Microsoft Does "Who wants to be a Game Designer?"

Microsoft Does "Who wants to be a Game Designer?"
August 13th, 2006 | by Rob Enderle

It is almost as though Microsoft looked at Apple’s Garage Band and said, hmmm, what a great idea, what if we applied it go games? I mean how cool would it be to quickly and easily be able to create your own kick ass game, and turn around to sell it for money. The “easily” part I’m sure will be relative, as we will likely see a great deal of junk result from this. However, so many great ideas are lost because it is very difficult to take an idea or concept and turn it into something someone else can get excited about.

The product is called XNA Game Studio Express. OK, the name kind of sucks when you compare it to “Garage Band,” but “Garage Games” was taken. Personally, I think it would have been very wise to drop the XNA part, but if you can get by the name, the concept is actually very appealing.

What is of particular interest about this service, and it is more service than software, is that at the outset it creates a network of people who will eventually be able to help design, create, and sell a quality gaming product that will play on an Xbox or a PC. In some cases, both!

It is easy to see that most of the people who may want to develop a game won’t even know where to start; this is where the network and service come in. Showcasing what is likely the future of packaged software, the product is free, but the service will come with an affordable annual fee. In addition, the real value is in the service because that’s where you’ll get the knowledge needed to use the tool. Current professionals won’t need the service, but it is likely that they will also have outgrown the tool so there shouldn’t be a lot of free rides.

Danger to Sony

Think of the danger to Sony or Nintendo if this takes off. These games won’t run on those systems. It also adds a dimension to Microsoft’s platforms that the others lack, one of creation. If you don’t like the games you’re seeing on the Xbox you can write your own and sell them. Imagine how much parents may actually like that part. Having a game system that actually generates revenue, rather than simply drilling a never ending hole in my pocket, would be a huge incentive to buy Xbox or a PC over a Sony or Nintendo.

The real danger is that Microsoft will get better user feedback through the service than they do now from gamers who are also trying to develop cool games. If they listen, and listening can be a big problem for any big company, the result should be vast customer focused improvements to what they have; improvements that Sony and Nintendo will probably never even know are possible.

Long Term

If this is successful, Nintendo and Sony will have to respond, and neither is known for their “easy to use” developer tools. I understand that the tools Sony has for the Cell are particularly ugly. This could force both companies to better resource their own tools, or seek a partner that is actually good at building software tools. Better tools typically mean more good games, regardless of the platform, which is good for all gamers.

As mentioned above, this showcases a future for all software in terms of how it is purchased and probably the best defense for piracy. If the product is free and the value is in the service, what’s the point of pirating the product? In addition, a service ensures the continued contact between a customer and a developer. That contact generally results (at least it does in business where this is more common) in products that do a better job of addressing customer needs than most packaged products that don’t have strong user groups.

We are also beginning to see the emergence of the new Microsoft built more on collaboration than the IBM/DEC model the old Microsoft was based on. I’m thinking that too looks like it will be a positive step.

Post Your Comment...Comments

Ian Bell on Aug 13th, 2006 at 10:15 PM:

I think this is a very smart move. People are capable of creating some amazing things.

Do you think Microsoft will charge players to download these games to play though? Maybe offer the creators a rev share of some sort?

Jason Howard on Aug 13th, 2006 at 10:53 PM:

I would be willing to be that Microsoft will charge money for the download of games. Otherwise, what is the incentive? But, I bet it will either be fairly cheap, or the price will be determined by the creator.

I think this is a great step, as long as there is a way to wade through the junk you know will be submitted.

Rob Enderle on Aug 14th, 2006 at 10:33 AM:

Yes, part of the program is to help people market the games once they are created. So their will be a commercial aspect to this as it matures.

I imagine the "Junk" problem will get worked over time, probably through YouTube like ratings. (Lot of junk on YouTube as well).

justin on Aug 14th, 2006 at 12:46 PM:

there are two things that will keep this from really taking off on 360.

first, you can only share it with those who also spend $99 yearly for the club membership.

second, in order to share anything, you have to send all the source content and assets and then the recieving party compiles it all themselves.

that kills all desire for me to develop anything on this platform.

also, i guess you're unaware that the ps3 will ship capable of homebrew support. i think nintendo has expressed at least some interest in utilizing the virtual console for homebrew.

Pat on Aug 14th, 2006 at 3:59 PM:

Good article. I know the guys who own Garage Games (an Indy game group), and thought it cool you mentioned them.

Should be interesting to see what happens

Joel on Aug 14th, 2006 at 4:14 PM:

>> first, you can only share it with those who also spend $99 yearly for the club membership.
>> second, in order to share anything, you have to send all the source content and assets and then the recieving party compiles it all themselves.

That's true, as of now. But MS also said that they are working on more features that would allow the best games to be made available to everyone. I'm sure once that happens they will also be precompiled, etc.

bobbygeorgina on Aug 15th, 2006 at 1:56 AM:

Nintendo has already expressed that individual/start up comanies will be able to distribute games to consumers through the Wii's virtual console. Game manufacturers have also expressed that it costs a lot more to develop a game for the 360 or PS3 than the Wii.

Spartan117 on Aug 22nd, 2006 at 3:35 PM:

I think this is the best move MS has made in a long time! i have a xbox 360 and i love it, but i would agree the game line up at the mo isnt really on top of its game (pardon the pun), but this will change that... how could it not? not only will people be able to just make a game if its not already out there, but big big game producers will be able to watch the market and see what games people are wanting on the 360, its one thing to write on a blog... "oh i wish there were more RPGs, or Sim games.. ect.." its another where producers see people in there masses making the games and other people downloading/buying them! and with respect to the ps3 and wii, a product like this just wouldnt work for them platforms, they are just far too complex and hard to "homebrew" games for! I mean lets face it, the ps3 is famous at the moment for being a pain to devolop games for thanks to its "cell" . As for the wii i think game development could be possible for the public, but not really wanted, if you look at Nintendo as a whole, its aimed at being simlpe family fun, i find it hard to belive to has the right following to get behind a idea like this( not to mention a probable lack of interest)

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