Microsoft and SMU Study Game Development

With the simple XNA suite, Microsoft is assisting The Guildhall in learning more about effective game development and education.

Following the partnership between Instinct Technology and University of Abertay Dundee, Microsoft will be offering its XNA tools and expertise to The Guildhall at Southern Methodist University’s (SMU) Innovation Laboratory in order to discover new approaches to game design and the education of future developers. Three SMU faculty members, four post-graduate students and two graduate students are working with SMU level design professor and XNA Project Lead Michael McCoy.

“What we are trying to do is open the door a little wider with XNA tools from Microsoft and see how they can fit into videogame development not only for students, hobbyist and independent game developers but what role XNA Game Studio Express may have in professional videogame development, as well,” said McCoy. “We have already produced two case studies on 2-D game production using XNA Game Studio Express and have a starter kit developed for use in a middle school videogame development camp this summer. We also have incorporate a more advance starter kit into our course work for SMU students who starter at our program in July.”

Dr. Peter Raad, Founder of The Guildhall at SMU, said, “With more than 120 video development graduate students in residence and a faculty of videogame industry veterans, technology companies are beginning to realize that The Guildhall at SMU is a living laboratory for the videogame industry. That is why we formed our Innovation Laboratory focused on videogame development. By working with industry technology leaders such as Microsoft, we believe we will be able to help set new standards in videogame development and provide new research, case studies and curriculum that drive advances in interactive media educational programs across the country.”

McCoy said, “What we are trying to do is open the door a little wider with XNA tools from Microsoft and see how they can fit into videogame development, not only for students, hobbyist and independent game developers, but what role XNA Game Studio Express may have in professional videogame development, as well. We have already produced two case studies on 2-D game production using XNA Game Studio Express and have a starter kit developed for use in a middle school videogame development camp this summer. We also have incorporate a more advance starter kit into our course work for SMU students who starter at our program in July.”