itmand88:

If the Zune has no GPU, how can it use the SpriteBatch? The SpriteBatch uses shader model 1.1

The public methods of SpriteBatch is a contract, the usage of shader model 1.1 is an implementation detail. On the Zune, it's just implemented differently.

That's precisly what i want to know too. I also have a windows mobile phone and in my opinion having the compact framework already on the mobile phones this could be relativly easy... I think :-). And that's something that i'm expecting with much antecipation...

Murdoc:

will it be Possible to Create other Programms for the Zune beside games, like a Webbrowser or an RSS-feed reader?

Doubtful since the hooks for http won't be available:

"All networking takes place over a local ad-hoc wi-fi network. However, the networking APIs are similar to what is available in XNA Game Studio 2.0"

I would think that it would be easier to bring XNA development to Windows Mobile... I would much rather see it for Windows Mobile than the Zune.  Maybe the wide range of hardware for WM makes it easier to do this for the Zune where you only have 3 devices to worry about.

"cross-platform networking between all three platforms is not supported"

The first thing came to mind with Zune XNA was to be able to use it as a controller for my 360 ie in a Adventure game where you would select questions and inventory using the touch pad on the Zune that would relay to the 360. That it could be used allow the game to be played insync with both then desynced alone. So your at home playing the game you sync the game with both Devices, leave for work on the train you can continue to play on the zune get home again and sync up the game continue on both

So this idea is impossible then?.

gsolid:

So this idea is impossible then?.

Yes, at least for what's planned for the next version.

is 3.0 out yet?

sh317on:

is 3.0 out yet?

Judging by the many replies stating the beta will be out in the spring... I'd say no.

I think this is definitely going to be one of the best (if not the best) things that has ever happen for the Zune. You guys are great! *hugs all of the developers*

I do have a question (a kinda nerdy one, too) that I was hoping you could answer; especially since you guys are probably some of the only people who can. I have worked extensively with the Zune (the original one anyway), and the one thing that I have found that limits it is its annoying tendency to check every important file placed on it (aka firmware) for a Microsoft Digital signiture. Since I don't believe there is a way to make the Zune run foreign executables as it is now, how did you guys work around it? Are you doing this project in cooperation with the Zune team itself (firmware + software)? Or is there some coding loophole that has remained a secret to average joes like myself?

I'm just curious because I would definitely like to see the horizons of the Zune opened up even more with third party applications, and now that I saw your game preview vid, I may not be able to wait!

Great job guys and thanks in advance for any response and/or future games!

most likely the same way it works on the xbox, operated in a safer environment, and not allowing direct access to the hardware. I'm sure it will use a type of game launcher just like XNA on Xbox.

PityOnU:

Since I don't believe there is a way to make the Zune run foreign executables as it is now, how did you guys work around it? Are you doing this project in cooperation with the Zune team itself (firmware + software)?

We worked closely with many other teams inside Microsoft (notably the Zune and .NET Compact Framework teams) to enable this new functionality for the XNA Framework.

This is excellent and I am really looking foward to all of this, but I have 1 question.

Will Zune games be able to store xml save files?

Personally I'm very excited about this.  Now if MS would just come out with a GBA killer we could write games for. :)

itmand88:

If the Zune has no GPU, how can it use the SpriteBatch? The SpriteBatch uses shader model 1.1, so you would have to make the Zune emulate shader model 1.1? Or are you making a "Zune special" SpriteBatch that only uses the CPU to render? If so, it would be nice to have this SpriteBatch for PC too, so you could make 2D games for old PC's that has no shaders.

We have implemented SpriteBatch specially for the Zune platform.  Even though there is no GPU, we've done several optimizations that take advantage of the underlying platform in order to render sprites as efficiently as possible.

Paul

 

Murdoc:

will it be Possible to Create other Programms for the Zune beside games, like a Webbrowser or an RSS-feed reader?

The Zune does not connect to the internet so an RSS reader is not interesting in the XNA Game Studio 3.0 timeframe.

PityOnU:

I have worked extensively with the Zune (the original one anyway), and the one thing that I have found that limits it is its annoying tendency to check every important file placed on it (aka firmware) for a Microsoft Digital signiture. Since I don't believe there is a way to make the Zune run foreign executables as it is now, how did you guys work around it? Are you doing this project in cooperation with the Zune team itself (firmware + software)? Or is there some coding loophole that has remained a secret to average joes like myself?

We are Microsoft so we have the ability to sign XNA Game Studio Connect such that it properly executes on the device.  :)

On a more serious note, a majority of the work we're doing in this first release is around properly securing the device and any assets on the device that need to be protected.  This work integrates and extends the existing Zune security and trust infrastructure.  This is similar in concept to what we did on Xbox 360 but a completely different implementation.

Paul

 

Pigyman:

This is excellent and I am really looking foward to all of this, but I have 1 question.

Will Zune games be able to store xml save files?

Yes, the same System.Xml.dll assembly that is available on Xbox 360 is available on Zune.  Likewise, Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Storage is fully supported for save game containers.

A couple questions:

I saw the 16 MB limit posted earlier, but then somebody clarified that that's RAM.  So will there be a size limit for Zune games?

Are the touch controls mapped differently from the button presses for the 2nd gen Zunes?

Currently there is no size limit beyond the storage capacity of the device. Touch maps to the left thumbstick on an XInput controller, while the buttons map to the DPad.

Just to let everyone know we'll have a webcast available that covers a lot of these questions!

 

Thanks

I have 2 Zunes in my house right now, and neither of them work on a consistent basis.  Any chance some of you XNA guys can go teach the Zune folks how to make software that works?  While it's appealling to think about making games for a portable system, if the system is a buggy piece of crap, our games will look like pieces of crap.  PLEASE, for the love of all that is XNA, make sure that the Zune is a stable platform before you finalize 3.0 support for it.

JeBuS:

I have 2 Zunes in my house right now, and neither of them work on a consistent basis.  Any chance some of you XNA guys can go teach the Zune folks how to make software that works?  While it's appealling to think about making games for a portable system, if the system is a buggy piece of crap, our games will look like pieces of crap.  PLEASE, for the love of all that is XNA, make sure that the Zune is a stable platform before you finalize 3.0 support for it.

It's called "repairs."  Trust me.  It works.

So what this is basically saying is that, we can develop games for Zune MP3 Players using XNA 3.0 and C#?

 

Sorry if it's a very stupid question, but I don't quiet know what Zune is. I see Zune on myspace so I am a bit confused.

That's correct Tyler. Once our beta is released you can use XNA Game Studio to develop games on the Zune Media Device. You can find out more about the Zune itself from http://zune.net Your already on the best site for getting information about XNA Game Studio :-) If you have more questions feel free to ask!

Thanks
Michael

 

Shawn Hargreaves:

jdavid.net:

can we talk to a webserver through the wireless connection?

Networking is only from Zune to Zune: there is no connection to other devices. It uses our existing networking API.

If this is true then that is completely disappointing. I was all excited at the possibility of being able to write an app that would let me listen to streaming radio on my Zune over my WLAN. Personally the idea of playing a game on the tiny Zune 8 seems incredibly pointless due to the incredibly small screen and controls. Maybe the Zune 80 will be a better experience, either way, I couldn't care less about games on a Zune.