Why I am not interested in XNA

I've read a bit about Microsoft XNA development platform. Found out that you can actually have a free version. The procedure seemed quite simple at first glance:
- Download and install Microsoft Visual C# 2008 Express
- Download either XNA 2.0 or XNA 3.0 (unofficial release)

So I did that... But since we're dealing with a Microsoft development platform, I quickly remembered that it is not as easy as 1-2-3... The platform will ask for a recent install of Direct X SDK, fine, let's download that and install it. Also, it will ask for an SQL development platform (can't remember the fancy nomenclature)... Finally, you get to install all this bloatware, and you still haven't got a clue how it all works. Now, oh misery, I decided to install the beta version of the new XNA 3.0..... And so I wanted to start off ahead and check out some coding examples; sort of like a "hello world" for XNA. I found a 2D and a 3D example from the anals of the help system and the MSDN. Okay, let's try this one out.

Well, I had to install the example (which is a project btw...) into a development directory for Visual C# somewhere in "My documents". Did that, fine. Now let's compile this and see if it runs! So, I tried loading the project in (which seemed to work, but I had no source file displaying, or any sign of something happening. Righty! Let's compile...... Poof!! couple of errors... Let's see.... Oh! Those examples are of XNA 2.0!!! I should of guessed!!! Damn! Allright, how do we fix this? ... Ah I went in the project file, changed some references that said 2.0 to 3.0 ..... Okay, now I should be ready for some action. Let's compile again..... Yay! no more errors... But, where is the executable? How do we run? And where is the bloody source file? How do we show the source file in Visual C#?

No, seriously, I think it takes a solid 2 year of intense learning from expert MSDN staff to figure out how to get around in this pile of bloat!!! I couldn't figure it out.

Funny, last time I tried it (a couple of months or so ago) I didn't have this much problem using it. :P

Stopped trying to learn it because I got bored with it. It's as ugly as C++ and doesn't really gives me something I cannot find elsewhere.
(Except for the possibility to develop for the 360, but I'm not interested in that)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

I have, and never had any bother setting up XNA... So I havent a clue whats happened there!?!



Funny that, I'm a builder and it took me 30 mins! ;)

Well there's your problem right there ;-)

Well, MadJack, the examples in Blitz3D are pretty much click and run, no? :P

Developers, developers, developers, developers....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMU0tzLwhbE

Why I am not interested in your opinion

<Long tirade about how much I hate you.>

And that, folks, is why I'm going to ignore <insert reader's name here>.

This post does not reflect the opinions or stance of Noel Cower, but rather reflects the opinions and stance of your nearest pharmaceutical company. Complain to them.

Well of course it's not 1-2-3. For me it took 6 steps.

1) I downloaded C# and installed it
2) Then I downloaded XNA and installed it
3) Next, I got the car demo
4) I compiled the car demo
5) Then I played the car demo
6) Finally, I rejoiced at having found no errors.

I <3 Microsoft

Nah, I was poking fun at your spelling 'anals' vs 'annals'. Snigger.

(But while I'm at it, I should point out to Clownhunter that 'rejoyced' is the actually spelt as 'rejoiced'.)

And 'the' shouldn't be in that sentence (and maybe even not 'as')... but hey, who's counting? :)

The ranting sweaty ape is always a classic :D
Quite 'catchy' actually lol.

XNA doesnt need the dx sdk or sql.

But it is still too long winded for general use in casual games as it requires a lot of support files.

rofl!

Deployment to XBOX360 is pretty straight forward too.

can you use visual basic with XNA and xbox?

why does XNA only work with C# 2005?

> can you use visual basic with XNA and xbox?

I don't know about xbox, but it can be used with VB.NET. You would have to convert all the examples though.

Think there are two flavours of XNA for Xbox, the free one is C# only. And the Pro version that works with any NET language is $1000 a year subscription or something/

I downloaded all the stuff
visual c# 2005
XNA 2.0

but then I couldnt open the 'tiny tennis' example project from 'coding 4 fun'

XNA is just a framework not a game engine and that's what I find frustrating. Apart from that C# is easy to learn.

If you want an xna game engine then try Blade3D.

I'm not really keen on the licensing of Blade3D, even though it looks swell!

Ask me to pay once... I'll oblige, ask me to pay monthly via subscription, erm, tara!

EDIT: BTW, now this looks cool: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd_cC6AANes

An alternative XNA Game Engine is TorqueX which is free.

And you don't need VC# 2005
The XNA 1.0 Express needed the VC# 2005 express. But the XNA 2.0 supports the express of both as well as 2005 pro and the like.
Its not Express anymore as you can now use it to create X360 games not only "pure personal usage"

Torque is terrible. They never seem to actually finish a product and insist on forcing their bloated editors and scripting on you.