XNA Game Studio Express Beta 1 was a big success for Microsoft, the community is embracing their XNA vision. There are now 30 Universities around the world listing XNA as a curricula option. So far there have been 150,000 downloads of Beta 1 and there are 30 XNA community sights now and counting. So far there are more than 100 user made tutorials on how to use XNA and there are 60 independent games done or in development right now.
Beta 2 brings upgraded Windows functionality and support for third party tools. Here's a list of the major improvements in the Beta 2 Studio
-There is now Xbox360 pre-compile support for developers to preview their games as if they were running on an Xbox360. This will give designers some lead time before the XNA Creators Club, a $99/yr subscription on Live launches in December 2006.
-Game component architecture has been changed based on user feedback to make them much easier to use.
-A new feature, the XNA Framework Content Pipeline has been added. This feature will make it easier for designers to create their content in 3rd party apps such as 3D Studio Max and import their 3D content into XNA.
-Lastly overall performance and stability has been increased in Beta 2 as the code is farther along in development and closer to a release candidate or final release.
As if that wasn't enough to get your novice programmer fingers eager to get coding, GarageGames just released their Torque X toolset designed for XNA Studio Express. The new Torque X tools include Torque Game Builder, Torque Game Engine and Torque Shader Engine all built for XNA. This will give gamers the ability to create games using a slick drag and drop interface. Although the Torque X toolset is available today, it's an open beta for a few lucky coders. You can sign up to test Torque X at http://www.garagegames.com/products/torque/x/ .
With Microsoft's XNA Game Studio Express nearing final release Garage Games tools now in beta, independent game development is poised to explode on the Xbox360. Now anyone with a casual interest in game design it seems will be able to make a game and share it with other Xbox360 owners.
Get the download for FREE from Microsoft's website @ http://msdn.com/xna
Posted By 
Posted By 
More about Console News News by doodirock
Most read story about Console News:
Taco Bell wants your Playstation 3