WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.670 >> Everybody, welcome back. 00:00:01.670 --> 00:00:03.030 My name is Adam Szofran. 00:00:03.030 --> 00:00:05.910 We are live here at GDC at the Microsoft booth. 00:00:05.910 --> 00:00:07.945 We've got some exciting things going on today. 00:00:07.945 --> 00:00:10.805 Right now, I am here with Diana and she is 00:00:10.805 --> 00:00:12.590 a Product Marketing Manager 00:00:12.590 --> 00:00:14.925 for the Xbox Live Creators Program. 00:00:14.925 --> 00:00:18.010 And so, what is the Xbox Live Creators Program? 00:00:18.010 --> 00:00:21.405 >> Well, hi. It's really exciting to be here at GDC. 00:00:21.405 --> 00:00:24.840 So, the Xbox Live Creators Program actually started 00:00:24.840 --> 00:00:30.480 and we first publicize ourselves in August of 2017. 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:32.800 So, I mean we've only been around for about eight months. 00:00:32.800 --> 00:00:35.515 And this is the first GDC 00:00:35.515 --> 00:00:36.800 that we're talking straight 00:00:36.800 --> 00:00:37.860 up about the Creators Program. 00:00:37.860 --> 00:00:38.040 >> Cool. 00:00:38.040 --> 00:00:40.690 >> So, that's a really exciting time for us. 00:00:40.690 --> 00:00:43.590 What is the Xbox Live Creators Program? Good question. 00:00:43.590 --> 00:00:44.045 >> Right. 00:00:44.045 --> 00:00:46.410 >> Pretty basic. So, to kind 00:00:46.410 --> 00:00:48.935 of distill it down to a couple of sentences. 00:00:48.935 --> 00:00:52.975 It's basically, we want to empower indie developers of 00:00:52.975 --> 00:00:57.770 all skill levels to be able to publish on to Xbox Live. 00:00:57.770 --> 00:00:59.955 On the Xbox as well as PC. 00:00:59.955 --> 00:01:01.810 And so, we've distill it 00:01:01.810 --> 00:01:03.990 down to make it as easy as possible 00:01:03.990 --> 00:01:06.840 so there is no concept approval 00:01:06.840 --> 00:01:08.140 needed. You just have to follow. 00:01:08.140 --> 00:01:10.485 >> What you need if you have like a AAA title. 00:01:10.485 --> 00:01:13.180 >> Exactly. But you do have to follow 00:01:13.180 --> 00:01:15.450 the Windows Store policy. 00:01:15.450 --> 00:01:15.680 >> Yeah. 00:01:15.680 --> 00:01:17.700 >> That's pretty basic stuff like 00:01:17.700 --> 00:01:20.265 you don't want something that is explicitly. 00:01:20.265 --> 00:01:23.790 You don't want to have explicitly negative things 00:01:23.790 --> 00:01:25.270 in your game and whatever. 00:01:25.270 --> 00:01:26.540 But, we mean, you can find 00:01:26.540 --> 00:01:28.840 those tools online pretty easily. 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:31.055 It's pretty easy to follow, is what we're saying. 00:01:31.055 --> 00:01:34.715 So, no concept approval as well as simple certification. 00:01:34.715 --> 00:01:35.620 As you mentioned, 00:01:35.620 --> 00:01:38.670 it's certification is something that AAA studio 00:01:38.670 --> 00:01:41.630 or AAA games to you go through and it's pretty heavy, 00:01:41.630 --> 00:01:44.740 it's arduous, and it's just a long process. 00:01:44.740 --> 00:01:46.675 For us, with the Creators Program, 00:01:46.675 --> 00:01:48.570 we wanted to make it as easy as 00:01:48.570 --> 00:01:50.930 possible and I can't stress that enough like 00:01:50.930 --> 00:01:55.690 we have different programs like ID@Xbox, 00:01:55.690 --> 00:01:58.755 we have another programs 00:01:58.755 --> 00:02:01.570 that make it a lot harder and a lot. 00:02:01.570 --> 00:02:02.365 >> More in-depth. 