Microsoft thinks that developer tools will keep Xbox 2 development difficulty roughly on par with XboxFor those that have not heard of XNA, the synopsis is that it is a tool set that should allow developers to have a very similar code base for PC, Xbox and Xbox 2 games.?Generally the introduction of new consoles means that there is a steep learning curve involved making initial development efforts much more difficult (and I would imagine that this would be especially true for smaller developers who do not have the same amount of resources).
Microsoft executives have said that they expect XNA to eliminate enough detail work from the development process that studios can keep development budgets for Xbox 2 titles roughly on par with Xbox games. "Skyrocketing consumer expectations are putting tremendous pressure on game development teams," Chris Satchell, general manager of XNA for Microsoft, said in a statement. "The real challenge is integrating the whole development process to allow fast iteration of game content and code with minimal rework. This allows developers to realize their visions and deliver higher-quality games more quickly."
We've had other interesting takes on XNA before. With Nintendo admitting that development on Revolution will be challenging, and major game studios being generally less willing to bet on new ideas, XNA may be a very compelling solution as it may be able to offer three kicks at the can, one each for Xbox, Xbox 2 and the PC. If this turns out to be more than just an API of sorts Microsoft may end up butting heads with middleware solutions like EA's Renderware. With gaming emerging as a legitimate industry, it would not be surprising to see Microsoft aiming to knock EA down a couple notches as it can leverage XNA as it has leveraged Windows to the benefit of their in-house PC applications.Article Link: Microsoft talks XNA at GDC
