Below is a list of articles dedicated to documenting the process of creating a framework such as FGF from the very beginning. This is by no means a complete or final list and is subject to change. All files are in PDF form unless otherwise specified.

1. Design
   1. Important Design Patterns (189) - 360.24 KB - covers design patterns that will be used in FGF
   2. Library Structure (118) - 63.32 KB - how libraries will depend on each other and the naming conventions used.
   3. Basic Class Structure - learn how the functionality will be layed out.
2. Implementation
   1. Getting Started (157) - 423.84 KB - installing SVN and creating the solution file.
   2. Implementing A Log (118) - 207.71 KB - how to implement a logging system.
   3. Building a Better XML Serializer - improving the .NET serializer by removing it.

Source Code will not be available on a per document (or chapter) basis. Rather you can always get the current public version by checking out the repository at https://jsedlak.homedns.org:8443/svn/FGF (username: guest, password:[none]) but be aware that it is a private server that is taken down frequently and randomly. If you cannot connect, the server is probably just off. The above link can also be viewed in your browser, you just have to accept the certificate.

This license applies to any game distributed through this site for use on the Zune platform unless otherwise stated. This includes but is not limited to the following list of software. Buy downloading and deploying the software, you agree to this license. If you do not agree to the license, do not download or deploy the software.

Software

• Gato Muy Splato
• Galactic Defense
• Galactic Wars 3
• Galactic Wars
• Zune Pad Test
• Match ‘Em

Restrictions

Unless otherwise stated by specific license or overriding law, you may not do the following.

1. Redistribute the software in any way.
2. Change the skin or branding of the software in any form or fashion.
3. Use the source code to develop similar software.
4. Use the software for any commercial purpose.

Rights

This license grants you certain rights to the software.

1. You may deploy the software to as many Zunes as you wish.
2. You may use specific algorithms in the source code for use in your own software except under the circumstance provided by Restriction 3.

This license is subject to change without warning. Furthermore, the software is provided without warranty.

Warranty

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

A complete list of the tutorials available on this site is below.

• XNA
  • My First (XNA) Game
  • Introduction to SpriteBatch
  • How To: Take a Screen Capture of a Zune Game
  • Profile Management
  • Blur and Glow
  • Artificial Intelligence
    • Genetics For Games: Part 1
  • Mini Game Series
    • MGS Pong (Pages 1-3)
    • MGS Pong (Pages 4-6)
  • State Management
    • ATS: Concept and Base
    • ATS: Queues and Removal
  • Hardware Instancing
• WPF
  • Restoring Application.LocalUserAppDataPath Functionality In .NET 3.5 / WPF

Previously, Foxhorn was a simple project used to test out new ideas making their way into my various libraries (Dx5D, Xna5D, Thrust, FGF) but now I am using it to also develop a new game. Currently, Foxhorn is all about building a strong foundation of what a new game should entail. This includes 3D rendering (terrains, models) but also new GUI models and core design choices. Furthermore, most of the functionality found in Foxhorn will be available in new builds of FGF.

Screenshots

Gato Muy Splato

xOrbituary

Codename: Foxhorn

Previously, Foxhorn was a simple project used to test out new ideas making their way into my various libraries (Dx5D, Xna5D, Thrust, FGF) but now I am using it to also develop a new game. Currently, Foxhorn is all about building a strong foundation of what a new game should entail. This includes 3D rendering (terrains, models) but also new GUI models and core design choices. Furthermore, most of the functionality found in Foxhorn will be available in new builds of FGF.

Screenshots

xOrbituary

Domination

Coming soon.

Sensory Smart Kids

Coming real soon.

Math Game

Any day now.

Mini Game Series

Learn how to develop games in XNA. Each game is sectioned into one or more large articles that covers how to create the game step by step.

MGS: Pong

Downloads

MGS: Pong (Source) (802) - 815.08 KB

Articles

• Pages 1-3
• Pages 4-6

• Versionator Vista X64 Setup (163) - 731.74 KB
• Versionator Vista X86 Setup (161) - 731.7 KB
• Versionator Source (160) - 183.54 KB

Screenshots

NetFlix Viewer

A simple application developed to increase the visible area of the online NetFlix application while allowing the window to stay on top.

Key Manager

Manage your software keys from one location!

Cyclometer

Coming soon.

Folder Kill

Folder Kill is a brilliant, small application designed to do one thing: recursively step through directories deleting folders that match a pattern. I use this for deleting SVN folders when I publish a release of one of my applications, but the uses are limitless.

Screenshots

Downloads

• Folder Kill X64 Installer (98) - 682.9 KB
• Folder Kill X86 Installer (95) - 765.54 KB
• Folder Kill Source (171) - 19.25 KB
• Folder Kill X64 Binary (167) - 6.08 KB
• Folder Kill X86 Binary (165) - 6.16 KB

License

NOTE: Please be sure to read the License that applies to the following games before downloading them. By downloading the software presented on this page, you agree to the above mentioned license. Thank you.

Gato Muy Splato

See how far you can shoot your cat in this easy to play Zune game.

Downloads

• Current
  • Gato Muy Splato Alpha 2 (3704) - 307.26 KB - v1.1.0.0
• Old
  • Gato Muy Splato (Alpha) (246) - 307.05 KB - Archived

Requirements

• XNA 3.0 Beta
• Zune 4gb, 8gb, 30gb, 80gb
• C# Express 2008 / Visual Studio 2008

Screenshots

Galactic Defense

Coming soon…

Galactic Wars 3

Galactic Wars 3 is an over the head space shooter design with the Zune in mind. The current release has four levels with two difficulties, different types of enemies and weapons. Special thanks to Justin of CodeAnxiety for the artwork!