00:02:02.365 --> 00:02:03.560 >> More in-depth. Yeah. 00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:07.445 And so the Creators Program was designed with 00:02:07.445 --> 00:02:08.930 the indie developer in mind 00:02:08.930 --> 00:02:10.530 to be able to test their games, 00:02:10.530 --> 00:02:11.280 to show their games 00:02:11.280 --> 00:02:14.175 to a millions of people on Xbox and on PC. 00:02:14.175 --> 00:02:15.420 >> Very cool. 00:02:15.420 --> 00:02:17.530 >> And, yeah, that what it is. 00:02:17.530 --> 00:02:19.030 >> So, what was 00:02:19.030 --> 00:02:21.440 the inspiration for the program behind the program? 00:02:21.440 --> 00:02:24.385 >> Yeah. So, I answer that with my previous answer. 00:02:24.385 --> 00:02:26.610 It's really, there's two key words of 00:02:26.610 --> 00:02:28.150 empowering and inspiring 00:02:28.150 --> 00:02:30.275 indie developers of all skill levels. 00:02:30.275 --> 00:02:33.130 So, whether you are a AAA developer 00:02:33.130 --> 00:02:35.235 and you just kind of wanted to 00:02:35.235 --> 00:02:38.300 published your side hobby game or we 00:02:38.300 --> 00:02:40.310 have a lot of husband and wife teams 00:02:40.310 --> 00:02:41.530 that work on something, 00:02:41.530 --> 00:02:43.250 work on their games and the after work. 00:02:43.250 --> 00:02:43.960 >> That's cool. 00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:47.290 >> So that's a side project to bring themselves together. 00:02:47.290 --> 00:02:50.325 We have teams ranging from 00:02:50.325 --> 00:02:53.930 one developer to five developers to more than that. 00:02:53.930 --> 00:02:56.100 >> It seems size doesn't matter. I regret. 00:02:56.100 --> 00:02:57.510 >> Yeah, team size doesn't matter, 00:02:57.510 --> 00:02:58.790 team funding doesn't matter. 00:02:58.790 --> 00:03:00.515 They're kind of just people are working 00:03:00.515 --> 00:03:03.140 on whatever they're passionate about. 00:03:03.140 --> 00:03:05.250 And when I talk to developers 00:03:05.250 --> 00:03:06.950 for the Creators Program in the past, 00:03:06.950 --> 00:03:08.220 we've really just said like, 00:03:08.220 --> 00:03:12.300 "This was inspired by a personal experience." 00:03:12.530 --> 00:03:14.910 Or, to something that 00:03:14.910 --> 00:03:16.420 is like very personal to them and they 00:03:16.420 --> 00:03:18.010 wanted to create something that they can 00:03:18.010 --> 00:03:20.070 share with the world and I think that's, 00:03:20.070 --> 00:03:22.265 that's what really special. 00:03:22.265 --> 00:03:25.660 We really wanted to empower and inspire 00:03:25.660 --> 00:03:27.760 developers to bring their games to 00:03:27.760 --> 00:03:29.030 the world and this is what we're 00:03:29.030 --> 00:03:30.480 doing with the Creators Program. 00:03:30.480 --> 00:03:32.300 >> Is that what you love so much about the program. 00:03:32.300 --> 00:03:35.840 >> Yeah, it is. Yeah. I am not 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:36.930 a game developer myself 00:03:36.930 --> 00:03:39.367 but with this program, I, 00:03:39.367 --> 00:03:44.190 what I'm really inspired to bring it to Xbox, I think, 00:03:44.190 --> 00:03:47.130 as a product marketing manager, 00:03:47.130 --> 00:03:51.295 this is something I cannot 100 and 50 percent get behind. 00:03:51.295 --> 00:03:55.290 I'm in marketing because we really bringing a product to 00:03:55.290 --> 00:03:59.755 life that allows people to reach their full potential. 