\Managed DirectX and XNA Framework news

If you live in the Portland, OR area don't forget to head along to their May meeting this week.

May 28th, 6:30pm at the River East Center

More details on their website http://www.paxnaug.com/?p=7

Micheal Klucher will be speaking tonight at the Puget Sound hand held user group about games on the Zune. Sadly I have other commitments so I can't go along.

7:00pm May 27th, Microsoft Campus building 113/1021

More details on their website http://pshandheld.com/default.aspx

IT'S HERE!!!!

Phase 2 of the 2008 XNA Game studio beta roll out is complete. Recently we saw the 3.0 CTP for Zune and today we have the beta for the Xbox Community games distribution. The new site is also updated with new sections for education and the new improved (we hope) forums.

Check it out at http://creators.xna.com

There are some restrictions which I'm sure will annoy a few people but remember it's just a beta. Only PAID (sorry no dreamspark) creators club members can submit and review games and only people in the US can download and play them.

Its here... get it while its hot

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=DF4AF56A-58A7-474C-BFD0-7CF8ED3036A3

Read the official announcement

Watch Michael Klucher do a demo

Read the GamaSutra article about Zune Development

Read the zune developer FAQ

But most importantly BUY A ZUNE!!! (and help ZMan pay the mortgage!)

8:00am competition closed.... well actually I closed entries at 7:30am when Klucher twittered a hint and several people sent me entries for the 7th Hmmmmm

The winner of the pen is JudahH

With much speculation of the date of the CTP its time to have some fun....

Send me the date (and time [PST] for tie breakers) you think the download will appear on Microsoft.com and the winner (closest) will get my very sexy XNA pen that I got from GDC. If I determine that you had inside information and used it to win a pen I reserve the right to disqualify you and report you for NDA violation