XNA: How to Build a Game and Make $10k in 10 Easy Steps.
Dr. Jon A. Preston
Associate Professor
Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering
Southern Polytechnic State University
Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering
Southern Polytechnic State University
Even in a down economy, revenues for the U.S. game retail market for 2009 through September reached $10.36 billion (down 13% from last year’s $11.85 billion); hardware accounted for $3.57 billion, software $5.36 billion, and accessories $1.43 billion. Games are popular and offer a fascinating way of blending networking, hardware/architecture, graphics, HCI, artificial intelligence, algorithms, and software engineering. Who knew that all those CS courses would be applicable!
But not many people have an 8-figure budget and a team of hundreds to produce the next AAA-title. Fear not – mobile platforms and new digital distribution models are making it possible for indie developers to still apply their game development skills and make money.
This talk will explain in 10 easy steps how to develop a game using XNA and distribute it through Xbox Live Arcade. We’ll have a fun time exploring how you can pay off your student loans or put a down payment on your first house by making a game on a shoestring budget. And we’ll even justify all those hard CS courses you suffered through.
About the Speaker: Dr. Preston grew up playing such classic games as Zork, Ultima, and King’s Quest. During the day he teaches at Southern Polytechnic State University and is the program coordinator for SPSU’s new 4-year bachelor degree in Computer Game Design and Development. A graduate of GSU, his research interests include distributed and real-time collaborative computing, graphics, and games-for-learning. When he’s not working, he’s leveling up in Fallout 3 and playing and camping with his four kids and wife Jennifer.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Sinclair Suite
Room 274, Student Center
One lucky attendee, chosen by
random drawing, will win a valuable door prize.
Everyone welcome!
Free refreshments!
The primary mission of the GSU Student Chapter of the ACM is to provide a series of lectures, events, and field trips throughout the regular school year to promote the education and professional development of students as well as faculty members. The GSU ACM receives no student activity fees and relies solely upon annual membership dues to pay for these events and all associated costs. While we try to keep our events open to the general student body in order to service the GSU community and to promote awareness of our organization, we are unable to do so unless we maintain a sufficient number of dues paying members. If you attend (or plan to attend) any of our events, please consider joining us and contributing to our continued success. There are few burdens of membership yet many benefits, and the cost is only $10 per year.
