Free Tools: Getting started with XNA and Windows Phone 7 Game Design

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You may be wondering where to get started with designing XBox Games and Windows Phone 7 Games, it’s simple:

  • The AppHub, link: https://create.msdn.comimage
  • Click on this box the “Download the free tools”
  • Follow the instructions for installation, it will take a bit of time, so be patient.

When you get everything installed, you will need to test to make sure that the XNA engine will run, to do this, open Visual Studio and then press the F5 (Function key F5) and you should see an image that looks like a phone with a blue screen.  This is good.  If you get an error, it is likely that your video or graphics card doesn’t support XNA.  If you are on a desktop you may be able to upgrade the video card.  If it is a laptop, you might want to update your video driver software/firmware, this is a somewhat complicated, get help if you need it.

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This is a good Blue Screen and shows you that your video card will support the XNA Tools for Windows Phone 7, XBox 360 and Windows 7.

If you are using someone else’s computer, like one of your parent’s computer, make sure that you discuss creating games with them.  They might want to have fun with software along with you.

The free design tools do not support design for Kinect, for that you would have to attend USC GamePipe or School of Cinematic Arts, I think that this is the only school in the world that has Kinect access as of Dec. 2010.  So you won’t be making the next Dance Central with Lady GaGa.

XNA is taught at Community Colleges all over the place, so check out your local community college. 

Other schools: University of California, Irvine ( UCI ) has a game curriculum that has classes in game design, as does University of California, San Diego ( UCSD ) and University of California, Santa Cruz ( UCSC ).

If you are in High School, you need to crank down and study trig, geometry, calculus and physics.  As a game player, you no longer can say that “Math doesn’t apply to my life”.  This is no longer a valid excuse for not doing your homework.  Math and Physics are IMPORTANT!  Make it happen, study Trig, make sure you understand components of geometry.

In Halo, use the forge, that way you get into design and find out what others like to use.  In other games, make game mods.  It’s fun and a way for you to learn how to design.

Are your games playable is the next question you need to ask yourself.  To find out if your games are playable, you have to get others to play your game and give you feedback.  I say to students that they haven’t gotten into game design until no one wants to talk to you about their games anymore.

Politically significant points about game design: President Obama’s wife Michelle Obama spoke to game designers at the Imagine Cup 2010 as well as others about the importance of technology.

  • Other things you can do: Write tools for World of Warcraft, make modifications for Duke Nuke’m, use the forge for Halo. 
  • Do your homework in Trig and Geometry, commit to it to memory think about it when you are walking by yourself and imagine a better game a better life.