Answer Questions

• mindstorms XNA doomed?

  XNA may be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I don't see it getting a lot of support until you make a simple web page that explains what features the XNA framework supports and why I would want to use it. I'm not going to download the thing just to figure out what it is. I am the target market for XNA (from what I can tell). I want to make hobby games and will happily use whatever tools and libraries make this easier. However, there are a lot of choices out there. Even MS has DXUT. Why should I choose XNA I haven't found a compelling reason yet after sifting through the FAQ and online help. To me, that spells trouble for XNA. I know I am having a lot of fun w ...Show All

• Sqnyy Extracting the transformation matrix for a subobject in a mesh

  I have an x-file containing some objects objects. I would like to load this as a mesh and then extract the transformation matrix for some of these subobjects. If I have designed a model (in 3ds max) with a box located at 0,0,0 and another located at 1,2,3 and neither one is rotated or scaled, then the xfile consists of the two boxes and each has a transformation matrix. The first has the identity matrix as its transformation and the second one has a translation to 1,2,3 as its matrix. How can I extract those two matrices without writing code to parse the xfile I need this to build a mechanical model onto which I plcae a number of connector pads. Later I want to design other objects and mount them on those connectors. For example i ...Show All

• Pr09aN1g0d Could C# be the future of gaming?

  Since XNA is using C#, and is is a more intuitive language than C++, is it possible that in the future that C# will dominate, espessially in AAA titles. Could XNA be ushering a new way of programming in the main stream For now, at least, no; C# as well as Managed DirectX still have a hurdles to get over (IMO). The language is still relatively new, developers are still learning the ins and outs and how to push applications developed in C# to the limit. In my opinion, although I love C# and swear by it, the professional community is and will be very reluctant to drop C++ for a newcomer such as C#, especially considering its lack of cross platform abilities. I develop serious games/simulations at my job and we use C++ exclusively ...Show All

• pst_grant XNA libraries

  I created an animation component, and it works fine on my computer, and on my friends computer, but he had compiled the source into a DLL. My question is, what would prevent a distributed dll from working in XNA Shouldn't I be able to just compile the source and hand the dll out to clients I know this is a broad question - but I'm sort of bewildered. I compiled it into a dll, then made a project which uses the dll, and ran the project (it worked fine).  Then I zipped the project and posted it on the codeplex site ( http://www.codeplex.com/Project/FileDownload.aspx ProjectName=animationcomponents&DownloadId=4021 ), and it apparently doesn't work on other computers. ...Show All

• jcnconnect Humorous but somewhat serious question about XNA

  Microsoft has claimed the Nintendo Wii as a "kids toy;" however, if XNA can produce graphics and push performance up to what the Wii is capable of handling (games like Half-Life, Sims 2 from most XNA performance claims), does that mean that XNA is a kids toy too "People will make a clear decision as to whether they want that sort of product -- a kids toy -- or they want high-definition gaming and entertainment and all that it brings." Source: http://www.gamespot.com/pages/unions/read_article.php topic_id=25129507&union_id=5331 But yeah, I'm not really arguing here. I just don't see XNA's performance overtopping the Wii's graphics ability which is far below competative standards for today's ga ...Show All

• chakravarthy_b D3D10CreateDeviceAndSwapChain() buffer

  Hi, I can create a device and a swap chain with D3D10CreateDeviceAndSwapChain(). To get a suitable device a render target format can be specified in the buffer description. This seems to be equal to a CreateTexture2D() call. To create the render target view later, we can get the buffer or the buffers we created with GetBuffer() from the SwapChain. As far as I understand it this is/are the so called front buffers that we usually use to double buffer writing to the device. If there is no back buffer we would add to those front buffers one depth buffer.  If these are the front buffers, it seems like I can also specify a render target format other than 8:8:8:8 ... I just use 16:16:16:16 ... I assume that th ...Show All

• mshvw How do I apply a material made in 3DS Max to a model in my XNA game?

  I want to use 3DS Max to make a material and then use that material on a model in my game. The following is what I'm trying to do to accomplish this. Advice on any step would be appreciated as I'm lost in several areas. Step 1) Create a material in 3DS Max . Ok I can do that. Step 2) Export the material as a .fx file. I can do that too. But when I do, 3DS Max generates a .hlsl file in addition to the .fx file. What do I do with that file In the XNA docs, there is info on how to implement pipeline stuff to import HLSL source files. Should I do that If I do do that, how do I tie the resulting PixelShader to my model Also, my texture and bump maps in my material aren't saved along with the .fx file... how do I get those into my Effect i ...Show All

• Martinez can xna compile a program for 360

  hay guys , can i write a program for xbox 360 using xna i know its for games , but its a cool thing if programing a software for 360 is available i was thinking about writing a small client program for 360 for networking , u know like pc cyber cafeh program , i think it will boost 360 in network cafes if something like that is done , so player can use like a username and a password and inter thier profile , and all the data is stored in a pc .. its an easy thing to devolop i hope i can do that or someone do it.. Too funny! Don't you go stealing my calculator ideas! They're mine! :P what use would it be What use would it be   Imagine a calculator that spawn ...Show All

• FaWei How do I manually uninstall old XNA framework?

