Use XNA to create games and then sell then on Xbox LIVE and make $ $ $

re: Use XNA to create games and then sell then on Xbox LIVE and make $ $ $

RidinSlow — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:05:13 GMT

@Warrengonline If I make a simple game. Take for example a game that is similar to the Card Memory game in Super Mario Bros. 3 on the NES. As the developer, I don't feel right to sell the game because it took me a whole 4 hours to build. Plus I can use that game to do some self advertising in the game for other projects, websites, or whatever. More people are likely to download the game from an Xbox360 than from a PC. I want my name out there, so I want this game to be free. It shouldn't be up to Microsoft to say that I can't distribute my game for free. That's why it's community games. As a XNA subscriber, you shouldn't have to worry about Microsoft making money off of a few thousands downloads of a tiny game. Your method posted can work, but it still does not leave the option for free community games on XBL and that is a problem that Microsoft needs to address.

re: Use XNA to create games and then sell then on Xbox LIVE and make $ $ $

Warrengonline — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:10:00 GMT

Hmmm... You know you design your game on paper, then program and assemble it in your computer? And once it is complete, it is ON YOUR COMPUTER to be played? All you need to do then is distribute it, REQUIRE it to be played with an Xbox360 controller on the PC, you can have all interested download it for FREE, but have the players report any bugs via a forum!

Now after a 3 Month FREE online period on PC, transfer it over to XNA, fine tune before the transfer, as with the 'beta', someone would most-likely give you ideas to improve the game - graphics, game play, sound, etc. Take it in stride as long as it is not that usual "It sucks, you suck.", but yet they do not tell you WHY it 'sucks'.

XNA sounds great, but http://www.garagegames.com's Torque Engine is much more straight forward and you would need to know a little programming to get things customized to your liking.

Other games made with the Torque Engine are:

Rocketmen: Axis of Evil

Marble Blast Ultra

Penny Arcade Game

So, the power is there and getting better. You can see what is possible Publishing on PC for free would be up to the creator(s). and if you have good web hosting for hosting the file(s), it more likely would not be region locked, but multilingual would then be the issue, right?

Check the options and get to work!

re: Use XNA to create games and then sell then on Xbox LIVE and make $ $ $

Mr Brian — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:04:41 GMT

Releasing games for cash is your only option. You cannot release a free game. Sucks because the XNA project I've been working on since XNA first came out, cannot be released because of this. C'est la vie

re: Use XNA to create games and then sell then on Xbox LIVE and make $ $ $

Solid Warri0r — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:50:07 GMT

If only I had good ideas and knew how to create games :/

re: Use XNA to create games and then sell then on Xbox LIVE and make $ $ $

Parassassin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:51:15 GMT

Would the games developers be required to offer a free demo before the end user parts with his/her cash? It would also be a good idea if there were a team of beta testers who could ensure that the games were not crash happy bug monsters.

re: Use XNA to create games and then sell then on Xbox LIVE and make $ $ $

fanger — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:47:30 GMT

Great idea but yet again its only a limit release to a few regions around the world. Good if you live in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Spain too bad if you don't.

re: Use XNA to create games and then sell then on Xbox LIVE and make $ $ $

RidinSlow — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:40:08 GMT

Shouldn't the developers also have the choice to offer their game for free? 200 MS points isn't bad, but I don't see why they can't offer it for free if they want.

How are they handling the trial versions? Is Microsoft doing that or does every developer have to create a trial version of the game?

While this is all great, it does raise some concern. XBLA is cluttered with Arcade titles already. This may well more than double the amount of games listed. I understand that the community games will be listed separately, but then it will be hard for someone to weed through all the "crap" to find the good games.

re: Use XNA to create games and then sell then on Xbox LIVE and make $ $ $

Leathersoup — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:55:08 GMT

I'm interested in this but I'm scared that a half dozen code patent squatters are out there waiting to squash my hopes.

re: Use XNA to create games and then sell then on Xbox LIVE and make $ $ $

Adaptor — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:52:51 GMT

I love this idea! I'd really like to make a game and the chance of it being played by millions and maybe even making some money sounds great!

re: Use XNA to create games and then sell then on Xbox LIVE and make $ $ $

Matt — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:09:23 GMT

Why set such a high minimum price? And does the file size determine the minimum price, or is that just a guideline? Selling a game for $0.50 instead of $2.50 could result in more profit for some games.

re: Use XNA to create games and then sell then on Xbox LIVE and make $ $ $

GSolid — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:02:11 GMT

You know what sucks is that though XNA is in australia (like 150 bucks or something and our dollar is like 97c to the US Dollar) this community thing will never get release here because all digital games need to be rated by the OFLC (Gov) there is no version of unrated in OZ (or an R rating... They banned Fallout 3!!!!!!!!!!... I'll just get it from New Zealand they have the same consoles as us) and it costs thounsands of dollars to get a game rated. I would bet that the selected regions in europe do not include Germany or the UK as the gov has to rate games.

re: Use XNA to create games and then sell then on Xbox LIVE and make $ $ $

KRENZFAM — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:53:07 GMT

It sounds great and all but has one fatal flaw... you have to pay them to be in "the community" to even have your game considered.

I am a "DIY" kinda guy and learn as I go and have a serious problem with a "community" which makes you pay them $99 a year to make a game which might make THEM money. Sure, it may make you some as well but it still seems pretty hinky that you are helping them build themselves up with great content and have to pay them for it.

Why can't the average guy just tinker with it, come up with something neat and submit it without having to pay them to recieve your submittal.

I guess I can toss this in my "scratch that off" bin with so many other great ideas with poor implimentation.

re: Use XNA to create games and then sell then on Xbox LIVE and make $ $ $

theultimate13x — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:52:45 GMT

Hey all, In case you missed it, please see the FAQ now available on the XNA Creators Club site. It should answer all questions posted here so far. http://creators.xna.com/en-us/XboxLIVECommunityGames

re: Use XNA to create games and then sell then on Xbox LIVE and make $ $ $

Quicksilver4648 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:50:59 GMT

yeah, will XNA developers be able to put achievements into their games? I could see the community vote a lot of the get-achievements-quick games right through onto the marketplace.

re: Use XNA to create games and then sell then on Xbox LIVE and make $ $ $

Jelly Jiggler — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:19:34 GMT

@ R3gr3t no you still ahve to pay for xbox live but Games for windows live is free... :/

re: Use XNA to create games and then sell then on Xbox LIVE and make $ $ $

r3dreck — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:29:59 GMT

about time, back when the 360 was announced I remember you guys saying all sorts of things about user created content to sell in the user's store... and making real money or MS points. Buying things from themes to XBLA games. Started to wonder what happened to that idea. Anyhow, now if we can get word on what happened to IPTV? We have Uverse in our area and waiting on what's going to happen with the 360 and IPTV before I buy.