00:03:59.755 --> 00:04:01.460 And like I said, 00:04:01.460 --> 00:04:03.910 it's people who in their day job, 00:04:03.910 --> 00:04:04.760 they're doing something that 00:04:04.760 --> 00:04:05.630 they don't really care about. 00:04:05.630 --> 00:04:06.490 But when they come home and 00:04:06.490 --> 00:04:07.390 they get to work in their game. 00:04:07.390 --> 00:04:08.930 >> They want to do fun stuff of games, 00:04:08.930 --> 00:04:09.970 which is why everybody's here. 00:04:09.970 --> 00:04:11.350 This is an exciting event and. 00:04:11.350 --> 00:04:12.110 >> Exactly. 00:04:12.110 --> 00:04:15.550 >> So, the marketing manager that we have on our team 00:04:15.550 --> 00:04:20.020 before was Chrissy and she developed, 00:04:20.020 --> 00:04:21.440 she had no Game Dev experience. 00:04:21.440 --> 00:04:21.670 >> Yeah. 00:04:21.670 --> 00:04:22.750 >> And she's like, "You guys are all 00:04:22.750 --> 00:04:24.270 developing here. I wanted to help develop the game." 00:04:24.270 --> 00:04:25.590 And it may have had to do with birds 00:04:25.590 --> 00:04:27.435 flying around and doing things with people's heads. 00:04:27.435 --> 00:04:28.900 We will discuss that but. 00:04:28.900 --> 00:04:29.350 >> Okay. 00:04:29.350 --> 00:04:30.520 >> There's hope, right? 00:04:30.520 --> 00:04:31.860 Let's talk after this about how 00:04:31.860 --> 00:04:33.420 maybe you can start developing a game. 00:04:33.420 --> 00:04:35.550 >> Yeah. I think, I mean that 00:04:35.550 --> 00:04:38.590 everyone's doing it and everyone plays a game. 00:04:38.590 --> 00:04:39.780 Statistic I really love. 00:04:39.780 --> 00:04:43.615 It's actually, as a woman in gaming, technically. 00:04:43.615 --> 00:04:46.880 There are more female gamers than there are 00:04:46.880 --> 00:04:49.720 male gamers especially in the mobile world. 00:04:49.720 --> 00:04:50.600 >> That's great. 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:55.000 >> And women don't tend to consider themselves as gamers. 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:56.185 But I think that 00:04:56.185 --> 00:05:00.515 that needs to be changed and it's on the way of changing. 00:05:00.515 --> 00:05:03.690 People are gaming more in gaming as 00:05:03.690 --> 00:05:07.910 encompassing more than just, just playing the game 00:05:07.910 --> 00:05:11.380 on your Xbox but beyond that, 00:05:11.380 --> 00:05:14.390 on the PC, on mobile and et cetera. 00:05:14.390 --> 00:05:16.960 And then more women are becoming game developers. 00:05:16.960 --> 00:05:18.900 And that something that we're 00:05:18.900 --> 00:05:21.190 really invested in as a program to. 00:05:21.190 --> 00:05:23.910 There are some, all-female teams 00:05:23.910 --> 00:05:29.195 that we found as we've been talking to developers and so, 00:05:29.195 --> 00:05:30.720 we just really want to make this, 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:33.625 I just really want to make this program as inclusive as 00:05:33.625 --> 00:05:37.150 possible and empowering as possible to whoever you are. 00:05:37.150 --> 00:05:38.610 >> That's great. So, it sounds like you have a lot of 00:05:38.610 --> 00:05:40.140 personal passion around this. 00:05:40.140 --> 00:05:40.420 >> I do, yeah. 00:05:40.420 --> 00:05:42.210 >> This is a lot of stuff. 00:05:42.210 --> 00:05:44.495 For me, it kind of a good passion area. 00:05:44.495 --> 00:05:46.800 Is, I like empowering students. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:47.130 >> Yeah. 00:05:47.130 --> 00:05:48.260 >> And I know you guys that something's 00:05:48.260 --> 00:05:49.410 going on on the student side right now. 00:05:49.410 --> 00:05:50.500 You talk about what you're engaging in 00:05:50.500 --> 00:05:51.660 the students and student developers. 