MS has announce XNA games will be released to the general Live members. The cost and content will be controlled by the creators with basic restrictions from Xbox Live. Restrictions are yet know, but we will soon find out.
So first off.. what is XNA?
straight off the website - Microsoft® XNA™ is composed of industry-leading software, services, resources, and communities focused on enabling game developers to be successful on Microsoft gaming platforms.
Basically state of the art tools for creating, developing, debugging and releasing games on Microsoft platforms
Who uses XNA?
Small game studio's, student's and college classrooms, or just plain hobbyist. Every thing to create a game is available for you. Including turorials, help from the community and samples.
Why should you care?
Because the industry is crowded with the same old crap... this will be the best way for independant developers to release their games that are too crazy for established places to release. Because the next myamoto's playing in his/her parents basement will finally have an outlet to release their next creation. Because this bring "user content" to a whole new level... who the hell cares about an extra map or stupid scarf dangling from an avatar when users will instead be creating games.
Proud Member of GAIBoWS (Gamers Against Irrational Bans of Weezy & Squilliam)
