A Games Class Using XNA Game Studio Express Art Gittleman California State University Long Beach

Enable students to program games with graphics and sound in both 2D and 3D given  a one-term course  students with various backgrounds novice to experienced gamers perhaps some graphics or AI C++ or Java, but little C# (no problem) not artists or storytellers Goal

XNA Game Studio Express Wraps DirectX in XNA API Adds to Visual C# Express (free) Requires graphics card supporting pixel shader model 1.1 or above (at least 2.0, really). Cards later than 2003 should work. See for a requirements checker. Deploys to XBox requires Creators Club membership -- $99/yr,49/4 mo

Graphics Graphics API DirectX (Microsoft) OpenGL (Cross-platform) DirectX more popular for games. Managed DirectX allows use of C# and.NET rather than C++ Still a lot to learn. Difficult in one term to achieve objective. XNA makes it simpler.

XNA code templates Game class InitializeCalled once LoadGraphicsContentOnce each refresh UpdateGame logic every 1/60 sec.  DrawRenders objects

Resources (Overview) XNA Documentation -- tutorials, examples XNA Development – tutorials, 2D games Creators Club Online – Main XNA site Riemer’s XNA Tutorials – Dozens, 3D My class site

XNA Documentation Getting Started -- simple examples moving sprites Programming Guide – Basics - loading content, drawing, camera, model, BasicEffect, sound Graphics 2D – draw, rotate, scale, scroll 3D – draw triangles, shaders (color,light)

XNA Development Excellent 2D tutorials and games Jellies A Plenty The Wizard Falling Blocks You Move to Make Lines Drive Fast and Dodge the Oncoming Obstacles

Creators Club Online XNA Team Site Download XNA, Games Tutorials, Code examples New video tutorial – Make a game in 60 minutes create your own game: a top-down space shooter featuring 3D graphics, input, audio, collision, and scoring. (42 Minutes, 44.2 MB.WMV format)

Riemer’s XNA Tutorials Four series –terrain, flight simulator, higher-level shader language, advanced terrain. I did 2, 1, and 3 in that order. Great intro to 3D games using XNA He answers questions.

/455/s07index.html C# XNA Game Programming Game Design DirectX OpenGL Drawing Graphics

XNA Books Professional XNA Game Programming for Xbox 360 and Windows Benjamin Nitschke Wrox (Wiley) 2007 He created Rocket Commander XNA and Racing Game, both available for Windows and Xbox 360. Other books to appear.

Evaluation Gaming is a huge subject – can be an entire major Using XNA allows 2D and 3D game programming in one semester C# no problem for C++ or Java programmers Want to add more on game design Just scratch the surface in 3D Use existing 3D models or collaborate