00:05:51.660 --> 00:05:54.070 >> Yes. So, like you said, 00:05:54.070 --> 00:05:55.210 we've only been around for about 00:05:55.210 --> 00:05:57.120 eight months but something 00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:01.980 that you realized was that students are the future, right? 00:06:01.980 --> 00:06:02.810 >> Yep. Absolutely. 00:06:02.810 --> 00:06:03.310 >> That's right. 00:06:03.310 --> 00:06:05.070 That's what sounds students are the future. 00:06:05.070 --> 00:06:07.660 I was a student pretty recently. 00:06:07.660 --> 00:06:10.990 And the tools that you use as a student are 00:06:10.990 --> 00:06:13.150 the tools that you were going to continue 00:06:13.150 --> 00:06:15.160 to use outside of school. 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:17.515 As you graduate, a common game developers and 00:06:17.515 --> 00:06:20.685 join a big studio or a small studio or a medium studio. 00:06:20.685 --> 00:06:23.495 So with that in mind, 00:06:23.495 --> 00:06:26.510 we launched the pilot program this 00:06:26.510 --> 00:06:29.650 January called The Creator's Education Program. 00:06:29.650 --> 00:06:31.360 And with that, essentially, 00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:34.450 we're working with two top game development schools 00:06:34.450 --> 00:06:35.680 in the U.S. currently. 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:36.360 >> That's great. 00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:38.020 >> We're working with professors and 00:06:38.020 --> 00:06:39.890 student teams and the student teams 00:06:39.890 --> 00:06:43.820 are junior senior teams comprising of, 00:06:43.820 --> 00:06:47.780 I think from a range of maybe five to 20 students 00:06:47.780 --> 00:06:50.360 working on a game project for the entire year. 00:06:50.360 --> 00:06:51.105 >> Okay. 00:06:51.105 --> 00:06:54.050 >> And so by nature of that, 00:06:54.050 --> 00:06:56.410 and they get graded for this program, for these games. 00:06:56.410 --> 00:06:59.030 And so, you know that there is a level of investment there 00:06:59.030 --> 00:07:03.650 and a level of skill that we really wanted to happen. 00:07:03.650 --> 00:07:04.935 >> A little bit more committed. 00:07:04.935 --> 00:07:07.220 >> Exactly. So, so we're working with 00:07:07.220 --> 00:07:08.670 the schools and student teams 00:07:08.670 --> 00:07:11.785 to answer any technical questions that might come up. 00:07:11.785 --> 00:07:13.870 Provide them with some extra resources. 00:07:13.870 --> 00:07:14.450 >> That's great. 00:07:14.450 --> 00:07:17.440 >> And seeing what this Pilot Program will bring into 00:07:17.440 --> 00:07:21.060 the Creators Program by the end of their spring semester. 00:07:21.060 --> 00:07:23.350 So, we're tracking around May, June, 00:07:23.350 --> 00:07:25.575 May, June? 00:07:25.575 --> 00:07:27.400 June is after. 00:07:27.400 --> 00:07:29.655 Yeah. So, in that timeline, 00:07:29.655 --> 00:07:31.484 expecting a lot of really good 00:07:31.484 --> 00:07:33.385 student games coming to that program. 00:07:33.385 --> 00:07:37.505 So, I'll check it out definitely in that, in that time. 00:07:37.505 --> 00:07:39.360 And with this Pilot Program too, 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:41.375 I want to emphasize that, 00:07:41.375 --> 00:07:44.590 that we want to get more students and schools involved. 