How to Program Zune Games

Microsoft's personal media device, Zune, has recently added a new feature that allows users to program and upload games to their Zune. However, games are uploaded significantly differently than the other media. Rather than using the Zune Software, the user loads them directly from the Visual C#, which is the program used to create the games. This allows users to program their own Zune games and upload them directly to their Zune.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Zune
• Microsoft XNA Game Studio 3.0
• Visual C#
• Zune USB cable

1. Download and install Visual C# 2008 and Microsoft XNA Game Studio 3.0, which are free (see Resources).

2. Connect your Zune to a USB port on your computer using the Zune USB cable. Close the Zune software.

3. 
    

   Open Visual C# and add the Zune to Visual C# 2008. Add the XNA Device Manager by clicking on "View>Toolbars>XNA Device Manager 2.0." Click on the "Launch XNA Game Studio Device Center" button, which is the monitor button next to the plus-sign button. Click on "Add Device" and select Zune.

4. 
    

   Select "File>NewProject> Zune Games." Program the game in the C# language. C# has started the format for you, but you will need to learn the language to create the remainder of the program. Microsoft provides a quick tour of the language (see Resources).

5. 
    

   After you save the Zune Game, select "Build>Deploy [ZuneGame]." This should send the game to your Zune.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use these same techniques to download a Zune game from other programmers.

Resources

• Use this link to download C# and XNA.
• Use this link to learn more about programming Zune games in C#.