your success in the Imagine Cup?  What do you use to determine if these are good ideas, stuff from that General Education class you had to take last term and then forgot immediately after the final?  Or talk it over with the other team members, you aren’t in this alone, and community is the best protection (most of the time) against evil.  Not that I am evil, but how do you determine that?  Do you keep evaluating that, maybe I am not evil today, but what about tomorrow?  What about your friends?  People change.  Ok, enough philosophy… Believe in the Imagine Cup Goals.

image Ok, here are the suggestions:

  • Sign up for DreamSpark, even if you have great access to MSDNAA, required to get your XNA Xbox and Phone (Silverlight based apps and XNA) connection using the DreamSpark connection.
  • Go to AppHub, you won’t see the busy environment that you used get at the Creators Site.  Use search and the Education menu to find items you need for samples, etc.
  • Register as a student, your studentness will be determined using DreamSpark
  • Now get an XBox or Windows Phone, actually Windows Phone is the more useful thing to get.  See if you have a relative that might buy you an Xbox if you aren’t working or earning a bunch of money.  Only approach the relative if you are going to use the Xbox for testing your games.  If you are going to play games mostly, then it’s time to pony up the bucks for the Xbox out of your pocket. :)
  • Now start coding get a sample like Catapult Wars (build an Imagine Cup game that is better than Angry Birds!), go to: https://create.msdn.com/en-US/education/catalog/?devarea=5, then look for Catapult Wars and Catapult Wars Extensions. 
  • Or take a look at the new Platformer, a combination of Platformer and Catapult wars, you get an answer to the Angry Birds, which is very cute.  Find the Platformer at:

In the Platformer, you will find out how to deal with using the graphics art “spritesheet” although this is the “spritesheet” is a “spritestripe”

To be covered in the next game blog post.

End of Secret Communication X004Y

NNNN