Microsoft Announces New Cross-Platform Development System

In anticipation of the Game Developers' discourse which kicks off later today, Microsoft today announced the immediate launch of XNA, a software exhibition platform spanning the breadth of next-generation game unravelling

XNA, Microsoft says, provides the tools and technologies to create public environment for making Xbox games, Windows PC games, and mobile games for Windows Mobile-based devices, allowing developer to save time wearied writing redundant code and apply it to "the creativity that differentiates their games."

Part of the initiative appears to involve unifying the PC and cheer development environments, creating a greater commonality between the tools used to exhibit Windows and Xbox games. XNA, for instance, includes a for the use of all controller design across multiple platforms, which Microsoft and other peripheral manufacturers will adapt to bring into view controllers usable for both Windows and Xbox games.

That aspect of XNA will stretch out to the development side of things, as well as rule interfaces. Microsoft plans to adapt the design of its Xbox Live online multiplayer service to Windows game unfolding offering its tools for billing, security, and comunity features to developer of PC games. Previously console-specific tools like Microsoft's PIX analysis tool and XACT audio authoring tool for Xbox will also become available to PC developer while PC tools like Microsoft's High-Level Shader Language will be adapted to the Xbox Microsoft's DirectX API and Visual Studio unravelling system will provide a for the use of all programming environment for all platforms supported through XNA.

"On the PC we have tools like HLSL upon Xbox we have tools like PIX. These are the two really powerful, and XNA combines the power of the PC and the power of the cheer into a best-of-breed platform," said Valve establisher Gabe Newell.

Beyond those examples, XNA will encompass a multitude of tools. "At the heart of XNA is choice. No game today is built with just single tool, and no game tomorrow will be either," explained Microsoft's J Allard, vice president of Xbox platform. "By creating an environment where software innovations flourish and work together, XNA will allow game developer to redefine what's possible in games and give gamers the freedom to hound their own paths. XNA shut ups the gap between what gamers want and what developer dream."

XNA will be compatible with existing third-party middleware, like Criterion's popular RenderWare package. "We are pleased to diocese that Microsoft shares our vision of helping developer make better games, faster, end use of their favorite middleware," said David Lau-Kee, CEO of RenderWare developer Criterion. "We direct the eye forward to leveraging XNA in the RenderWare tool chain to implement Windows- and Xbox-specific features."

Allard and Robbie Bach, head of Microsoft's residence and entertainment division, will deliver the replete presentation on XNA at the GDC keynote address later today. gaze forward to a full report soon

Copyright ?© 2004 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserv Originally appearing in 1UP