What Is XNA Game Studio Express?

XNA Game Studio Express is a set of tools based on Visual C# Express 2005 and the .NET Framework 2.0 Common Language Runtime (CLR) that makes it easier for students and hobbyists to write games for Windows and the Xbox 360 game console. XNA Game Studio Express includes a set of managed libraries known as the XNA Framework, which allows developers to use managed code to create DirectX-based games.

XNA Game Studio Express also includes a set of tools known as the XNA Framework Content Pipeline, which makes incorporating content into your games easier. And, of course, XNA Game Studio Express includes MSDN-style documentation, how-to’s, and example code that help you understand how all these components work together and how best to use them to make your game development tasks easier so that you can focus on what really matters—writing great games. All of this is made available as free downloads, and there’s a large community of XNA game developers that support each other and share tips, tricks, and ideas.