A Game Development Blog

XNA Developers Community Network

In the near future, Microsoft will be opening the floodgates so that anyone with a compatible compiler, Game Studio and the desire to make a game will be able to release products for the XBox 360 under the Community Games brand. Let’s not forget that since it’s XNA based, this also includes Windows and the Zune. As each developer (who pays their membership to the XNA Creators Club) will be given the key. Once the game undergoes the submit, peer-review process and is consequently approved will see their game listed in the XBox Live Marketplace for Community Games.

We’re do we fit into the picture? Well, just as commercial games are released sites like Gamespot, Gamespy, GamesRadar and IGN supply developer news, previews and reviews on these products. XNA Developers Community Network is geared to provide the same level of service but catering to independent developers who would not otherwise get such attention. Our site gives registered developers (free of course) a spot for them to showcase their product(s), links to existing sites they may have, provide developer blogs - all features found on higher end sites mentioned above. Once an Xbox Community Game is officially approved, it gets moved to the “Released” area.

Here, people who’ve played the game or are looking to tips, hints, cheats and stuff like this can find this type of information. We are not associated with Microsoft in any way - we just try to turn the indepenent developer soapbox into a professional looking stage. It’s promotion for them, their products and it’s something that doesn’t exist right now.

Microsoft has stated that certain games may receive advertising on within the Marketplace but as to the rest, it’s still up to the developer to get the word out. That’s another area we fit in - by providing developer bios and blogs, product information, ratings and reviews - are tools to help the independent developer get their game and their name out there. It’s not meant to replace what Microsoft is doing but being an independent, one can use all the help it can get.

Our target date to go “live” is in or around October 30th - co-inciding with the release of Game Studio 3.0.

Below are the contact information for interested people:

Developers: developer_relations@xna-developers.net

Partners: partners@xna-developers.net

Advertising: advertise@xna-developers.net

Anyone looking to pitch in by helping with web site design/coding, artwork, script writing etc.. can email : howcanihelp@xna-developers.net

Serious inquiries into partnership and/or advertising will be granted access to the proof-of-concept site that should answer several questions and give them a better idea of what and who we are and we’re we’re going with this.