Microsoft talks YouTube for games

In an interview with Next Generation, Microsoft's Chris Satchell discussed XNA Game Studio Express, a do-it-yourself solution for ambitious gamers who would like to create console games while munching chips and sipping Coke, all from the luxury of their couch at home. According to Satchell, the purpose of XNA Game Studio is to lower the barrier that prevents gamers from making the transition to game designers. What with the heavy-duty competition and all, anything that helps this cause is welcome.

Creators will, some time next year, be able to upload their games (assuming approval) to a new channel on Xbox Live dedicated to community games. Satchell says, “Anybody on Xbox Live can pick your game up. You’ll have an audience of six million people that can go and play your game. You don’t have to have a publisher, you can now just share with the world. It’s a really good differentiation for our platform to have those tiers of content, ranging from Triple A to Arcade to Community.”

After a bit more rambling, Satchell goes on to emphasize that creating and publishing games via this service would definitely be worth your while if you hope to enter the game development industry.

“I guarantee publishers are going to be looking at these games, looking for new talent, looking for new ideas, just like Epic Records trolls MySpace looking for new people.”

Not a very comforting comparison, Chris. But it's OK ... we know what you mean.