14 DAY TRIAL // Redmond-based software company Microsoft announced recently at the Game Developer Conference (GDC 2010) that those developers willing to build games for the newly unveiled Windows Phone 7 Series would benefit from a new set of tools offered by XNA Game Studio 4.0, the sale solution available for developers of games for Windows PCs and Xbox. At the same time, the company also showcased a series of 3D games that work nicely on the upcoming Windows Phone 7 OS, and it seems that it also shared some other details on what building games for the platform involves.
According to Microsoft, the XNA Game Studio 4.0 will provide developers with all the necessary tools to build compelling applications for Windows Phone 7 Series devices. The updated flavor includes support for the company's mobile platform, as well as for its desktop client and for Xbox, though Zune HD has been removed from the list. However, it seems that Microsoft is set to move towards a Zune service and not a device, and this might not seem too much of an inconvenience, especially since developers can adapt their solutions to Zune with XNA Game Studio 3.1.
Here are some details Microsoft's Charlie Kindel delivers on XNA Game Studio 4.0: - Power: XNA Game Studio 4.0 includes powerful audio and graphics tools that allow developers to create all types of games, from casual 2-D games to 3-D games with high-quality graphics. - Productivity: XNA Game Studio 4.0 is a managed code platform, which means that Microsoft has done the back-end work that will save developers time in the coding process. It allows developers to be more productive and focus on gameplay and design. - Portability: XNA Game Studio 4.0 makes it possible for developers to adapt games built on previous versions of XNA Game Studio to work on Windows Phone 7 Series without re-coding the entire game. Also, once a developer has created a Windows Phone 7 Series game, they can use some of that code in XNA Game Studio 3.1 to adapt that game for Xbox 360, Windows or Zune.
At the same time, Kindel also offers a glimpse at what the gaming experience on Windows Phone 7 is all about. Users will benefit from the already known games hub, which will provide access to all the games one has purchased through the Marketplace. Beside applications, the Windows Phone Marketplace will also include Xbox LIVE games, as well as other titles. When it comes to the Xbox LIVE features that users will enjoy, we can count: - Collect Achievements and build your Gamerscore - View Xbox LIVE leaderboards - See your Xbox LIVE Avatar - Access Spotlight feeds - Add Xbox LIVE friends to your friends list while out on the go.