\Managed DirectX and XNA Framework news

Added link to forum discussion

I'm sure almost every game developer has heard of the amazing game engine from Garage Games called Torque but since it's all written in C++ it’s really not much for us managed folk to get excited about. But based on a session description (scroll down to the session called "Migrating Game Technology from Native to Managed Code") from the upcoming gamefest conference that may all about to change.

GarageGames, in collaboration with the Microsoft XNA group, recently ported its full-featured game engine to managed code for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Xbox 360….. successfully porting a complex suite of game technologies from C++ to C#, .NET, and the XNA Framework

Its always great news for .Net game developers when big game companies like this show their support for the platform we know and love. Does this mean future products from Garage Games based around .Net? Well there's nothing announced on their website so we will have to wait and see but it sounds like a great reason to book your gamefest tickets to me.

Digg-it?

Discuss this topic on the Garage Games forums.

Things have been quiet on the XNA Framework front since GDC. But as expected (also here) the next round of announcements will be happening at Gamefest in August. Registration is still open and if there are places you can even register on the day.

The session abstracts are now live and there are 3 relevant ones for us managed folk:

• Creating Games with the XNA Framework: Mitch Walker

  The XNA Framework will revolutionize how games are made. Using the XNA Framework, game teams can create games extremely efficiently, while targeting multiple platforms, including Xbox 360 and Windows. This talk provides an overview of the XNA Framework, describes how it fits in the XNA vision, and gives a detailed look into the various pieces of the framework. Topics covered include the graphics, audio, input, math, and storage components, as well as the application model, which takes care of the platform abstraction and plumbing, letting you focus on the important stuff: making games. We’ll have plenty of demos and get our hands dirty writing code!

• A Closer Look at the XNA Framework Content Pipeline : Michael Klucher

  Looking to make the move to 3D content in your games but finding the process confusing and difficult? This session covers the XNA Framework content pipeline, which is designed to simplify the process of getting 3D content into games. The session provides a detailed explanation of how assets flow through the XNA content pipeline. This session builds on the overview presented in "Creating Games with the XNA Framework".

• Migrating Game Technology from Native to Managed Code: Josh Williams, GarageGames

  GarageGames, in collaboration with the Microsoft XNA group, recently ported its full-featured game engine to managed code for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Xbox 360. In this session, Josh Williams and the GarageGames XNA engineering team dive into the technical issues encountered while successfully porting a complex suite of game technologies from C++ to C#, .NET, and the XNA Framework. Attendees will walk away with a good understanding of what architectural and low-level code changes are required to create large, full-featured, high-performance managed code bases. The GarageGames team will discuss lessons from the trenches, technical design strategies and their trade-offs, performance statistics, and more.

I've had a couple folk ask me if The ZBuffer will cover XNA framework. The answer is 100% yes. I consider XNA framework to be the next generation of Managed DirectX so you can expect all the news right here.

7/12/06: New class date, updated locations and site sponsorship

Surely it must be a good indication of general interest in a technology when a large training company like DevelopMentor has a 3 day managed directx training course. There's some nice screen shots of the course samples on the website including a Roller Coaster simulator which looks fun. There is also a video to preview some of the course samples.

The instructor is Dave Remba who, as you can see from his bio, has extensive graphics and programming experience.

Right now there is only one future date showing, October 4th in Torrance, CA, USA at a cost of $2795 but DevelopMentor also has sites in London and Boston and they will also do onsite courses at your location. So if other locations are of interest to you, or you have any questions about the class then please contact DevelopMentor directly or email me and I will pass your requests on. (Note that I have not seen the course content so I cannot answer questions regarding that myself)

Those of you viewing this on the website will probably notice that DevelopMentor is our 1st site sponsor for the next few months for which The ZMan is very grateful.

The Visual3D.NET development team is looking for several software engineers experienced with C#, C++.NET, Visual Studio 2005, object-oriented design, and Managed DirectX for remotely-located and/or on-site consultants, profit-sharing-based developers, and paid interns for the Visual3D.NET platform and toolset and the Suva3D engine.

The primary attributes we looking for in a team member are innovation, integrity, experience with remote communication, ability to learn rapidly, design for user experience, and a passion for game and tools development as well as a strong portfolio of design and development work, especially those with experience in 3D engines, importers, terrain, mesh deforming, physics, rag-doll animations, networking, and HLSL shaders. Please contact Dan Moorehead for further information.