XNA - A Platform with a Furture

[brad jones]

XNA is a framework provided by Microsoft. It was originally provided to do game programming. As the framework and target environments expand, it is becoming clearer that the importance of XNA is increasing.

Using the one framework, you were originally able to target either Windows machines or the Xbox. The targets then increased to include support for Microsoft's Zune multimedia player as well as the Surface devices. With the upcoming Windows Phone Series 7 phones, XNA increases its targets yet again.

What does XNA do for you beyond targeting multiple platforms? Using the XNA Studio add-in for Visual Studio, you can create graphical programs relatively easy. You can tap into assets such as pictures and sounds as well as access controls and input devices easily.

I've started taking a closer look at XNA. My first article on XNA, Development with Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 and XNA Game Studio, is now posted on Codeguru. Check it out if you want to see how to freely download and use XNA Studio.



More...

[dilettante]

I wouldn't mind seeing some examples of non-game XNA applications that do anything useful.

Database and file syncing? Data capture? Aggregation of data posted to servers for updating? Retrieval of updated databases and documents (product catalogs, parts lists, etc.)? Asynchronous messaging?

Or are you thinking in terms of heavily skinned UIs with little or no logic or data behind them? Like a solitaire game?

[techgnome]

From a business perspective... doesn't make a lot of sense. At least it doesn't from my desk. Some how I just don't see the guys in the field using our app (or anything like it) on an xBox.

-tg

[dilettante]

I'm willing to take a look, but perhaps I'm simple too unimaginative to think of many non-game applications. I can see where light-duty things like twit/chat SMS-like things might benefit or perhaps media players and such. But I'm not in the consumer-product corner of software development.

Anyone who can, please provide some light though. I admit to being in darkness on this.

[Jenner]

One thing I'd like to see in XNA is more support for the Visual Basic language from the XNA team. If you even want to dabble in it and head over to the XNA Creator's Club forums to check out some code samples, you'll find everything is 100% C# as if VB.NET didn't even exist.

I understand the reason for this to a point... the XBOX360's gimped version of the Compact Framework can only compile C# code, but there should at least be a modicum of support on their site for a Windows developer programming in VB.NET.

At least make XNA Design Studio install WITHOUT the need for installing a version of C# if VB.NET Express is already installed. Rewriting the game templates for VB.NET as well wouldn't be a stretch of resources. It would be nice to use the built-in content manager in VB.NET.

Examples converted to VB.NET... after the above two, they can take their time with; but I personally I find it a bit appalling hearing "We plan to side-by-side develop .NET for both C# and VB.NET" coming from the .NET development team, and then seeing a .NET technology like XNA come out of Microsoft only supporting one of their two major languages.

I've been using XNA with VB.NET for about a year now and as long as you don't plan to run it on an XBOX and manually load your resources into your program (as opposed to just dragging them into the content manager tree) there are zero problems with using it with VB.NET. Just pray you're good at mentally translating C# examples.

[JuggaloBrotha]

One thing I'd like to see in XNA is more support for the Visual Basic language from the XNA team. If you even want to dabble in it and head over to the XNA Creator's Club forums to check out some code samples, you'll find everything is 100% C# as if VB.NET didn't even exist.

I understand the reason for this to a point... the XBOX360's gimped version of the Compact Framework can only compile C# code, but there should at least be a modicum of support on their site for a Windows developer programming in VB.NET.

At least make XNA Design Studio install WITHOUT the need for installing a version of C# if VB.NET Express is already installed. Rewriting the game templates for VB.NET as well wouldn't be a stretch of resources. It would be nice to use the built-in content manager in VB.NET.

Examples converted to VB.NET... after the above two, they can take their time with; but I personally I find it a bit appalling hearing "We plan to side-by-side develop .NET for both C# and VB.NET" coming from the .NET development team, and then seeing a .NET technology like XNA come out of Microsoft only supporting one of their two major languages.

I've been using XNA with VB.NET for about a year now and as long as you don't plan to run it on an XBOX and manually load your resources into your program (as opposed to just dragging them into the content manager tree) there are zero problems with using it with VB.NET. Just pray you're good at mentally translating C# examples.

There's a little more to this, XNA is geared to run games on both the PC and the 360. The 360, here's the problem, they've given the 360 really crappy hardware that can't handle much. Last time I read the specs I think I saw that they gave it a single core crappy CPU and only 512MB Ram, for a top-notch gaming system wouldn't they have given it 2GB (or at least 1GB so it can run something). I don't even remember how bad of a video card the thing has. So they've got this gaming framework but they've got to limit it so the primitive 360 can handle it which of course means there's only going to be 1 language it'll compile which naturally is going to be c#.

Now if MS would make a decent gaming console for once, perhaps XNA development will have more .Net (especially language support) added, like vb.net, c++.net, etc...

I'll also go ahead and let you all know that I am much more of a Sony fan, so I have playstations, though I don't play them much cause those systems are behind the times too, same reason I never considered the 360 as a modern gaming system, so go ahead and call me out on my post here...

[Jenner]

I'll also go ahead and let you all know that I am much more of a Sony fan, so I have playstations, though I don't play them much cause those systems are behind the times too, same reason I never considered the 360 as a modern gaming system, so go ahead and call me out on my post here...

I hear ya. I personally own a PS3 because at the time, I wanted a console that wouldn't die every 9 months (and from what I understand, years later, still have a large number dying every 9 months, even after being sent back to Microsoft for "repair"). I've owned Playstations since the first model and agree they're quality hardware; even if I also don't play them much anymore.

If it's got a PC version though, that's my first choice. An old childhood chum of mine who I hang with regularly runs the local GameCrazy. He laughed when I came into the midnight launch of Fallout 3 and amid the 50 or so kids in there picking up various console versions; announced to the crowd I was the proud owner of the only preordered PC version.

One of the kids asked me why, if I got a PS3, I got the PC version. I told him that power vs. power, my PC could curb-stomp my PS3 and steal it's lunch money. I also tossed in the fact I can freely mod the game and if it was anything like Oblivion, there would easily be 1000 quality mods within 6 months that the console crowd would never see. Afterward, he was like: "Huh, maybe I should have gotten the PC version..."

Who knows, maybe the next XBOX will have a full DX core and .NET Framework. Maybe it won't die every 9 months. Then again, maybe peace will break out in the Middle East and I'll be eaten by evil clowns.

[JuggaloBrotha]

Who knows, maybe the next XBOX will have a full DX core and .NET Framework. Maybe it won't die every 9 months. Then again, maybe peace will break out in the Middle East and I'll be eaten by evil clowns.

Don't hold your breath. Here's my opinion of the xbox, the first one was alright, I mean it was decent at best. The 360 is just a piece of crap, I'll judge the next one when it's out but I already have a very low opinion about it.

I do find it funny at work, 4 of my co workers are huge xbox fans. When I say they're xbox fans it's more like the xbox is the only console that has ever existed in the existence of time and even though they're developers (.Net and Java developers mind you) their view point is that that xbox 360 is the single most powerful device in existence, they'd probably trade in their high powered computers that are 4x faster and more powerful than any MS console will ever be in a heart beat for their precious 360. They rag on me for playing PC games and the occasional ps2 game (I don't have a ps3 yet) almost every chance they get, the funny thing is all I can tell them is "Sorry, I prefer using a real gaming rig" and then I go finish my work ahead of schedule and my boss likes me a little more than them.... I'm the student employee, mind you...