GDC08: How to download free XNA game previews

by Dustin Burg { Feb 20th 2008 at 6:20PM }

The mysterious XNA curtain has been pulled back revealing not only a new community friendly XNA / Xbox Live service, but also seven XNA game demos for everyone to enjoy. But you don't have to be on the GDC show floor to try out these little XNA gems, no sir. All you need to do is hop onto Xbox Live and get your download on. Though, the process for downloading XNA games is a bit different, so let us break it down for you.

First, you'll have to download the XNA Game Launcher off the XBLM. You can find the this little doodad by going to New Releases > Game Content > XNA Creators Club. Once that 7MB file downloads, make your way to your XNA Game Launcher by heading to your Games blade > Games Library > My Games > XNA Creators Club. Here you'll be able to press "Y" and download all seven XNA trial games for free. Once you find a game and download it, you'll then be able to launch your demo from the same location. That's it, all done. And to get you started, we've posted a description of all seven downloadable XNA game demos after the break. Find something that appeals to you and give 'er a download. Oh, and have some fun too.

Free XNA Downloads

JellyCar: Created by Walaber from the United States, this game is about driving a squishy car through squishy worlds, trying to reach the exit.
Little Gamers: This is a 2-D high definition action side-scroller based on the famous Web comic "Little Gamers" created by Loïc Dansart, a 24-year-old software developer from Belgium.
The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai: An intense 2-D action platform game created by James Silva from the United States, "The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai" has a unique, highly stylized look and fast and fluid action.
TriLinea: This puzzle game created by Edison S. Prata Jr., Renato Pelizzari da Silva and Davi da Silva Prata from Brazil mixes fast-paced action with strategy.
RocketBall: Created by Tyler Wanlass, Patrick Murty and Todd Barrons of the United States, this neighborhood game of dodgeball explodes onto the street with fast-paced multiplayer action.
ProximityHD: This game, created by Brian Cable from the United States, takes the essence of strategy games - battles for control of territory and armies - and distills it down to a simple, easy-to-understand set of rules for casual players.
Culture: Created by independent game development company Hidden Path Entertainment from the United States, "Culture" contains challenging games and puzzles based on beautiful flowers.

Tags: culture, dishwasher-dead-samurai, jellycar, little-gamers, proximityhd, rocketball, trilinea, xbla, xna

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ScottyGEE32 @ Feb 20th 2008 6:30PM

Either its taking awhile to come up in Australia, or that Australia isn't deemed special enough to recieve XNA material...It better not be the latter case.

Sure I have my American account...But signing in and out for things that should be there in the first place gets me a little annoyed..

I guess I'll wait and see if it pops up in Australia else, well, whats the point in me getting the XNA creators club license?

Magic Whiskey @ Feb 20th 2008 6:32PM

I've downloaded all of them and so far played Little Gamers and Dishwasher. I'll be buying Dishwasher on day one, and seriously considering Little Gamers for purchase if it becomes available. Both rock, and I fully support the XNA Game Studios concept. Indy gamers unite! :) Hell, maybe someday I could make up something!!

I can see spending 800 for Dishwasher and somewhere around 400-600 for Little Gamers. Next up to test, Jellycars and RocketBall!

Homer 918 @ Feb 20th 2008 7:08PM

Availability: Not available in Australia, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan

Sorry :(

Sam @ Feb 20th 2008 6:33PM

the Y button isn't pressable. wtf are you talking about?

FatalisticDread @ Feb 20th 2008 6:42PM

You're not doing it right. Start over.

alex b @ Feb 20th 2008 7:14PM

yah i had to start over as well and now it works fine :)

Sam @ Feb 20th 2008 7:20PM

yeah yeah i got it too. ok.

Gamer90 @ Feb 20th 2008 7:39PM

These are really time limited huh, Jellycar just told me (1st game I'm trying) that 17 days are remaining, that's trash! :(

xenocidic @ Feb 20th 2008 6:42PM

do these leave any sackful entries behind on thy gamercard?

asmonius @ Feb 20th 2008 6:44PM

Nope, they just show up as XNA Creator's Club in your status (which doesn't show up in your played games).

xenocidic @ Feb 20th 2008 6:45PM

thanks for the quick response

Destroyer88 @ Feb 20th 2008 6:52PM

Little Gamers is awsome. I'll definatley be getting that. Had me cracking up so much but it was fun.

Rocketball is also pretty sweet.

Jelly Car looks like it was made by using that line rider game, and its really fun. :D

Chris @ Feb 20th 2008 10:09PM

hehe i love jellycar its hysterical, i wish the demo was longer though i wanted to really test out the shrink grow stuff and its funny when you flip over i was laughing my a$$ off at the sounds

Demolition Elmo @ Feb 21st 2008 5:48AM

Jellycar = best non-retail game of the year

aeron @ Feb 20th 2008 6:55PM

well, I dled the launcher, put it said I had to have a membership, and there was no (press y for store) option. So I went to all games and DLed the game player.

Jonah Falcon @ Feb 20th 2008 7:19PM

Please let people know that you can only play them for 17 days, it seems.

