Hi guys,
I'm wondering if students can make XNA games (as a semester project) and get it published in XBLA?
If it is possible, what are the steps? What I am thinking is finish the game and submit to Microsoft?

regards,
tep

You can certainly try, but you'd have to have one heck of a team to make a game in one semester and get it published. But yes, you make the game (or at least a representative demo) and then you can submit it to Microsoft. If they like it they'll will give you further instructions. See more details here: http://www.microsoftcasualgames.msn.com/developers_xla.htm.

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Nick Gravelyn -- Microsoft XNA MVP
XNA Wiki | Zune Games

If the game get published, do we need to convert our code to use native XDK? Or they will accept XNA code?

Thanks!

regards,
tep

if you get a publishing contract, you will be able to still use XNA code. They have a set of "extensions" for developers that want to use XNA professionally, which include achievements, leaderboards, and other things a registered developer might need. But you only get access to these AFTER you sign your publishing deal.

There are a few games right now that are being written in XNA, and bound for XBLA, like The Dishwasher, or Schizoid

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Microsoft XNA MVP

My blog: 12 months, 12 samples : April Sample: Dynamic 2D Shadows

On the other hand, if you wait a few months, you can publish your game through the Community Games program, which will start in the holliday season. There will also be a financial part for Community Games, but there's no details about that yet.

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Microsoft XNA MVP

My blog: 12 months, 12 samples : April Sample: Dynamic 2D Shadows

That's great! Thanks!

regards,
tep

Is the commercial channel via community distribution model actually confirmed?

I've heard alot of quotes to the contrary so far.. :(

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My Game Blog: http://houseofsmash.blogspot.com
My Blog: http://watchhogstories.wordpress.com

newclyusinju:

Is the commercial channel via community distribution model actually confirmed?

I've heard alot of quotes to the contrary so far.. :(

 

So far they say they WILL offer the option to price your games. I personally think it is pretty much certain that the commercial side WILL exists. However, many things are unclear, like: will you ask for $ or mspoints; how much percentage does MS keep from that, how do you receive your money, and many other factors that most likely have to be condidered by Microsoft's legal team.

Chris Satchell said on several ocasions that the commercial side was not the primary objective until now. It will be present, but they can't tell any details, because they didn't give much thought to the details. They had to make the system work first, and then deal with legalities and commercial stuff.

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Microsoft XNA MVP

My blog: 12 months, 12 samples : April Sample: Dynamic 2D Shadows

Catalin Zima:

newclyusinju:

Is the commercial channel via community distribution model actually confirmed?

I've heard alot of quotes to the contrary so far.. :(

 

So far they say they WILL offer the option to price your games. I personally think it is pretty much certain that the commercial side WILL exists. However, many things are unclear, like: will you ask for $ or mspoints; how much percentage does MS keep from that, how do you receive your money, and many other factors that most likely have to be condidered by Microsoft's legal team.

Chris Satchell said on several ocasions that the commercial side was not the primary objective until now. It will be present, but they can't tell any details, because they didn't give much thought to the details. They had to make the system work first, and then deal with legalities and commercial stuff.

Sounds reassuring..

However I can't for the life of me consider the value of trying to pay developers by MSpoints if that was the path they decided to choose (how would you pay for office space & pay employee wages for the next project for example..? & even as an aside, if your game sells well then what in the world would you do with 100,000 mspoints for instance?).

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My Game Blog: http://houseofsmash.blogspot.com
My Blog: http://watchhogstories.wordpress.com

newclyusinju:

However I can't for the life of me consider the value of trying to pay developers by MSpoints if that was the path they decided to choose (how would you pay for office space & pay employee wages for the next project for example..? & even as an aside, if your game sells well then what in the world would you do with 100,000 mspoints for instance?).

 

If developers are paid with MSPOINTS, Ms might decide not to take any percentage, because those points will be used in their system anyway :). So it's a kind of win-win. You get points which you can spend on Xbox Live, and MS gains some money from those points. Also, mspoints allow for an easier way of handling your payment, since no bank tranfers are requiered, no accounts, no nothing... just your gamer profile. These are the reasons why this solution might be attractive for Microsoft.

If you are really succesfull, you might receive a publishing contract from MS, and go to the real XBLA, where you would make real money.

We'll just have to wait and see what they announce next.

 

 

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Microsoft XNA MVP

My blog: 12 months, 12 samples : April Sample: Dynamic 2D Shadows

Catalin Zima:

If developers are paid with MSPOINTS, Ms might decide not to take any percentage, because those points will be used in their system anyway :). So it's a kind of win-win. You get points which you can spend on Xbox Live, and MS gains some money from those points. Also, mspoints allow for an easier way of handling your payment, since no bank tranfers are requiered, no accounts, no nothing... just your gamer profile. These are the reasons why this solution might be attractive for Microsoft.

But not very attractive to developers for the reasons I expressed earlier.. & if you have no developers publishing great quality content this way (if your IP is good enough to sell & make money off then why wouldn't you choose to hunt out a publishing contract & go down that route?) then it reflects overall on the quality of the service being offered & in turn, consumner interest.. I don't think that outcome would be particularly attractive to MS either..

Catalin Zima:

If you are really succesfull, you might receive a publishing contract from MS, and go to the real XBLA, where you would make real money.

We'll just have to wait and see what they announce next.
 

Agreed.. I'm keen to find out more info as & when it's released..

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My Game Blog: http://houseofsmash.blogspot.com
My Blog: http://watchhogstories.wordpress.com

newclyusinju:

But not very attractive to developers for the reasons I expressed earlier.. & if you have no developers publishing great quality content this way (if your IP is good enough to sell & make money off then why wouldn't you choose to hunt out a publishing contract & go down that route?) then it reflects overall on the quality of the service being offered & in turn, consumner interest.. I don't think that outcome would be particularly attractive to MS either..

Indeed, your points are valid.

We'll know more in autumn / winter :) the beta this spring will most surely not include commercial options.

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Microsoft XNA MVP

My blog: 12 months, 12 samples : April Sample: Dynamic 2D Shadows

Remember, that in some institutions, they might own some of the rights to anything to build for projects.

Such is the case in my college.

Probably wishful thinking, but it'd be nice if they offered the same kind of system that Apple is planning to roll out for iPhone applications. Although based on the rumors we've heard recently about cuts in game royalties on XBLA, a 70-30 split might be a pretty unlikely thing.

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Torrent Raiders, a bit torrent visualization game.

Any discussion about royalties, pricing, etc. is useless at this point. Wait until they actually announce something before starting a discussion. :)

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Jim Perry
Here's what I'm up to.

I would kind of agree with you there, Machaira, but wishful thinking about our projects is a wonderful past time. We all love our babies, and we all want them to do well. Besides, I'm sure MS peruses these forums for suggestions on how XBCC ought to be handled. Which is why I wish no one would mention MS points as a form of payment, including me... >.>;;

I think the team is smart enough to realize that points as a payment wouldn't be the way to go and they'll just ignore such suggestions.  :)

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Jim Perry
Here's what I'm up to.

Mein Gott, I hope you're right. I mean, I would still submit my game in hopes of an XBLA contract, but I'd also have to seriously consider other marketing models (as an indie I can only do so much, which is why I'm so excited by the prospect of XBCC and XBLA, they're not as taxing as other models and there's not quite as much risk).