  I was messing around with my registry (trying to delete old items from the Add/Remove Programs list) and I seem to have removed the "Remove" button for the XNA framework. How can I manually uninstall the old framework so I can install the new one Also, do I need Game Studio Express or just the XNA framework Thanks, John If all you previously installed were the (beta) XNA framework runtimes, you can uninstall those manually by going to c:\windows\assembly, finding the Microsoft.Xna.XXX assemblies and choosing "Uinstall" from the menu that appears by right clicking on them. If you want to do 360 games, you have to use GSE. ...Show All

• JoeL7034 Alpha Blending (deferred)?

  Is there a way using the sprite batch object that you can render several rectangles, but when alpha blended, it looks like the entire object was rendered first as a single opaque image, and then that image was alpha blended, such that you would never have known it was several smaller pieces assembling the final object Instead of normally seeing each rectangle blended as it overlays another rectangle. When writing or blending is there a way to trick the depth buffer into thinking the X number of sprites I am rendering all exist at the same depth, therefore whoever writes last. wins Do you think this is fast enough to be usable for GUIs where each frame would be its ow ...Show All

• jd_cowan ODE

  With all this talk about physics and XNA coming out, why dont people just use ODE There exist a C# wrapper for it and has plenty of examples. Is there something wrong with ODE Is there something better Rick You could still use ODE, there are a number of managed wrappers around physics engines. Use what you feel comfortable with. ...Show All

• Claudiu Chiorean running a project

  I'm new to this and i am having a problem. I am doing a tutorial on how to create a 2D sprite and when i try to debug it and run it the application won't even pop up. I'll have to drag th yellow arrow down, and when it finally runs, i just get a blank grey screen. is there something wrong with my XNA or do i just not know what i am doing Sounds like you are running in debug mode. Try using Ctrl-F5 to start your game running. Does your PC meet the necessary criteria for using GSE: Q: Will the XNA Framework require D3D9 hardware A: A Direct3D 9.0 card, capable of supporting Shader Model 1.1, is the minimum. The recommended level is a card that supports Shader Model 2.0, since most samples and s ...Show All

• Kate Boothby Unicode and Bitmap Fonts

  We will have access to System.Text with unicode on the Windows platform. But for cross-compatibility, a bitmap font should be used, right Or do you have something up your sleeve Bitmap fonts are great, because you don't mess up your layout with them, but to make international programs, supporting Asian languages, would be hell if I had to texturize every Japanese and Chinese pictogram. Will there be some solution Maybe integrated into the Content Pipeline I understand if there won't be in the beta, but what about the final product I'm still trying to figure out what exactly to do with a binary format. I wasn't considerig supporting anything except PNG, but I'll look into some of the raw formats to see if it makes sense to inc ...Show All

• prakashguru Working with buffers in 2D

  Hello all, I've been trying to figure out how the system with backbuffers work. In all examples I have found people are clearing the buffer before they draw something new. graphics.GraphicsDevice.Clear(Color.Black); ...draw some sprites... graphics.GraphicsDevice.Present(); I guess that when you enter the Draw method you are working with the backbuffer, so the clear() and the sprite draw() will affect the backbuffer. After that you call the Present() to draw the recently made backbuffer on the screen. My problem is that this is not how I would like to do it in my case. Everytime I enter the Draw() method I would only like to add some new things, and not clear anything. The easiest way to do this is to not have any backbuffer at all, but I ...Show All

• mrmckeb directdraw not available?

  well, i tried to play haloCE but the problems with directX. on the display tab, all of those things are "not available" any help would be appreciated. heres the information from directX and a screenshot. i hope this is the right spot to post this in! by the way, im on a toshiba 1005-S157 laptop. http://forum.ccleaner.com/index.php act=Attach&type=post&id=877 You will need a better graphics card if your laptop is upgradeable. Otherwise you will need to get a better laptop/pc. This isn't a Windows/DirectX problem, it's a hardware problem. i know, thats the problem. now i need the solution. Moved because this had absolutely no business being posted on Direct3D 10 forums. You're using a lapt ...Show All