00:07:44.590 --> 00:07:47.130 >> Yeah. Some of the hands down coolest 00:07:47.130 --> 00:07:48.240 indie games that I've seen 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:49.995 were developed by students. 00:07:49.995 --> 00:07:51.435 I mean, they just 00:07:51.435 --> 00:07:53.480 inspiration to work in what they're doing in 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:55.290 school and I mean the fact that 00:07:55.290 --> 00:07:57.280 we now have Game Dev programs as part of schools is. 00:07:57.280 --> 00:07:57.550 >> Yeah. 00:07:57.550 --> 00:07:58.940 >> Is amazing. I think it's been a long 00:07:58.940 --> 00:08:00.690 time coming. So, really happened to see it there. 00:08:00.690 --> 00:08:02.920 So, if you are a developer, can you kind of distill down 00:08:02.920 --> 00:08:04.065 the steps that are required to 00:08:04.065 --> 00:08:05.650 get into the Xbox Live Creators Program? 00:08:05.650 --> 00:08:09.225 >> Exactly. So, it's pretty simple. 00:08:09.225 --> 00:08:11.150 One, you start a, 00:08:11.150 --> 00:08:14.195 you sign up for Dev Center account. 00:08:14.195 --> 00:08:17.655 It's $20 for an individual. It's a one time cost. 00:08:17.655 --> 00:08:20.950 If you're part of an organization or a company, it's, 00:08:20.950 --> 00:08:24.485 I believe, $99 for a group account. 00:08:24.485 --> 00:08:26.600 So, once you have your Dev Center account, 00:08:26.600 --> 00:08:30.220 you're fully equipped to tap into all of our resources. 00:08:30.220 --> 00:08:32.130 We have a lot of great documentation 00:08:32.130 --> 00:08:33.790 that is available just online for 00:08:33.790 --> 00:08:35.420 a community of developers 00:08:35.420 --> 00:08:37.150 specific to the Creators Program as 00:08:37.150 --> 00:08:41.240 well as to the Universal Windows Platform. 00:08:41.240 --> 00:08:44.685 And that's kind of the next really important step. 00:08:44.685 --> 00:08:47.500 The second step, 00:08:47.500 --> 00:08:49.890 would be to integrate Xbox Live features. 00:08:49.890 --> 00:08:50.215 >> Okay. 00:08:50.215 --> 00:08:51.235 >> And. 00:08:51.235 --> 00:08:53.550 >> Do the Dev Center account integrate the features? 00:08:53.550 --> 00:08:53.930 >> Exactly. 00:08:53.930 --> 00:08:55.020 >> When you say to integrate the features, 00:08:55.020 --> 00:08:55.620 what do you mean? 00:08:55.620 --> 00:08:59.470 >> Yeah. So, so what's awesome is actually that 00:08:59.470 --> 00:09:02.830 you get to pick that engine that you want to 00:09:02.830 --> 00:09:04.260 work on to publish your game. 00:09:04.260 --> 00:09:06.570 So, what's special is 00:09:06.570 --> 00:09:09.530 also that we have partnerships with Unity, 00:09:09.530 --> 00:09:14.245 Construct 2 and 3, GameMaker, Xenko, and MonoGames, 00:09:14.245 --> 00:09:17.480 and they all, we all have plugins that are 00:09:17.480 --> 00:09:21.660 built-in with the Xbox Live features including sign in, 00:09:21.660 --> 00:09:24.775 including presence, Gamertag 00:09:24.775 --> 00:09:27.920 and a bunch of different features 00:09:27.920 --> 00:09:29.520 that you can deploy into your game. 00:09:29.520 --> 00:09:33.205 So you can use whatever engine you want to do that. 00:09:33.205 --> 00:09:35.560 And I forgot to mention Unity. 00:09:35.560 --> 00:09:37.180 Unity is one of them. 00:09:37.180 --> 00:09:39.420 And so, you use the engine of 00:09:39.420 --> 00:09:42.335 your choice to create your game. 00:09:42.335 --> 00:09:44.015 You publish as UWP, 00:09:44.015 --> 00:09:47.000 you integrate all the Xbox Live features and at 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:51.170 minimum it is Xbox Live presence and Gamertag. 