XNA Studio Express gets a refresh
Today, Microsoft revealed an update to their Xbox 360 game building program to the stars called XNA Studio Express 1.0 Refresh. The new "refreshed" version of XNA includes the ability to easily share a project's binary code between the 360 and PC via a new utility called XNA Packager. Not only that, but a few minor additions and fixes were made including audio and font support. And so, creative video game creating geniuses, download the refreshed XNA version if it will help you create even more amazing games. Or not, but you can always check out the full press release posted after the break.
Today, Microsoft released an update to XNA Game Studio Express which adds new functionality, enhancements and performance improvements to the software. Officially dubbed the XNA Game Studio Express 1.0 Refresh, this release is an incremental update to the previously released XNA Game Studio Express 1.0.
The most significant new feature is the addition of XNA Packager, a utility which will allow users to build and share game binaries for both Windows and Xbox 360. Users can now easily package and share their games for Windows and Xbox 360 without having to share their project source code. The sharing of Xbox 360 games requires a subscription to the XNA Creators Club, which is available via Xbox LIVE Marketplace for $49 (U.S.) for a four-month subscription, or $99 (U.S.) for an annual subscription.
Additional features included in the XNA Game Studio Express 1.0 Refresh include:
-Official XNA Game Studio Express compatibility with Windows Vista
-Support for 3D audio using XACT
-Support for fonts in the XNA Framework
-Various other product enhancements and performance tuning
Originally released in December of 2006, XNA Game Studio Express is a game development solution targeted primarily at students, hobbyists, and independent game developers. XNA Game Studio Express is based on Visual C# 2005 Express Edition and lets developers create games for both Windows and Xbox 360.
