Accelerating Windows Store Game Developmentwith Open Source and Middleware

Chas. BoydWindows Graphics Program Management3-187

IntroOpen Source TechnologiesCommercial TechnologiesTools

Top Topics:

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The Broad Range of PCs

3rd party game screenshots

Windows 8.1 new APIsUser interface

Fundamentals

Devices Graphics and media Communications and data

ServicesGeo-

location

Proximity

Direct3D Direct2D Direct Write

PlayTo

Contracts

Bing

Azure Mobile

HTML5/CSS XAMLInput Controls

Authentication

Bluetooth

USB

HID WiFi direct

Point of service

3Dprinting Scanning

WebGL

HTTP

Contacts

Appoint-ments

PDF

Speech synthesis

Diagnostics

Portable

Sensors Playback Capture

Printing

SVGCanvas

Local storage SMS

Streams Background transfer

Syndication

Networking

XML and JSON

Skydrive

Live tiles and toastAccessibility Data binding

Application services

Threading/timers

Memory management Globalization Cryptography

Xbox Live

Movies & Cut Scenes

Your Killer Game

Game InputGraphics Audio

Direct3D11.2

DirectX Video

PointerPoint PLM Windows

Live, Azure

Connected Services

Local Services

Direct2D

XInput

Sensor API

WASAPIWindows

Store Install

Xbox LIVE

Media Foundatio

nAppData

Contracts

Visual Studio

Asset Viewers

Asset Processors

Tools

Windows 8.1 Game Platform Technologies

HTML

XAML

XAudio2

Shader DebuggingWiFi Direct

Azure

Windows Game Developer FeaturesWindows 8Direct3D 11.1XAudio2PointerPointMouseLookXInputC++

Windows 8.1Direct3D11.2 Tiled Resources Scalers & Overlays HLSL Shader linker8-25GB packagesMulti-monWi-Fi Direct

But There’s MoreInteresting game codebases rely on other components

These “middleware” components are critical to:Accelerate time to market, reduce risk, increase stabilitySimplify shipping across devices/screens (Developing “Cross-Microsoft Platform”)

Both open source technologies and commercial tech

We’ve partnered with the community to ensure these work well on Windows 8

Open Source Technologies

Link in the pre-built lib binariesBe sure to get a Windows 8.1 version for use in 8.1 apps

Build the source in your environmentThen you can see how it works and tune to your scenario

Using Open Source

We’ve made great starting points for Windows Store gamesVS .sln solutions & Windows Store SDK API usageSamples ported to Windows Store projectsPorted UI code in samples to XAMLImplementations pass certification & work well on ARM

This enables you to spend your energy on the game

Microsoft’s Community Contributions

Open Source Technologies

ANGLE

Box2D

Physics of objects in a 2-D planeBallistics, collisions, rotation, friction, joints, constraints, motors, ray-queries, etc. ofCircles, rects, polygons, chains, ropes, etc.

Used in:Angry Birds, Tiny Wings, Cut The Rope, Crayon Physics Deluxe, Limbo, Rolando, Fantastic Contraption, Incredibots, Transformice, Happy Wheels, Cocos2D, etc.

Box2D

Box2D Demo App

Car Scene

Windows ClassicWin32 UIOpenGL

Car driving over terrain -Before

Box2D Demo App

Car Scene

Windows 8.1XAML UIDirectXPasses certification

Car driving over terrain -Now

Physics of 3D objectsBallistics, collisions, rotation, friction, joints, constraints, motors, ray-queries, etc.

Used in: Hydro Thunder: Hurricane, Trials HD

Has had GPU-accelerated fabric simulation using DirectCompute for years

Bullet Physics

Open source OpenGL ES2 API wrapperEnables easy transition from iOS or AndroidUsed by many popular productsOriginally built on Direct3D9, Now updated to Direct3D11 for Windows StoreRuntime shader compiles work in Windows 8.1http://code.google.com/p/angleproject

ANGLE – Almost Native GL Engine

Angle Asteroids

Popular engine for sprite games on phones1000s of games already shipped

Runs on Windows 8 phone, Windows RT, Windows 8, etc.

http://www.cocos2d-x.org

Cocos2D-x

Cocos2D-x

Full 3D rendering engineRich shader capabilities for photorealismIncludes native Direct3D module since starting

Used in: Ankh by Deck13, and Torchlight by Runic, etc.

Runs on Windows Phone

OGRE - OO Graphics Rendering Engine

OGRE Screenshots

http://www.ogre3d.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/3471006251_l.jpg

SharpDXEfficient C# bindings to DirectX APIsLow-level Direct3D access for best C# performanceIncludes basic input, audio, file loading, etc.

Using C#?

MonoGameOSS implementation of the full XNA 4.0 API spec which Microsoft contributed to the communityUsed in Armed, Skulls of the Shogun, Galactic Reign

http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/From-XNA-game-to-Windows-8

Using C#?

Are there other open source projects you need?

Feedback

Commercial Technologies

Commercial Middleware

We’ve built partnerships to bring commercial technologies to the Windows Store

Range of pricing modelsYou get commercial support, some include source codeMost support custom plug-ins, scripting, etc.

Game Engines

Renderers

Physics

Network Services

Audio

Commercial Technologies

See Talk 3-044: Building Windows Store Games with Unity Friday 12-1pm

Also April Unity Windows 8 Event:http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Windows-Camp/Building-Windows-Games-with-Unity

Unity 3D

Authentication & IdentityFriends ListPlayer Stats, Leaderboards, AchievementsMatchmaking -Real-time and AsynchronousSynchronous (real-time) MultiplayerSupports Windows Phone toohttp://hydra.agoragames.com/windows

Agora Hydra

Share ContractLink to your own store page

Windows AzureEasy to roll up a very basic service

Xbox Livegreat if you are coming from xbox

Other Connectivity Options

Popular physics libraryNow includes Vision 3D rendering engine, destruction, AI, and cloth modules

Supports the whole Microsoft ecosystem

Havok for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8

Havok

Commercial implementation of OpenGL ES on Direct3D

Includes a full native C++ game API set

Runs on Windows Phone too

https://www.madewithmarmalade.com/windows8

Marmalade

Full IDE for game creationAsset marketplace

http://gamesalad.com/creator/windows-8

Game Salad

Graphine

Several APIs available on Windows 8/Phone 8Unity plug-in, iOS and Android support

Autodesk products

Maya

3D Studio

Content Creation Tools

The most commonly used games middleware is available for Windows 8 store apps

Both open source and commercial middleware!

Go for it!

Conclusion: The Ecosystem is Ready

Update to the latest versions of any middleware componentsSet up a Windows 8.1 build environment and buildOptimize performance/Tune for device feature levelsAdd in cool new Windows features like: Contracts, live tiles, and notifications, overlays, etc.Ship!

Let us know if there is more you need!

What to do next

Related talks Title Session IDBuilding Games for Windows 2-047What’s new in Direct3D 11.2 3-062Massive virtual textures for games: Direct3D and Tiled Resources 4-063DirectX Graphics Debugging Tools 3-141Bringing Desktop PC Games to the Windows Store 3-190Tales from the Trenches: Developing “The Harvest” and “Gunpowder” with Unity 3-044Accelerating Windows Store Game Development with Middleware 3-187Bringing Halo: Spartan Assault to Windows tablets and mobile devices 2-049From Android or iOS: Bringing Your OpenGL ES Game to the Windows Store 3-189Cutting Edge Games on Windows Tablets 3-043Play Together! Leaderboards with Windows Azure and iMultiplayer with WiFi Direct 3-051Innovations in High Performance 2D Graphics with DirectX 3-191

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