Matt Martin
08:09 (BST)
23/07/2008
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Microsoft offers 70 per cent of sales to Community Games creators
Microsoft has revealed that creators of the Xbox Live Community Games will be able to receive up to 70 per cent of the total revenue generated by their game.
The games will sell for three pre-set prices varying between 200 (GBP 1.70 / EUR 2.33) and 800 (GBP 6.80 / EUR 9.30) Microsoft Points, but Microsoft will charge 10 - 30 per cent fees for titles promoted through Xbox.com and on home consoles.
"Not only are we democratising game development with Xbox Live Community Games later this year, but we're creating an opportunity for aspiring developers to start their careers on the world stage," said Chris Satchell, newly appointed chief technology officer for Microsoft's Entertainment Business.
"It is really a win for both developers and consumers because this will no doubt act as an incentive for game creators to continue to develop the best, most innovative games for Xbox 360."
The Community Games channel is expected to launch on the revamped Xbox Live service later this year in Europe, Canada and the US.
Community Games are built using Microsoft's XNA toolset, with the company offering aspiring developers a chance to win USD 70,000 worth of prizes in the second annual Dream-Build-Play game development contest, currently underway.
"Since first launching XNA Game Studio in 2006, we have been working hard on improving the toolset and building resources for the community, and the response has been amazing," commented Boyd Multerer, general manager of XNA
“To date, we've had more than one million downloads of XNA Game Studio and adoption in more than 700 universities. For some perspective, the incredible creative community we've unleashed worldwide is more than 25 times the number of professional developers in the industry."
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