An open-source tool is making some waves on the Internet this afternoon, specifically on various iOS-centric blogs. It’s called ExEn and it’s noteworthiness is tied to its supposed ability to port XNA development code — most popularly used for the Xbox Live Indie Games channel and Windows 7 games — to the iOS, Silverlight, and at some point, even Android devices. A new build that does the former two things is available right now.
The technical details of how this all works is beyond the scope of this “Hey this is cool!" post, but you can read the developer’s blog here to get a greater sense of what he’s done, how he’s done it, and what he’s shooting for in the future. I’m also not so certain if using this program can somehow breach a license agreement, as even though there’s a lot of great games on Xbox Live Arcade that could be ported, there could be tons of legal paperwork preventing it.
Provided it works as well as one would hope, ExEn is offering a cost-free opportunity for Xbox Live Indie Game developers to port their games onto the App Store. That’s kind of a big deal for that small, but vibrant community. Will we see a flight of games? I hope so.
[Via TUAW]
no universal..
I am sick of pixelated retro graphics. I am old enough to have played original space invaders, but this is 21st Century, man. Get on with the times, man. :)
Oh well, there must be demand for it but TA affection for retro games is like a fetish.
I`m personally loving the retro love we`re getting on iOS, and I`m of that era too. I could quite happily do without all the naff emulators, but all the retro inspired games seem to really encapsulate what I love about iOS gaming - simple pixel games that nail the touch screen / accelerometer. Some of my faves: Minotaur Rescue, Velocispider, P1XL Party, Pix`n Rush, Sword and Sworcery (which is in a league of its own imo).
I love "retro" sprite graphics. When the GBA originally came out I was hooked on it because it was, to me at least, essentially a hand-held SNES.. I still play the newer full on 3D graphics games on the Wii or my computer, but I really love the sprite graphics on something like my iPhone. The iPhone is a small device.. It feels more natural to see sprites than 3D, IMO.
These games in particular have the retro look because they're ports from older cell phone games. Now, let me get off your lawn.
See, i'm personally sick of ultra realism and Devs throwing more polygons at their games. I see games as a form of escapism and when they are ultra realistic, for me, games rarely provide that experience.
Just ignore all the games from this developer, simple.
If you actually were that old, you'd be living in nostalgic paradise with these games like the rest of us are. Back to CoD with you.
insta-buy !
They also have a racing sim for the Android, Grand Prix Story which is even more addicting than Game Dev Story. Haven't seen that in the app store yet, but it's a definite must buy when it shows up.
More addicting then Game Dev Story? Impossible!
YES!!! been waiting for this one gran prix now this i love you kairosoft iam happy i have both ipad and android phone :)))
im glad i have a rooted nook color to go with my idevices, so i can have ALL of the games they have released thus far...so addicting
almost forgot the company, cuz of tiny tower
Looks more interesting to me than Hot Springs Storys although I like the look of the upcoming star command game more.
I WANT IT!!!! Grand Prix Story next! hopefully soon!
i know!!!! when does it come out?
When I saw this, I started hyperventilating and I immediately bought it. I'm gonna get he'll when my parents find out.
I loved GameDevStory... hated HotSpringsStory. Does this version offer anything new or is it just a reskin of the previous two?
I haven't had much of a chance to play it yet (sleeping and all, you know) but it seems pretty different. You do still build rooms, but you also manage the students and their classes and relationships and stuff.
Still waiting on an iPad version of Game Dev Story, or a sequel at least.
yea is this a universal app? looks like a iphone/ipod app only to me. can anyone clarify?
Gonna get it, but wish Grand Prix Story would come out for ios. (Only on android for some reason)
just wondering if anyone knows how to get those popular spots up? been trying much... but funds kinda lo.. only managed to get one spot up! using principal's office, tea room and staff room!
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