Foreword by Tom Miller Developer, XNA Game Studio Express, Microsoft Corporation Microsoft XNA Unleashed provides comprehensive coverage and solid instruction on how to use the XNA Framework to create high quality games for Windows and Xbox 360. Chad? Website devoted to the XNA Framework can be found in www.xnaessentials.com. Learn how to install and use XNA Discover how to build, deploy, and debug the game for the Xbox 360 and Windows Examine the XNA Framework in depth: 2D, 3D, sound, input, and HLSL Learn how to create game components and game services Investigate the performance tuning techniques Find ways to extend the Content Pipeline Learn how to use the Microsoft Cross-Platform Audio Creation Tool (XACT) to add sound and music for the game Create 2D games full parallax side-scroller Discover how to use sprite batches Learn to make the most of sprite fonts Create 2D components such as splash screen and progress bar Consider blending different sprite batch mode Discover 2D cel animation Note the High Level Shader Language (HLSL) in detail covering basic HLSL as well as vertex deformations and post-processing effects Create a full 3D game that includes 2D radar in the Head Up Display (HUD), and much more CD-ROM included ? All C # examples and source code presented in this book. ? Explosion Generator tool to generate animated explosion. Introduction Part I Get Up and Running with XNA on Your PC and Xbox 360 1 Introducing XNA and XNA Game Studio Express 2 XNA and the Xbox 360 3 Performance Considerations Basics Part II Understanding XNA 4 Creating 3D Objects 5 Input Devices and Cameras Part III Content Pipeline 6 Loading and Texturing 3D Objects 7 Sound and Music 8 Extending the Content Pipeline Part IV 2D in XNA 9 2D Basic 10 2D Effects 11 Creating a 2D Game Part V High Level Shader Language 12 Basic HLSL 13 Advanced HLSL Part VI Physics and Artificial Intelligence 14 Physics 15 Machines Up to State and State Management Game 16 AI Algorithms Part VII 3D Effects 17 Advanced Texturing Techniques 18 Special Effects 19 Particle System Part VIII Putting It Into Practice 20 Creating a 3D Game 21 Improving the Game 22 Finishing Touches Index