The XNA framework has been updated to version “1.0 refresh”.
The important change is that it now should be possible to build an Xbox 360 game and send the binary to other users and have them play your game. Previous versions required you to share the source code.
If you were hoping for a blossoming of indie games for the 360, the answer is NO: Games can only be shared with members of the XNA Creator’s Club ($99/year).
Having played briefly with XNA, I can say that it is an amazing step up from building in C++ and DirectX directly – so much clearer, so much faster to use, so much easier to debug, and using a nice managed language, C# (which I enjoy because it is amazingly similar to my favorite language of Java).
*
But we are still stuck with our main problem: The console manufacturers retain complete control of what gets published. Imagine if Philips could decide which audio CDs came out, JVC could decide what DVDs came out, and Penguin could decide what books came out. Only PCs and Macs remain a small haven for free expression in games. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM.
This control is partially about money, but still … is it that far-fetched to imagine a future where everybody is allowed to make games for consoles?
I will be happy to give Microsoft/Sony/Nintendo 50% of any money that comes in, just allow us to make the games we want to make. Now.
But do you think it’ll ever happen?
(And I don’t mean to be snarky; I ask honestly.)
Personally I’m doubtful, and would prefer an open standard (CD/DVD) regardless, but I’d like to know your opinion on shuffling off the (hopefully) mortal coils of manufacturer exclusivity.
being a bit into indie development myself i am also grieving for an open console framework. on the other hand: isn’t it nice to have at least on one game system at home that does not (or rarely) crash? of course quality management does not have to extend to “quality” of content …
currently i’ld still favour homebrew over selling my soul to microsoft.
ps: do you set your captcha words by hand? mine was “play”. funny coincidence?
The console manufacturers would also have to fix their “deck” – the online interface for finding and purchasing new games. I believe the relatively slow rate of new-game introduction on XBLA and Wii Store is largely based on ensuring that every game has some time on the “top spot”, so that publicity and audience attention can be focused on it. I don’t even know what’s available on the PS3 this week. Browsing through all of these systems is still a pretty cumbersome, uninformative process (but still better than most mobile phone decks).
We’re going to need vast improvements in allowing users to search, browse, review, and provide information about games if we want to see manufacturers open the gates to large amounts of new content.
(My captcha word was “Mario”. It’s no coincidence)
Is it that far-fetched to imagine a future in which the primary machines users use to play games are no longer closed, proprietary platforms?
Consoles have 2 advantages over computers: “tray and play” (no configuration/hardware conflict issues), and (historically) cheapness. I think cheapness is no longer an advantage; a PS3 costs as much as a decent games machine. And almost everyone has a computer for reasons other than playing games.
IMO, all we need is a widely adopted “tray and play” technology for PCs, coupled with some boxes specifically designed for gaming (smaller box, no monitor, S-video out for connection to your HDTV) and the proprietary console is history.
I hate to be mean about XNA because when it comes to hobbyist console dev, it’s the best game in town.
But that is so seriously because it is the only game in town.
Microsoft has managed to hobble this in more ways than I would have managed. Being able to share games only with other XNA developers is just downright crippling. It almost nulls every advantage about developing for a console in the first place. Why not just code a normal game in C#, C or Java on Windows and reach, oh I dunno, about a billion times more people for feedback.
Removing the source code could be a serious problem if the XNA community isn’t willing to carry the burden of making sure that important code examples are properly documented. The advantage of a situation like say, UnrealScript, is that people can peek at each other’s code if necessary. This might frighten the hell out of your normal black box developer, but when you’re trying to build a community of people that could actually develop kick ass games on a platform that is already closed – it’s pretty vital.
This is in addition to, as Philip points out, building a community of gamers willing to try, play and give honest opinion about the games being developed.
At this point XNA could only be worse if Microsoft charged a huge chunk of change for it.
I am pretty sure Microsoft (and the two others) have considered what would happen if they opened up the platforms.
I assume they worry about loss of revenue (which could be fixed with some payment system), and loss of control. Would it be a problem for the platform if you could download a thousand poor or offensive (oooh) games?
But what was the motivation for creating XNA in the first place? Attracting developers? Making development easier? There must be a strategy document somewhere that discusses the free sharing of XNA games for the 360 as a possible future.
It would be pretty radical step, hard to imagine MS actually doing it.
A bit late to the game here, but my current attitude towards XNA is “it’s a very nice way to do PC development”. The 360 stuff is mostly gravy.
That being said, I can’t imagine that MS has no plans to allow regular users to access Creators Club-generated content. The current system is pretty close to ludicrous (I wonder about the etymology of that word), and I’m sure some clearer heads at MS have to have realized that already.
Perhaps they’re just trying to get a sense of what sort of content the club will be generating before they open it up – which is kind of unconscionable considering that people are already paying good money for the service, but you never know. *shrug*
Agreed, opening up XNA must be on a map somewhere. Only question is if we ever get there.