what comes with XNA

From the FAQ:

Q: What is XNA Game Studio Express?
A: XNA Game Studio Express is a new offering, targeted at students and hobbyists for game development. XNA Game Studio is based on Visual C# Express 2005 and lets developers target both Windows and Xbox 360. XNA Game Studio Express contains the following:

• The XNA Framework, a set of managed code development libraries which will allow game developers to be more productive when creating games for Windows and the Xbox 360.

• The XNA Framework Content Pipeline which is a set of tools that allow developers to more easily incorporate 3D content into their games.

• XNA Game Studio Express also contains a full set of documentation, how-to’s and starter-kits that demonstrate how best to utilize the content pipeline and XNA Framework.

A beta of XNA Game Studio Express will be released on August 30. To receive a notification on when the Beta is available, please go to http://connect.microsoft.com and select "Available Connections." Then choose the XNA connection and follow the link to sign up for the XNA Game Studio Express Beta. (Note: A valid Windows Live ID is required, if you do not have one, you will be given the option of creating one.)

Q: What is the difference between XNA Game Studio Express and the XNA Framework
A: XNA Game Studio Express is a set of tools based on Visual C# Express 2005. The XNA Framework is included with XNA Game Studio Express and it is the set of managed (.NET) libraries based on the .NET Framework 2.0 that developers use.

JimPerry at 2007-8-30 >

The Documentation is made to help people get started with XNA and Game Development easily. It will help however if you understand programming concepts or even more if you understand how to program in C#, I left you some references in your other thread to help get you started.

Thanks!

MichaelKlucher-MSFT at 2007-8-30 >

jsedlak wrote:

What do the libraries include is a more important question. More specifically, will small time developers gain access to making Live! games with easy-to-use libraries? Will XNA help inde. developers like myself develop applications not only for the XBOX 360 but for Windows as well? Can we access the Live! technologies via a PC game? What does the $99 (USD) subscription include, what is it for?

In answer to your last question:

FAQ States:

Q: How much will XNA Game Studio Express/XNA Framework cost?
A:

The XNA Game Studio Express tools and runtime environment for Windows is completely

free. To develop, debug and/or play games on the Xbox 360 you will

be required to purchase a XNA “Creator’s Club” subscription on the Xbox 360 through

Xbox Live Marketplace. The subscription is available in 2 options, $99 a year

or $49 for 4 months.

It allows you to debug/play your games on the Xbox 360 console and there share it with a friend etc.

Also remember if you plan to share your game over Xbox Live the person recieving it must have a Creater's Club subscription too.

Meekel at 2007-8-30 >