Downloads

• Current
  • Galactic Wars 3 (7376) - 7.46 MB - v1.3
• Old
  • Galactic Wars 3 (26036) - 2.58 MB - v1.2
  • Galactic Wars 3 Beta (1205) - 2.15 MB - Archived

Requirements

• XNA 3.0 Beta
• Zune 4gb, 8gb, 30gb, 80gb
• C# Express 2008 / Visual Studio 2008

Screenshots

Match ‘Em

Match ‘Em is a swap-the-items-to-line-them-up type game with one hitch. It is impossible to beat.

Downloads

Match ‘Em Alpha (2941) - 2.16 MB

Requirements

• XNA 3.0 CTP
• Zune 4gb, 8gb, 30gb, 80gb
• C# Express 2008 / Visual Studio 2008

Testing & Diagnostics

Zune Pad Test (3.0 Beta) (580) - 84.62 KB

Server Status: Online
Message: None.

The Focused Games Framework provides the backend for most of my software. It encompasses projects such as Juice, Thrust and Core and is used to unify my coding approach to all platforms I am currently interested in. Thrust is the framework for writing XNA games across the Windows, Xbox 360 and Zune platforms. Juice serves the Windows Desktop Application side of development and contains my current WinForms and WPF controls. Core is nothing more than the shared code between all sub projects, maintained in a centralized way.

Source Code

You can get the current source code from the following SVN repository. The repo is viewable in your browser so feel free to take a look around. Please note that the server may not be up as I take it down sometimes for various reasons.

URL: https://jsedlak.homedns.org:8443/svn/FGF
Username: guest
Password: [no password needed]

Videos

Tutorials / Step-By-Steps

• Getting Started with FGF - Getting FGF, Building, Running Unit Tests

Features

Data Management

Advanced Content Management - Easily load and unload content on the fly both synchronously and asynchronously with tremendous ease. The Asset Manager in Thrust works just like the builtin Content Manager (XNA Framework) but supports more advanced scenarios.

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public void LoadTest(){
    AssetManager assetManager = new AssetManager(this.Services, "Content");
 
    // Load content asynchronously
    Asset myTexture = assetManager.Load("Textures/SampleTexture", true);
 
    // Load some other content right here, right now
    // You can customize how you want objects to load by
    // implementing the IAsset interface.
    Level myLevel = assetManager.LoadCustom("Levels/SampleLevel", false);
 
    assetManager.BeginLoad();
}

Extensions / Plugins - Never has building a project dependent on extensions been any easier. With FGF you can load an extension or plugin at the drop of the hat.

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string assembly = "someExternalLibrary.dll"
 
// Get all extensions in an assembly
Type[] extensions = ExtensionManager.GetExtensionsFromAssembly(someAssembly);
 
// Get extensions of a certain type
Type[] customExtensions =
        ExtensionManager.GetExtensionsFromAssembly(assembly);

XML Serialization / Deserialization - Unlike the serialization classes provided by the .NET Framework, the XML classes in FGF are actually useful. FGF supports advanced functionality requirements such as type independent loading and circular referencing.

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[XmlNode("Settings", XmlTypes.Complex)]
public class Settings{
    [XmlNode("DefaultUserSettings", XmlTypes.Complex)]
    public ISettingsProvider DefaultUserSettings { get; set; }
}
 
public class UserSettings : ISettingsProvider{
    // ...
 
    [XmlNode("SomeValue", XmlTypes.Simple)]
    public string SomeValueNotInInterface { get; set; }
}
 
public class Program{
    public static void Main(){
        XmlSerializer xs = new XmlSerializer();
 
        Settings mySettings = xs.Deserialize("settings.xml") as Settings;
 
        Console.WriteLine(
            ((UserSettings)mySettings.DefaultUserSettings).SomeValueNotInInterface
        );
    }
}

Downloads

Current

There are no current releases.

Old

• Focused Games Framework Beta 2 (Bin) (231) - 169.3 KB
• Focused Games Framework Beta 2 (Src) (326) - 870.09 KB
• Focused Games Framework Beta (Bin) (188) - 130.06 KB
• Focused Games Framework Beta (Src) (138) - 859.35 KB
• Focused Games Framework Alpha (Bin) (430) - 74.55 KB
• Focused Games Framework Alpha (Src) (249) - 270.93 KB

John is a 21 year old student chasing down his degree in Computer Science at Fairleigh Dickinson University. John’s knowledge of computer programming did not start with college however, being first introduced to VB5 in 1997 and consequentially the wonders of BitBlting and DirectDraw. More recently, John has been actively engaged in the community surrounding Microsoft’s Xna Framework as well as the .NET platform itself.

John is an independent contract based programmer who has worked on several projects including Crossdrilled Clothing, Personal Websites, and .NET applications including Math Game. John has also started several projects in his own spare time including Dx5D, Xna5D, Thrust, Galactic Wars 3, and Juice. His endeavours always involve projects that are too large for one man because he loves large system architecture design. One of the .NET platform’s greatest strengths is giving programmers the ability to worry about design structure rather than the micro-management of implementation details.

When John is not programming his latest and greatest idea, he turns to quite a few hobbies to relax. Whether it is driving his car on a winding country road or photographing whatever he sees, he is probably actually thinking about fixing the current bug in his code. Be sure to check out his photography at his SmugMug Gallery.

You can always reach him as well as many other talented programmers (George, Ziggy, ZMan, et al) on IRC on both the EFNet and AfterNET servers in the channel #xna.