GDC08: Blogger's breakfast feeds XNA minds

by Dustin Burg { Feb 21st 2008 at 3:00PM }

As is tradition, earlier this morning Microsoft held a blogger's breakfast and in between strips of bacon and piles of scrambled eggs, the Joystiq crew got answers to a few hot XNA questions.

We learn that XNA Community Games can be downloaded by any Live subscriber (be it gold or silver) through the XBLM, but only XNA Creators Club members will be able to upload games. Creators Club members will also be the only ones who monitor the service and be able to review their peers' games. We also learn that achievement addicts will not get their "fix"with any XNA games. Make the jump to get a few more of your XNA Community Games questions answered. Now pass the orange juice.

Tags: bloggers-breakfast, gdc08, microsoft, xbla, xna

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ZEBRA NINER @ Feb 21st 2008 3:19PM

I really like this XNA creators club. It's too bad you can't leave a review if you aren't a creator. I have to say that I was very impressed with the games that I tried. Can't wait to see them up for purchase.

Jomolungma @ Feb 21st 2008 3:30PM

Ok, so here's an option - Join the creators club for $100 (I think that's the current price). Then, under what Microsoft has said, you'll be able to "peer review" all of the community content to your heart's delight. So, instead of paying money for each new XNA game, and only when it is finally released, you can play ALL OF THEM for that low low price of $100 and play them as soon as they are posted by the creator.

As a bonus, you get a suite of tools that might allow you to design something for yourself. However, even if you don't, if you figure XNA games will cost $5 per game once released (low estimate maybe), you start saving money after playing your 21st game.

Now, I'm sure MSFT has thought of this, so the "peer review" might be for a limited time on each game, etc., but even then you can just buy the one or two games you want to really keep playing and keep testing hundreds of others.

DjDATZ @ Feb 21st 2008 3:45PM

It's a yearly subscription like xbox live.

Jomolungma @ Feb 21st 2008 3:47PM

meh... might not be as worth it then... still a consideration for those with large gaming budgets

asmonius @ Feb 21st 2008 3:50PM

I hate to interrupt your trolling, but games released as XNA Community Games rather than XBLA will be free.

Jomolungma @ Feb 21st 2008 3:54PM

I'm not trolling douche, er, dude... did you hear that confirmed re: the XNA games? The Joystiq piece says, and I quote:

"Microsoft's not talking about how the system will be monetized (or even if it will) while they're in this beta phase. "

So, by "monetized" I'm assuming they are at least considering that they will charge for the final XNA games that are released to the public, hence the option I outlined above.

asmonius @ Feb 21st 2008 3:57PM

Or it could just be a system to allow creators to publish the games to XBLA instead of the XNA community.

See? Assumption is fun.

ZEBRA NINER @ Feb 21st 2008 4:20PM

Well, I don't think I'm going to be creating any games... so I don't think I should be joining up. I would like to check it out though. I was mainly mentioning the review thing, because I want to gush over how awesome I thought some of the games were, that's all.

mAdAk @ Feb 21st 2008 5:11PM

You are confusing XNA games and XBLA games. They are not the same thing. XBLA games are professionally developed and published games that go through certification, etc. XNA games are community created games that are monitored by the community.

So you cannot pay the Creator's Club fee and play all the XBLA games for free. The only reason to have a Creator's Club membership is to upload and review community developed games.

DjDATZ @ Feb 21st 2008 3:47PM

I EAT BIG CUBES OF MEAT! NJOM NJOM NJOM NJOM.

Adam @ Feb 21st 2008 4:58PM

I dont see sony letting people develop and supplying tools and web space for there users.Atleast microsoft takes into consideration that theres alot of talent out there that just doesnt have the funds to produce games let alone get them published.

George Arauz @ Feb 21st 2008 6:30PM

Steak n cheese sub anyone?

b33eazy @ Feb 21st 2008 9:09PM

Will the xna games stay free?

DjDATZ @ Feb 22nd 2008 8:36AM

they'll be free to download up to the end of the weekend...and they'll expire (get deleted) off you hard drive as of march 9th. :D

Xbox 360 Elite @ Mar 20th 2008 1:31AM

I think it was a great move by Microsoft. A lot of people will want to do this and everyone likes to try new games. I think being able to play games from people in the community that are just like you is a great thing. Hopefully, they keep this going.

_________________________________________
Free Xbox 360 Elite -- http://www.free-xbox-360-elite-free.blogspot.com