Microsoft’s indie developer tool, XNA, is more than just a program that helps people create games. It can also create ambience ... the smoky and crackly kind. Recently, a creator by the name of SniperED007 debuted his latest masterpiece – the Fireplace. It is a screensaver that mimics a real fireplace on your Xbox 360 for the low, low price of 400 Microsoft points.
If you’re skeptical that it isn’t amazing, check out this video of it in action. Fireplace gives users all the action of a real fireplace and excludes the mess. It also cuts out your father yelling at you to cut the wood, your mother crying because her drapes are being soiled, and the potential of burning things that aren’t wood.
While you could build an argument that the Snowglobe is a billion times more fun than the Fireplace, we have to cede to the majesty of the embers’ glow. If only we could reach out and touch the virtual fire. XNA needs to get a handle on 3D projection.
[via Major Nelson]
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Contest:
8:40 AM on 12.22.2008
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WATCH IT SPIN IF THE USER DECIDES IT TO. OR NOT. WHATEVER, MAN, I'M EASY. PRESS A TO BUY NOW.
(What's more christmassy than the warming glow of a RRoD?)
If the fire logs deteriorated, and there were variations on types of wood, It'd be a total 800 point buy.
As it stands, i'd price this at 250 points.
Also, can we get a review of this? Are these guys aware of Jim's review challenge?
I spent 11 months creating the XNA Community Game Snake360. It has 300 levels that can be played in single-player or co-op modes, ranging from really easy to really, really challenging. It also has survival mode, two battle modes for up to 4 players, Internet Ranking, special modes for kids... easily 10+ hours of gameplay. The graphics aren't that great and I'll admit that, but the soundtrack is excellent and the gameplay is top-notch. Anyone who enjoys arcade-style games should love it. The multiplayer is great at parties, to boot.
Snake360 costs 400 points. The same as this... fireplace.
I am running contests RIGHT NOW with $450 in MS Points and LIVE Gold subscriptions as prizes, including a "race" contest to clear 90% of the single-player game. The contests have been open for two weeks now and nobody has completed the 90% race yet. I have done this in 5-6 hours, so I know it's possible.
I have submitted news about the contest to several major gaming sites and blogs--including this one--SEVERAL TIMES. None of them will run the story or even contact me to ask about it. Last I checked, gamers like contests and prizes...and yet nobody on the editorial board of those sites feels this is newsworthy.
Now, on the front page of this very blog, viewed by millions of people, there is a story about a fireplace "game." I feel like promoting my contest is impossible, and yet... this.
(If any of you, for some reason, feel like learning more about Snake360 or the contests, you can visit www.snake360.com.)
Take the Game Review Challenge!! This sounds way more awesome than I would have reckoned for Snake!!
Do you know about the xna review challenge?
Destructoid's XNA Community Review Challenge
Basically, you buy the game for Destructoid and they give you a real deal, full on review. PLEASE do this!
yyr, YES YOU CAN!
Thanks for that, I'll have a look at the trial when I get home, the videos look like a lot of fun. It may be the first community game I purchase.
For 400 points I expect something that at least looks good. This is a waste.
I'm going to mirror Tubatic's suggestion and say try the Game Review Challenge. Snake360 is one of the few I have not tried yet (I have no excuse, other than my 360 is now packed up for Vacation times), but judging from your description, there's a lot more to it than I originally took for and am interested in investigating further.
I bet MS secretly issued this is to counter the wii's fish tank screen saver.
(I'm not talking about a community made game like the one yyr made, I'm talking about the yule log) Oh and if I like the game I've downloaded I gotta pay for a gamer pic? I can't just make one... Sigh...
(I had this idea the other day, in my no-fireplace apartment...)