GDC 08: XNA Community Games EXTENDED
Yesterday, our very own on scene reporter Tiny Dancer revealed details about Microsoft's community game project in GDC 08: Microsoft Announces Community Games. This is very much what they were talking about last year about XNA becoming the "Youtube of game content." I cannot argue with their logic. Some of the folks at joystiq managed to get a nice listing of some expanded details about the service.
- Only members of XNA Creators Club will be able to upload games to the service. They'll also make up the review squad for games that will vet them for IP infringement, adult content, etc.
- Games will not be rated by any body like the ESRB, but those groups have been asked for their opinion on Microsoft's rating system.
- Microsoft's not talking about how the system will be monetized (or even if it will) while they're in this beta phase.
- Games will be on the Marketplace blade, but you'll also be able to search a web page for games that you'd like to play. Creators will be able to post comments about their games as well as downloadable videos.
- At the moment, the file size limit of games is 150 MB, but Microsoft is open to increasing that if need be.
- Both silver and gold members of Xbox Live will be able download XNA games.
- Microsoft isn't particularly worried about XNA cannibalizing XBLA sales. As Xbox Live VP John Schappert said, "I think at the end of the day, empowering consumers to create their own games is better overall. I think it will be a nice compliment.
- At the moment, you won't be able to see what your friends are playing, but that's something Microsoft would like to fix.
- There won't be any Achievements on XNA.
- Creators will be able to choose which regions they want their work in.
- Creators will retain the rights to their work.
Let us hope that eventually they will bring the XNA community game launcher to PC users eventually. We can already run XNA games, just not download them off the eventual centralized service. I do love me some XNA Game Studio, and C#.
GDC08: XNAnswers at the bloggers breakfast [Joystiq]
Asterick
Posted to Video Games on 21 February 2008
Other stuff like this: community games, homebrew, microsoft, xbla, xbox 360, xna
