Even though the army at Redmond has just started to layer the icing on DirectX 10.1, plans to revamp Microsoft's popular application programming interface (API) to the next major level hasn't been held back. DirectX 11 appears to be Microsoft's answer to the growing use of multi-core machines, as well as NVIDIA's looming CUDA technology. Got to know more? Read more to find out how DX11 aims to leave Windows XP and Xbox 360 gamers back in the Ice Age.

 

Through XNA boss Chris Satchell, Microsoft has revealed that it indeed has plans to someday create a community where games can be played or watched YouTube-style.

Satchell said in a recent interview with Develop that it has always been part of their goals to allow independent developers to show other users what they've got and the best way to allow the creativity to flow is by setting up the right channels where communities can converge.

"We use a music analogy – you know, it’s like we’ve given the instruments so they can go and play music now, but what’s the radio station where they can reach everyone?" asks Satchell. "It’s cool that they can invite people around and play in front of them, which is sort of the Creators Club, but hey, they want to play to the world."

One of the factors currently limiting the flexibility of the XNA community is the annual subscription fee and the rule that only Creators Club members can share software. Under the "YouTube XNA" vision, everyone can get a crack at playing user-made games for free.

Satchell said that opening up the Xbox 360 independent games scene is a major step towards attaining this goal and now a stage must be set where raw talents could be shown off.

"Now we need to provide people a stage to play on, a distribution medium so that they can show off their creativity to everyone," he says. "That’s always been our vision and remains our vision."

And fresh from the press wire, Microsoft has officially announced the winners of the Dream-Build-Play game development contest at this year's Game Technology Conference of Microsoft, dubbed GameFest 2007. And out of more than 4,500 budding XNA Game Studio minds and craftsmen from 100 countries worldwide, a shining 20 individuals have stepped gracefully into Microsoft's favor.

 

And two of them were tied for first place. David Flook of Ontario (Blazing Birds) and James Silva of New York (The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai) bagged the top prize - namely publishing contracts with Xbox LIVE Arcade, US$ 10,000 in cold cash each, and a slew of other unmentioned prizes.

Runner up positions were claimed by Steve Olofsson of Sweden (Gravitron Ultra) and Daniel McGuire of the UK (Yo Ho Kablammo!). The two were also invited to publish their games on Xbox LIVE Arcade, while being offered US$ 5,000 each in cash prize money and other unmentioned prizes. 16 others were recognized with the top four, although particulars were not revealed.

The results, it appears, has taken Microsoft by surprise. "The games we received in the Dream-Build-Play competition are truly inspiring. Created in just four short months using XNA Game Studio, these games demonstrate an incredible range of innovation, fun gameplay and technical achievement." said XNA general manager Chris Satchell.

The participation of many fledging game developers - together with their varied creativity, technical know-how and fusion of fun and concept in a short time span - has put the independent game development segment back into focus. "It’s aspiring, independent developers like these who are really driving our industry," said content director Bryan Tussel of Microsoft Casual Games, and we're inclined to agree.

 

Tandem Events recently announced that NCSoft's Richard Garriott and Microsoft XNA Group's Chris Satchell will be keynoting the event at the second Develop Conference & Expo to be held in Brighton, UK this July 24-26. With speakers such as game legends Peter Molyneux to also appear as speakers at the event, the two will tackle issues with creativity and community and the future of the MMO game.

Satchell's main speech will dive into Web 2.0 keeping two of the four key themes of the conference in mind: creativity and community. Using online social phenomena such as YouTube and MySpace as examples, Satchell will expound on how the gaming community drives Web 2.0 direction and development and how it will effect the online gaming scene.

"Lord British" Garriott will share his vision of the future massively multiplayer online game and the possibilities that can be achieved by developing for the medium. Garriott will also share his experiences in developing games and share it with the budding developers of the European community.

The organizers of the event, Tandem Events, have also announced that the conference already has an amazing line up of speakers slated, stating in the official press release that "the speaker line up is already reading like a ‘Who’s Who’ of the video game industry." Event director Andy Lane concluded the announcement, saying:

Develop is still three months away, but already we have a fantastic line up in place – of both speakers and sessions – for conference delegates, who will be travelling to Brighton this summer from all over the world. It goes without saying that we’re delighted to confirm Chris Satchell and Richard Garriott as two of our keynote speakers.