Developing Games on Windows 8

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So if you’re a Student or an Academic why should you learn and teach game development for the Windows Store?

Perhaps your an academic coming a different platform, iOS, Android or you have previously developed and curriculum for game development on an earlier version of DirectX on Windows XP or Windows 7.

As a Student you may simply want to explore whether developing your game for the Windows Store is an attractive proposition for you in terms of developing a real portfolio or even developing an Indie Career or getting some sales to pay for your University fees.

Here are some reasons to invest in the Windows Store:

  • Reuse your code and leverage your game development experience: One of the greatest advantages of the DirectX/C++ development approach is that you can reuse significant amounts of your Windows Desktop game code to create a Windows Store game, a Windows Phone game. Use this porting guidance to leverage your existing code and game idea:
  • Port from DirectX 9 to Windows Store
  • Port from OpenGL ES 2.0 to DirectX 11.1
  • Great development tools: Great games are made with great tools. Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 provides a sophisticated environment for game development, debugging and profiling that eases your entry into game development, such as the Graphics Diagnostics tools. Prepare your Windows Store DirectX game programming environment, and download the GDC 2013 game templates to start creating game projects.
  • New horizons for your game: Windows 8 has changed the PC landscape with innovative form factors, new chip architectures, and exciting commerce models that present new opportunities.
  • Rich entertainment experiences: Windows 8 is designed and engineered specifically for the enjoyment of entertainment experiences. The Windows 8 User Experience (UX) guidelines promote full screen imagery, as well as fast and fluid interactions with no borders. It is more convenient than ever to support touch, pen (ink) and mouse with the same code so you don’t have to design special mechanics for different form factors.
  • Broad range of devices: To enable the highest possible performance, C++ with DirectX is the language of choice for Windows 8 apps. Since performance is linked to device efficiency, C++ provides a route to the lowest possible power consumption rate, thereby enabling your game to run on the broadest range of devices.