In this class, for this quarter, we
will use:
1.
Programming Language: C#, if
you have not worked with C# before, be prepared to learn it in the first week by yourself. By this point, after
CSS342, you should be very familiar with Java or C++. Well, C# is very similar
to both, and most of C#’s APIs are quite similar to those from VB.net.
2.
Graphics API: We will be using the XGCS1Lib.
This is a very simple library we build for teaching and learning introductory
programming concepts based on building games. You can find out more about the research project here. This library is based
on the Microsoft XNA
framework, though in this class we will not learn anything about the XNA framework. Check out CSS450,
if you are interested in learning about Computer Graphics.
3.
Hardware platform: This is a class about building games so, we will try out our games on the
Xbox 360 gaming consoles.
Here are the details about the
software you will need to install, and some other details:
1.
The Integrated Development Environment
(IDE): You can use Visual
Studio 2008 (VS2008), or Visual C# Express 2008 (VCE2008). VCE2008 is a subset of VS2008, it is more
light weight. All examples provided and examples
presented in class will be based on VCE2008. You can open VCE2008 projects with
VS2008. You can choose which IDE you want to work with. To find out more
information about VCE2008, go to:
·
http://www.microsoft.com/express/download#webInstall
scroll down to C# express, to download.
2.
You
need XNA 3.1: (NOT
XNA 4.0) Since the library we work with (XGCS1Lib) is based on the XNA Framework,
you need to install XNA Framework before you can use the XGCS1Lib. Here are
some details:
·
Refer to: http://creators.xna.com/en-US/news/xnagamestudio3.1
·
Download from: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=80782277-d584-42d2-8024-893fcd9d3e82&displaylang=en
·
Double click the
downloaded file to install XNA V3.1
·
Install after
download: this will install the library (XNA Framework), runtime support, and Wizards for VCE2008 and VS2008 project
creation.
3.
The XGCS1Lib: This is the very simple XNA framework based library
we will be using.
·
Here are the step-by-step guides and tutorials
on how to work with this very simple library.
·
Here are the
libraries: XGCS1Lib for PC, for Xbox
360, and for Zune.
·
Here is the
necessary font file, and the two
texture files: circle, and rectangle.
·
Here is the documentation for the library.
·
Here is the source
code to the library (no needed for our class, just in case you
are interested).
4.
Xbox 360 needs: to work with the Xbox 360, you must join the XNA
Creator’s club:
·
Find out
more about XNA and what you need: go to: XNA
Creators club online.
·
Membership:
as a UW student you can obtain free creators club membership. Here are a couple
of instructions from our fellow classmates (they are slightly different, study
them and choose one you like to follow J): from Ethan Crawford (replace XNA3 by XNA3.1), or
from Howard Yuen.
·
Here is
a short discussion on how to connection your PC
to your XBOX360 console (we have a few stations in the Windows Lab that you can
work with).
Learning C#: To learn
a new programming language, my recommendation is to examine existing source
code performing tasks you are familiar with. Mostly, you will be looking for
“how to” and not “what is”. In another word, you are learning to use a new tool
and not learning any new concepts. If you like to read “physical paper” books,
any book out there on C# will do, I do not have a good recommendation because I
do not refer to any of them. When I need answers to “how to” do something in
C#, I look for code snippets online, and I refer to C#’s reference manual at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/kx37x362.aspx.
In our class all sample source code are provided in C#, so that is a good
source for examples.