00:09:51.170 --> 00:09:56.510 The other stuff like party chats, like clubs, 00:09:56.510 --> 00:09:59.000 game DVR, Cloud saves, 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:03.840 those all come with the Xbox Live package. 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:07.430 But it's not necessary to integrate those into your game. 00:10:07.430 --> 00:10:08.735 >> If you want them, you can have them. 00:10:08.735 --> 00:10:09.400 >> If you want. 00:10:09.400 --> 00:10:10.080 >> So, you don't have to. 00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:11.365 >> Yeah. And I want to emphasize 00:10:11.365 --> 00:10:13.030 that like the more you do 00:10:13.030 --> 00:10:14.670 those social features especially like 00:10:14.670 --> 00:10:17.745 party chats and clubs, 00:10:17.745 --> 00:10:20.900 the more you allow people to engage within your game. 00:10:20.900 --> 00:10:23.210 So, you're tapping into, 00:10:23.210 --> 00:10:24.735 I don't know if I mentioned this but 00:10:24.735 --> 00:10:27.310 55 million gamers on the console. 00:10:27.310 --> 00:10:27.670 >> That's awesome. 00:10:27.670 --> 00:10:29.645 >> Hundreds of millions on PC. 00:10:29.645 --> 00:10:31.210 And I think those numbers, 00:10:31.210 --> 00:10:34.280 and they're not just the, you know, the numbers. 00:10:34.280 --> 00:10:36.155 I think we've. 00:10:36.155 --> 00:10:40.115 shown that the Xbox community 00:10:40.115 --> 00:10:43.190 is a very very highly engaged community of gamers. 00:10:43.190 --> 00:10:43.650 >> Absolutely. 00:10:43.650 --> 00:10:45.850 >> People come back every day to play. 00:10:45.850 --> 00:10:47.475 >> Oh, yeah. I'm one of them. 00:10:47.475 --> 00:10:49.755 >> Yeah, exactly. 00:10:49.755 --> 00:10:53.820 And these games have a lot of engagement. 00:10:53.820 --> 00:10:55.305 And so you're tapping into them. 00:10:55.305 --> 00:10:57.180 And the more you allow people to 00:10:57.180 --> 00:11:01.165 engage in the community with each other as gamers, 00:11:01.165 --> 00:11:04.715 the more you allow people to come back 00:11:04.715 --> 00:11:08.130 and enable them to come back and talk to people. Yeah. 00:11:08.130 --> 00:11:09.950 >> So, I'm a developer. 00:11:09.950 --> 00:11:13.660 I'm going to create something that I want to go in 00:11:13.660 --> 00:11:15.085 the Xbox Live Creators Program. 00:11:15.085 --> 00:11:16.730 What's the difference here between if I'm doing it, 00:11:16.730 --> 00:11:19.505 let's say, PC versus console. 00:11:19.505 --> 00:11:20.600 >> PC versus? 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:22.275 >> PC versus console. 00:11:22.275 --> 00:11:26.130 >> Yeah. So, so with the Creators Program, 00:11:26.130 --> 00:11:29.950 you get the option of deploying to or publishing to, 00:11:29.950 --> 00:11:32.735 to Windows PC to Xbox console. 00:11:32.735 --> 00:11:34.320 Both, either or whatever. 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:36.610 Whatever you want to do. 00:11:36.610 --> 00:11:38.280 We've made that easy. 00:11:38.280 --> 00:11:41.025 But what we've noticed is that, 00:11:41.025 --> 00:11:44.180 obviously, publishing for PC 00:11:44.180 --> 00:11:46.825 vs Console is a different experience. 00:11:46.825 --> 00:11:49.190 And so testing your game is 00:11:49.190 --> 00:11:51.830 an important part of the process. 