With Visual Studio Express, Microsoft has been looking to expand its base of programmers beyond traditional developers to include hobbyists. On August 14, Microsoft announced plans to extend further the VS Express family by delivering on August 30 a test version of the XNA Game Studio Express kit. Before year-end, the final version, which will allow game enthusiasts to try out their own PC-developed games on an Xbox 360 console, will be available for a $99 per year subscription fee, according to the company. Speaking of gaming, it looks like the code name for Microsoft’s forthcoming Windows Live Anywhere gaming service is “Panorama.”
Listen to this article