By: Joseph Sapp
For years now there have been two classes of gamers; PC and Console. They have always coexisted peacefully, for the most part, and shared the same love for games. Their differences usually lied in their game preferences. However, Microsoft has recently announced something that could change this altogether. XNA, Microsoft’s powerful new gaming development platform wants to close the gap between console and PC gamers. It is designed for developers to create groundbreaking games all the while combating the ever increasing costs of game development. What Microsoft wants to do is create a “middle ground†so to speak between its platforms; the Xbox 2, PC, and Mobile devices. As technology grows so will the intricacies of games and, unfortunately, along with that same growth comes higher prices. XNA hopes to combat the ever rising costs of technology all the while enabling developers to create bigger and better games. In a sense, gamers get what they demand and what they expect out of a “high tech†game.
The purpose of XNA is to keep developers focused on what is important; the ingenuity and originality of their games. The XNA development platform, in essence, would allow game developers to focus less on writing long code for hours on end; the result of which are so many unoriginal games that currently flood the market. According to Bill Gates, Microsoft’s founder and head honcho, “software will be the single most important force in digital entertainment for decades to come.â€
Robbie Bach, Microsoft’s Senior Vice President of the Home and Entertainment Division, made a keynote speech at the Game Developers Conference is San Jose, California about XNA and its capabilities. Bach believes that, “Silicon advancements and new features like high-definition and pervasive broadband will send game development costs skyrocketing.†He also stated that the “video-game industry needs to band together to make sure it holds its vitality and sustainability for years to come all the while meeting gamers’ demands for bigger and better games.†Hopefully, Bach’s new vision for unity within the industry would encourage developers to make use of the XNA platform, which in turn would result in meeting gamers’ demands. The virtual gaming ranks are growing steadily day by day. Consider also, that current gaming veterans, for the most part, maintain a high standard for the games that grace their systems and Microsoft’s XNA development platform has its job cut out for it.
So what exactly is the XNA platform capable of? Well, by combining and sharing development tools, it will make sure that future games will share a common ground. According to Microsoft, XNA will make features such as integrated billing, security login, friend and matchmaking lists available to Windows developers to meet the strong customer demand for Xbox Live’s development and functionality tools. This will be a huge step in the way of PC gaming. It will be a way that PC and Console gamers can connect on a “common ground†of sorts.
By: Joseph Sapp
Many Xbox gamers have always wanted what PC games have enjoyed for years; similarly, PC users have wanted a lot of the tools available to Xbox live gamers. The XNA platform can bring these two wishes to fruition by integrating these features into each of the different gaming platforms. It will be a way for hardcore gamers of one platform, be it Xbox 2, PC or even mobile gaming to see a different side to gaming and maybe, just maybe, take a liking to a different style of gameplay. Hopefully, the XNA platform will also make online gaming more secure with new security features making multi platform online gaming much more reliable and stable as well.
As far as input devices are concerned, XNA will make it possible to have a common controller interface to intertwine PC and console gaming on Microsoft platforms. See, now aren’t you glad you have this PC to read this article? Now just make sure you pick up an Xbox 2 when the time comes. This move alone can make a common ground between the PC and console crowd. Microsoft’s Scott Henson offered a very interesting example of XNA’s capabilities: imagine “[that] I could take on the role of the commander. I could use the hi-res screen of my PC and act as a general leading and directing my troops. The guys/girls that you’re playing with are on a console in the battle fighting it out. So one person is seeing the results, commanding from one point of view on a PC and then there are others having that visceral, down in the trenches experience on Xbox.” Simply amazing!
In the graphics and audio department tools such as PIX and XACT (Xbox only developers’ tools) will now also be available to Windows developers. Similarly, tools such as HLSL, that were once available only to the PC crowd, will come to the Xbox 2 development platform. These innovations alone can make a sort of “cross breed†platform that will have many aspects of PC and console games. Having a common controller setup alone will help gamers identify games much easier across the different platforms and maybe expand the types of games seen between them. The setup alone may make it possible for more multiplatform games to share a common “arena†(seeing as how the XNA will intertwine so much between the PC and console market).
In essence, XNA will be used as a middleware to help developers make games faster and more efficiently. The prospects of Microsoft’s new developing platform are truly amazing and seem to know no bounds. The XNA will be a way to bring the best of both PC and console gaming to the forefront of gaming and will change the face of gaming as we know it. The XNA platform may very well be a way to get gamers hell bent on one style of gaming to change their ways and try something new. Players will be able to experience a whole new style of gaming not known until this point in time and intertwine the best of both worlds into something that will truly be a remarkable step into the future. The possibilities of this platform seem near endless and will hopefully unify gamers in a way that has never been known or considered before. It will give Xbox Live gamers and PC gamers a chance to go online and interact with each other and really provide a common ground between the two platforms, all the while meeting the consumers’ demands for bigger and better games. Better still, it will enable game developers to make huge advancements in the production of games while keeping costs down.
If Microsoft can deliver, then XNA will be capable of countless possibilities; the few discussed are just the tip of the iceberg. Truth be told, there may be much more the XNA will be able do that we do can not even begin to consider. Only time will tell what is in store for the Microsoft’s loyal gamers, but I can tell you this, gamers, be it PC or console, will definitely benefit the most.