00:11:51.830 --> 00:11:54.360 Designing the game for the living room is 00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:58.480 a very very different experience and making sure. 00:11:58.545 --> 00:12:01.220 thatyour game is compatible 00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:03.170 with the right kind of setup. 00:12:03.170 --> 00:12:06.405 I think it would be the main differentiation. 00:12:06.405 --> 00:12:09.250 In terms of what games I feel like 00:12:09.250 --> 00:12:13.100 are better as PC or console, 00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:16.855 I think, honestly, people know what good games are, 00:12:16.855 --> 00:12:20.200 and they love playing them on PC or console. 00:12:20.200 --> 00:12:23.355 And we've made it, through the Xbox live features, 00:12:23.355 --> 00:12:26.465 we've made it so that you can pick up where you left off. 00:12:26.465 --> 00:12:29.240 So, as long as you're signed in. 00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:30.435 >> So, when you say through the PC 00:12:30.435 --> 00:12:31.760 now, are we talking specifically, 00:12:31.760 --> 00:12:33.555 these are universal Windows applications 00:12:33.555 --> 00:12:34.655 pulled down from the Windows Store? 00:12:34.655 --> 00:12:35.200 >> Yeah. 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:37.745 >> Okay. And same thing, 00:12:37.745 --> 00:12:39.880 we'll talk about where we get those on the Xbox as well. 00:12:39.880 --> 00:12:40.135 >> Cool. 00:12:40.135 --> 00:12:42.300 >> Now on the Xbox, 00:12:42.300 --> 00:12:45.355 I'm going to need, I want to deploy something there. 00:12:45.355 --> 00:12:47.805 Can I have in-game purchases 00:12:47.805 --> 00:12:49.450 and can I set the price for my title? 00:12:49.450 --> 00:12:51.265 >> Yes. Yes, you can. Yeah. 00:12:51.265 --> 00:12:52.665 >> It's easy to do? 00:12:52.665 --> 00:12:53.535 >> It's easy to do. Yeah. 00:12:53.535 --> 00:12:54.980 >> All right. Very good. 00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:58.815 So, a number of years back, we announced, ID@Xbox. 00:12:58.815 --> 00:12:59.905 And that was a way that we kind of 00:12:59.905 --> 00:13:01.455 enabled any developers that were to come, 00:13:01.455 --> 00:13:02.735 get your title in the Xbox. 00:13:02.735 --> 00:13:05.290 What differentiates the Xbox Live Creators Program 00:13:05.290 --> 00:13:06.970 for what we have at ID@Xbox? 00:13:06.970 --> 00:13:09.090 >> Yeah. We get that question a lot. 00:13:09.090 --> 00:13:12.385 And the way that I would consider the relationship 00:13:12.385 --> 00:13:13.905 between ID@Xbox and 00:13:13.905 --> 00:13:16.070 the Creators Program is that we're really, 00:13:16.070 --> 00:13:17.820 we stand by each other. 00:13:17.820 --> 00:13:21.880 So, the ID@Xbox program is for 00:13:21.880 --> 00:13:24.360 teams that want to publish a game 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:27.190 that is not yet at AAA levels. 00:13:27.190 --> 00:13:28.285 >> Okay. 00:13:28.285 --> 00:13:30.390 >> Yeah. But they are. 00:13:30.390 --> 00:13:31.025 >> Indie devs. 00:13:31.025 --> 00:13:33.145 >> Indie devs, who are 00:13:33.145 --> 00:13:35.675 really passionate about bringing their game to the world. 00:13:35.675 --> 00:13:37.515 So, they work with account managers, 00:13:37.515 --> 00:13:39.745 they work with the specialist within 00:13:39.745 --> 00:13:42.755 the ID@Xbox team through a timeline, 00:13:42.755 --> 00:13:43.835 and they bring their game, 00:13:43.835 --> 00:13:45.175 like Cuphead, for example, 00:13:45.175 --> 00:13:48.950 that recently launched, was through the ID@Xbox program. 