Microsoft challenges developers to bring ideas to life on the Xbox 360 and Windows platforms.
Providing the opportunity for game developers to
create visions in a world where they make the rules, shape the characters and
create the evolution of the story, Microsoft Corp. today kicked off the
Dream-Build-Play game development contest, offering a $10,000 (U.S.) grand prize
and the opportunity for a winner's game to be published on Xbox LIVE
Arcade, the premier destination for digitally distributed, high-definition
original and classic games. Enabled by its XNA developer tools, the
Dream-Build-Play contest was announced at the Game Developers Conference (GDC)
2007 in San Francisco.
Delivering on its commitment to offer the best
and most accessible hardware, software and services for game developers on the
Microsoft gaming platforms, Microsoft and its partners also
showcased a suite of new products that will help developers of every level turn
their dreams into reality. From the hobbyist to professional developers in the
largest studios, Microsoft's investments in game development technologies are
helping to spark a new creative era while ensuring the best games are being
built for Microsoft platforms.
Dream-Build-Play XNA Contest Offers $10,000 Grand Prize
Dream-Build-Play is a global contest that
offers aspiring game
developers the opportunity to showcase their
innovation and talent to the world. More than
20 winners will be selected to win fantastic prizes with a total value of more
than $40,000 from Microsoft, Alienware, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Inc.,
Autodesk Inc. and Softimage Co.
The contest will culminate in the extraordinary
grand prize that includes an opportunity for the winner to receive an Xbox LIVE
Arcade publishing contract, providing a chance
to showcase the winner's game on Xbox LIVE Arcade.
Dream-Build-Play is open to any user of XNA Game Studio Express, including the
GarageGames Torque X platform. No purchase is necessary to compete. The contest
ends July 2, 2007, and winners will be announced Aug. 13 at Microsoft Gamefest
2007 in Seattle. Additional contest details, including detailed eligibility and
entry requirements, are available at
http://www.dreambuildplay.com.
Great Games by Great Storytellers Using Great Tools
Also at GDC this
week, Microsoft will spotlight the ways that some of the most innovative game
creators in the industry are bringing their visions to life on Microsoft gaming
platforms. On Tuesday, March 6, Microsoft Game Studios will present "The
Evolution of RPG Development," a panel discussion hosted by journalist Geoff
Keighley that will feature Hironobu Sakaguchi of Mistwalker, Peter Molyneux of
Lionhead Studios and Ray Muzyka of BioWare Corp., the creators of the most
highly anticipated role-playing games of the next generation.
In addition, to celebrate the launch of the
Dream-Build-Play global contest, Microsoft will showcase a new era of game
creators through the XNA Game Studio Express Challenge. GDC attendees will have
a chance to see some of the brightest beacons in game development from around
the world gathering at the XNA lobby bar at the Moscone Center in San Francisco
to create four games in four days using XNA Game Studio Express tools.
The power of the XNA tools is demonstrated with
today's announcement of "Schizoid" (Torpex Games LLC), an upcoming game that
will be the first Xbox LIVE Arcade title built using XNA Game Studio Express.
"Schizoid" is a co-op action game in which teamwork matters like never before,
as gamers and their friend or AI ally protect each other from barrages of
glowing enemies. The title is scheduled to launch on Xbox LIVE Arcade before the
end of 2007.
New XNA Tools for Game
Developers of All Levels
In December 2006, Microsoft launched XNA Game Studio
Express, a set of free software tools for use on Windows that
enables anyone to build, play and share their amazing game creations. Microsoft
simultaneously launched the XNA Creators Club, enabling the development and
playing of XNA Game Studio Express games on the Xbox 360 system as well.
Microsoft today announced new software tools that will work with XNA Game Studio
Express to make game development for Windows and Xbox 360 even easier.
· GarageGames Torque X Engine. Members of the XNA Creators Club will
receive a license to the Torque X Engine, including the Torque Game Builder
toolset for Torque X, as a free membership benefit.
· SOFTIMAGE|XSI. Softimage is developing new 3-D solutions based on
its XSI 3-D software for game creators and exclusive content for members of the
XNA Creators Club to support the XNA platform scheduled for release later this
year.
· Allegorithmic
ProFX. In addition to the free MapZone 2-D
texture editor released today, Allegorithmic is developing an enhanced version
exclusively for XNA Creators Club members that will offer support for
procedural textures, additional texture libraries and custom content processors
for use with the XNA Framework Content Pipeline. The enhanced version of MapZone
will be made available to active members of the XNA Creators Club at no
additional cost and will be available later this year.
The XNA Creators Club is available on Xbox LIVE
Marketplace for $49 for a four-month subscription or $99 for an annual
subscription.