Xbox outlines 'YouTube for games'

[thepuzzler]

Xbox outlines 'YouTube for games'
Monday, 14 August 2006, 11:58 GMT 12:58 UK
Full Source.

Microsoft is to offer a consumer version of professional tools used to develop videogames for the Xbox 360.

The software will let non-professionals develop titles and then share them via the Xbox Live online service.

Microsoft executive Peter Moore said: "It's our first step of creating a YouTube for videogames."

The program will seek to complement a trend that has seen videogames becoming more like film blockbusters, costing up to £20m to produce.

Users will need a PC running Windows XP - or Vista in the future - to operate the tools program, called XNA Game Studio Express.

The tools will be available in trial form from 20 August and there is a $99 (£55) annual subscription.

David Amor, creative director at Relentless, developers of Buzz, praised the move by Microsoft.

"Anything that lets a wider set of people have the ability to create software is a good thing.

"The best games are about ideas, not necessarily about technical skills."

Mr Amor said the games market was broad enough to support epic, expensive titles and more modest, home-produced games.

He said: "If it enables people to put ideas into practice then it could also be a good gateway into the professional industry."

Read the rest here.

Reminds me of the Net Yaroze for the PSX where you could code your own games, plus it was a modder's dream come true.