Course Overview Introduction to XNA Game Studio ExpressAdministrativeSectionsCourse PeopleClass web siteIntroductionsCourse GoalsComputer Game ProjectGradesCourse TextbooksXNA Game Studio ExpressXNA Game Studio Express ArchitectureXNA FeaturesInstalling XNA Game Studio ExpressXNA Creator’s ClubXNA Community Web SitesControllersDemonstration of Visual C# Express & XNAHomeworkCourse OverviewIntroduction to XNA Game Studio ExpressGame Design ExperienceProf. Jim WhiteheadJanuary 7, 2008Administrative•If you need a permission code, see me after class►In most cases I will give you one, the class is not full•If you are a freshman non-transfer game design major and have not yet taken CMPS 80K (Foundations of Interactive Game Design)►The Game Design Faculty strongly recommend taking CMPS 80K►CMPS 80K is not a major requirement, but may become one►You will not be required to take CMPS 80K, but it teaches useful game design knowledgeSections•There is currently one discussion section for the class►Monday, 3:30-4:40PM, Physical Sciences 140•Several of you have a conflict with this time•A second section is in the process of being scheduled►Will be an early evening time, most likely►Details Friday or Monday, most likely•Discussion Section:►Assignments handed back►Help on assignments and project/C#/XNACourse People•Professor►Jim Whitehead ([email protected])Associate Professor, Computer Science►Office hours: Tuesday, 10:30am-12pm, or by appointment•Teaching Assistants►Bill Manegold ([email protected])•Readers/Tutors►Robbie Kavert ([email protected])►Adrien Young ([email protected])•Take advantage of our expertise!Class web sitewww.soe.ucsc.edu/classes/cmps020/Winter09/•Syllabus►When everything is due•Homework assignments•Project phase descriptions•Links to useful tools•Slides presented in class•Evaluation criteria for assignmentsIntroductions•Everyone should stand up and introduce themselves►Your name►Your major►Game you’re playing right now•Or your favorite game•Class web site: www.soe.ucsc.edu/classes/cmps020/Winter09/Course Goals•Learn basic principles of game programming►Main game loop, display of 2D sprites and 3D objects►Collision detection, shaders, scrolling game worlds►Audio•Learn basic game AI techniques►Simple behaviors, A* pathfinding•Learn basic principles of object-oriented design►Subdividing a project into classes►Unified Modeling Language structure diagrams►Software design patterns•Develop increased proficiency in programming►C# language, coding focused assignments•Learn techniques for working as a team►Quarter-long game project developed in 2 person teamComputer Game Project•Work in teams of 2 to create novel computer game►C# and XNA Game Studio Express will be taught in class►Very impressive games are possible with this environment►Created games can run on Xbox 360 and Zune•Phases►Team formation – January 12►Game concept document – January 26►Work breakdown and schedule – January 30►Technical design document – February 11►Game prototype – February 23►Progress report – March 2►Final game – March 16Grades•Midterm exam: 15% •Final exam: 15% •Homework: 30% (3 assignments, each worth 10%) •Term project: 40%, broken down as follows ►(Percentages are of final course grade, and sum to 40%)►Team selection: 1% ►Game concept document: 5% ►Work breakdown and schedule: 3% ►Technical design document: 7% ►Partially operational game prototype: 3% ►Updated schedule: 1% ►Final game project: 20%Course Textbooks•Learning XNA 3.0Aaron Reed, O'Reilly, 2008•Programming C# 3.0Jesse Liberty, Donald Xie, O’Reilly, 5th Edition, 2007•Available at bookstore, also available online•Course readings are very important►It will be very challenging to do well in the class if you do not keep up with the reading.XNA Game Studio Express•XNA GSE is a series of libraries for creating 2D and 3D computer games►Uses C# as the primary programming language►Integrated with Visual Studio C# Express•Also now the full version of Visual Studio►Games can run under Windows or on Xbox 360►It is possible to create professional games using this toolkit►Quick poll of students with Windows machines•Do we need XNA GSE installed in ITS labs?•Example games:►http://catalog.xna.com/en-US/gamescatalog.aspxXNA Game Studio Express Architecture•You write your game in C#►Using features in XNA Framework •Runs on top of common language runtime (“Managed Code”)Windows APIs, DirectX Common Language Runtime (CLR)XNA FrameworkGame code (C#) & contentYou provideProvided for youXNA Features•2D & 3D graphics support►Access to HLSL (High level shader language)•Pixel and vertex shaders•Audio support►XACT cross-platform audio tool•Controller and keyboard input►Xbox 360 controller•Font support•Content Pipeline•Game save storage•Networking•… and much moreInstalling XNA Game Studio Express•Follow instructions on pages linked from:►http://creators.xna.com/en-US/downloads►Also found on Tools page of course website•Install Visual Studio►Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (editor/debugger/compiler)►Unless you currently use Visual Studio, you want “Visual C# 2008 Express”•XNA GSE will work with Visual Studio 2008 Professional if you have that installed instead•Install XNA Game Studio 3.0►You want version 3.0, the latest version►This is the same version covered by the textbook►Version 3.0 is broadly similar to version 2.0XNA Creator’s Club•XNA Creator’s Club Website►http://creators.xna.com/►Community website for XNA GSE►Multiple complete games with source code►Many tutorials, and code examples►Very active discussion forums•Creator’s Club Subscriptions►Can put game on Xbox 360►Access to premium content►Costs $49/four months or $99/year•Trial membership - free►Available through Dream Spark or MSDNAA•Allows you to put game on Xbox 360XNA Community Web Sites•XNA Team Blog►blogs.msdn.com/xna/►Announcements from the XNA dev. Team•Ziggyware►www.ziggyware.com►Developer-oriented XNA news►Recent contest for XNA tutorial articles•Winner: Skeel Keng-Siang Lee’s Introduction To Soft Body Physics•XNA Development►www.xnadevelopment.com►XNA tutorials. See also the Links page for links to other quality XNA websitesControllers•XNA Game Studio