Daniel @ Feb 20th 2008 7:18PM

Little Gamers is awesome! Very pro style!

I like Jelly Car but it's definitely on the weird side.

As far as The Dishwasher, didn't really like the style but again very professional and I can see it being popular, just not my style. I'm going to try the rest.

Sathan @ Feb 20th 2008 7:22PM

I liked chainsawing zombies in Little Gamers. The Dishwasher demo was pretty awesome. I am happy I finally got to play it.

Harlequins_Royal_Scam @ Feb 20th 2008 10:56PM

I have to say that my favourite games out of these are Little Gamers. I love the levels that come with the game (n00b = easy, gamer = normal, l33t = hard). And I liked The Dishwasher. That's a great game...in Black & White for the most part. Very film noir feel to it, with a fun gameplay element. Sure, it's button mashing, but what fighting game isn't? And Jelly Car for honourable mention...That's a cute game, and it looks good on SD TV...I can only imagine what it would look like on HDTV. First GoW2, and now these community Arcade games...bring on the holiday. I'd love to play Little Gamers in its entirety.

Nathan @ Feb 20th 2008 7:40PM

I hope when I get my system back I can still try these games out... It's scheduled for Friday.

Xav de Matos @ Feb 20th 2008 7:46PM

Playing through them all now. You know that I only got to watch the Gears 2 trailer a few minutes ago?! Busy day at the X3F Tower.

Look for my impressions of The Dishwasher - Dead Samurai tomorrow.

Tony @ Feb 20th 2008 7:49PM

I wasn't too into Little Gamers. You basically do the same thing forever. It's cute and kind of funny, but I hope more is done with it.

I was actually very impressed with Jelly Car once I realized I could change levels. It's just fun to drive around in even.

I completely don't even understand TriLinea or whatever it's called. It desperately needs instructions.

Chris @ Feb 20th 2008 10:09PM

WHAT!?!? how do you change levels????? im still stuck on the first ... tell me tell me

Blue_Falcon @ Feb 20th 2008 8:10PM

Dishwasher is definitely XBLA GOTY contender.

Cyrus @ Feb 20th 2008 8:20PM

O dl'd the laimcher twice but cant find all i see are my demos and Arcade. i got the XNACC launcher 3 times now it's on the list down aways????

Devinant @ Feb 20th 2008 8:29PM

That's really weird. Same thing just happened to me. Perhaps its a bug? I have the XNA Creators Club subscription, something must be "conflicting"...

Cyrus @ Feb 20th 2008 8:30PM

IT shows up on my games list in my memory area but i still cant access it gonna restat again
:-(

Cyrus @ Feb 20th 2008 8:39PM

go to the right afew times then you get the list of seven in my games area

utesch14 @ Feb 20th 2008 9:22PM

i doesnt work for me i followed all of the steps and tried multiple times but it still doesnt work.

jake18oly @ Feb 20th 2008 9:25PM

Dishwahser was a pretty fun game. I haven't had a chance to download the others yet. Did you guys happen to see this posted on xbox.com?

"James adds, 'If the testers/judges are stuck on any particular part, feel free to contact me for tips, as I sincerely hope that the game in its entirety be considered during the judging process. Also, if you would like to unlock everything (levels, weapons, magic), go to the Options menu and, while holding Left Trigger, Right Trigger, Left Shoulder, and Right Shoulder, press A. You should hear some kind of sound indicating that it worked.'"

Digital Limit @ Feb 20th 2008 9:59PM

Lol, does that actually unlock the whole game?

MDJ2010 @ Feb 21st 2008 9:45AM

Well that didnt work

Chris @ Feb 20th 2008 10:11PM

engadget had a step by step how to get it and install it, make sure your downloading the write Launcher, their are 2 one for creators and one for general users.

saylorsgang @ Feb 20th 2008 11:53PM

I was cracking up at Jelly Car, I'll be buying that one, no one mentioned Culture, I'm strangly addicted, very relaxing game.

Digital Limit @ Feb 21st 2008 2:32AM

Jelly Car was my favorite, with an honorable mention to The Dishwasher.

Something about Jelly Car is just *so* fun.

Sydro619 @ Feb 21st 2008 2:59AM

Has anyone had any problems after downloading the launcher, my 360 keeps beeping and freezing right after

Randy @ Feb 21st 2008 6:16PM

I'm gonna have to try the other titles. Rocketball was the only I tried and thought it was pretty bad. Controls were not good.

MDJ2010 @ Feb 21st 2008 9:38AM

Wow, Dishwasher really does captue the excitement of arcade gaming, a definite purchase, but ill be sad when this current demo runs out!

Ashraam @ Feb 21st 2008 9:59AM

I really liked Dishwasher and Proximity. Jelly Car was kind of fun, but it started to get old pretty quick.

Trilinea is possibly the most dense and unfriendly game I've ever tried to learn. There's way too much going on there.

ZEBRA NINER @ Feb 21st 2008 10:24AM

I tried all these games last night. Dishwasher was really cool, little gamers was funny as hell, and Jelly Car is awesome too(sound effects are hilarious). This is definitely a step in the right direction, I'll be buying all 3 when they are available.