I hadnt really read this thread properly until tonight, so a couple of thoughts here:
(1) I was asked recently could I prototype a game idea for the XBOX 360 - my answer was probably not, now Im just not sure, depends to what level and how long they give me, but the possibility is now there, at least to show something on XBOX 360.
(2) Having a reason to look into C# is a useful means to an end for me personally. I have always wanted to move towards C++ but never really had reasonable opportunity or requirement. I think this will help me understand concepts I have looked at before but not really understood.
So far so good.
(3) Torque has already moved it's 2D engine to include TorqueX an XNA version and is preparing a professional version for it later this year, so they must know something we don't.
(4) About 2 years ago Microsoft told the game development world it was going to change the way multi platform games were developed, XNA was announced. Although it is only Windows and XBOX360 at present, I am sure there will be versions for PS3/Wii/ and possibly even Apple platforms.
Time will tell, but the advent of wiritng in a more streamlined fashion seems to have arrived. According to pundits C++ has a lot of legacy issue, which C# does not.
Yes XNA will change over time, isn't that why B3d is still only at DirectX7? Major re-writes every year and a half are just too much for a small team to handle. Torque Shader engine has been 'coming soon' for years now!
But even so it is more reason to be involved now, as the 2nd version has only just been released and some pretty major changes have already occurred (so I am led to believe).
Just my initial thoughts.
Don't get me wrong I'm not going anywhere without B3d and BMax at my side, but XNA may offer me some opportunities to stretch my legs and open up new marketplaces for SmartScreen to explore.
IPete2.
(1) I was asked recently could I prototype a game idea for the XBOX 360 - my answer was probably not, now Im just not sure, depends to what level and how long they give me, but the possibility is now there, at least to show something on XBOX 360.
(2) Having a reason to look into C# is a useful means to an end for me personally. I have always wanted to move towards C++ but never really had reasonable opportunity or requirement. I think this will help me understand concepts I have looked at before but not really understood.
So far so good.
(3) Torque has already moved it's 2D engine to include TorqueX an XNA version and is preparing a professional version for it later this year, so they must know something we don't.
(4) About 2 years ago Microsoft told the game development world it was going to change the way multi platform games were developed, XNA was announced. Although it is only Windows and XBOX360 at present, I am sure there will be versions for PS3/Wii/ and possibly even Apple platforms.
Time will tell, but the advent of wiritng in a more streamlined fashion seems to have arrived. According to pundits C++ has a lot of legacy issue, which C# does not.
Yes XNA will change over time, isn't that why B3d is still only at DirectX7? Major re-writes every year and a half are just too much for a small team to handle. Torque Shader engine has been 'coming soon' for years now!
But even so it is more reason to be involved now, as the 2nd version has only just been released and some pretty major changes have already occurred (so I am led to believe).
Just my initial thoughts.
Don't get me wrong I'm not going anywhere without B3d and BMax at my side, but XNA may offer me some opportunities to stretch my legs and open up new marketplaces for SmartScreen to explore.
IPete2.