Monday, August 14, 2006 - Posts

Google Code Jam 2006

Want a chance at $165,000? Here's how: Google Code Jam 2006. This competition is a chance for you to use your skills and compete against top programmers from all over the world.

What is the Google Code Jam 2006?

The tournament is a timed contest where all participants compete online to solve the same problems under the same time constraints.

The competition is available in five programming languages - Java, C++, C#, VB.NET and Python.

Learn how to participate by reading the instructions.

The competitors with the top 500 scores from Round 1 will advance to compete in Round 2.

The competitors with the top 100 scores from Round 2 will be invited to compete for $165,000 in cash and prizes at the onsite Championship Round at the Google Office in New York City!

XNA Game Studio Express

Microsoft Invites the World to Create Its Own Xbox 360 Console Games for the First Time

More than 10 universities to add XNA Game Studio Express and Xbox 360 game development into their curricula starting this fall.

The Beginning of the Game Developer Revolution

From students at colleges, universities and high schools of the future to all the guys in the garage, Microsoft XNA Game Studio Express will liberate anyone with a great game idea to create titles for Xbox 360 and Windows XP simultaneously. More than 10 universities and their game development schools — including University of Southern California, Georgia Tech College of Computing and Southern Methodist University Guildhall — have already pledged to integrate console game development and XNA Game Studio Express into their curricula for the first time, and Xbox 360 will be the only console at the center of all coursework.

This is great news for aspiring Game Developers everywhere; Microsoft is lowering the cost of entry into this exciting field and with a larger developer community will come more imaginative games for everybody.

Software will be the single most important force in digital entertainment over the next decade. XNA underscores Microsoft's commitment to the game industry and our desire to work with partners to take the industry to the next level.  - Bill Gates

 

Microsoft XNA at GDC 2006
This Game Developers Conference 2006 marked an exciting milestone for Microsoft XNA. All GDC attendees received a copy of the Microsoft XNA Build March 2006 Community Technology Preview.

Didn't make it to GDC? Click here to view an online version of the XNA DVD distributed to conference attendees.

Download the XNA Build March 2006 CTP.

View the XNA Overview presentation which introduces XNA Build.

View the XNA Build Advanced presentation.

Visit the XNA Build Forum.