00:13:48.950 --> 00:13:51.880 So, the way to think about the Creators Program 00:13:51.880 --> 00:13:56.095 is as a stepping stone into the ID@Xbox program. 00:13:56.095 --> 00:14:01.130 So, we have two major differentiations. 00:14:01.130 --> 00:14:05.350 We don't allow for achievements for online multiplayer. 00:14:05.350 --> 00:14:06.755 >> In the Creators Program. 00:14:06.755 --> 00:14:07.845 >> In the Creators Program. 00:14:07.845 --> 00:14:10.775 Our main caveat with the multiplayer, 00:14:10.775 --> 00:14:15.235 is that couch co-op is something that you can deploy. 00:14:16.325 --> 00:14:20.795 But those are the kind of the two main differentiators. 00:14:20.795 --> 00:14:24.620 From the ID@Xbox program and the Creators Program. 00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:27.735 Beyond that, as I mentioned previously, 00:14:27.735 --> 00:14:31.105 at concept approval is 00:14:31.105 --> 00:14:34.315 zero and it's a simple certification 00:14:34.315 --> 00:14:36.355 for the Creators Program. So you can think of. 00:14:36.355 --> 00:14:37.985 >> Little bit easier to release the title. 00:14:37.985 --> 00:14:39.210 >> Yeah, you can think of us as 00:14:39.210 --> 00:14:43.980 just an easier way to publish on to Xbox and PC. 00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:46.665 And you don't get to 00:14:46.665 --> 00:14:48.900 tap into achievements for online multiplayer. 00:14:48.900 --> 00:14:50.785 >> All right, so we've kind 00:14:50.785 --> 00:14:53.965 of lesser certification requirement so to say. 00:14:53.965 --> 00:14:56.785 Do these games go where 00:14:56.785 --> 00:14:57.965 all the rest of the AAA titles and 00:14:57.965 --> 00:14:59.115 everything else are on the Xbox or there's 00:14:59.115 --> 00:15:01.720 a particular area that folks go to find these games? 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:04.025 >> Yeah. So, we've made it easy to find 00:15:04.025 --> 00:15:05.630 the Creators Program games 00:15:05.630 --> 00:15:08.140 within the Xbox console for one. 00:15:08.140 --> 00:15:10.430 So, if you go to "All games", 00:15:10.430 --> 00:15:12.405 "Browse games" there is 00:15:12.405 --> 00:15:15.475 a grey box that'll say "Creators Collections". 00:15:15.475 --> 00:15:16.895 So, all the games within 00:15:16.895 --> 00:15:18.345 the Creators Program are 00:15:18.345 --> 00:15:19.825 housed within the "Creators Collection", 00:15:19.825 --> 00:15:22.545 and then you can access them all right there. 00:15:22.545 --> 00:15:25.480 It's been really good to have, 00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:29.045 we have reco channels that show on "Top paid". 00:15:29.045 --> 00:15:32.015 We have some new reco channels 00:15:32.015 --> 00:15:34.445 coming in that we'll be excited about. 00:15:34.445 --> 00:15:36.300 The "Top paid," like, 00:15:36.300 --> 00:15:38.540 "Best rated" you know, 00:15:38.540 --> 00:15:40.735 they're pretty standard reco channels. 00:15:40.735 --> 00:15:42.595 But we've made it so you can 00:15:42.595 --> 00:15:44.695 really find the games that you want, 00:15:44.695 --> 00:15:48.615 that people are receiving well. 00:15:48.615 --> 00:15:50.715 And things that, yeah, 00:15:50.715 --> 00:15:53.325 people are enjoying to play on the Creators Program. 00:15:53.325 --> 00:15:55.175 >> Now, we've talked that we can also 00:15:55.175 --> 00:15:57.850 have these features on the PC as well. 00:15:57.850 --> 00:15:59.925 So, how do find 00:15:59.925 --> 00:16:01.825 it on the Windows Store to say you're on a PC? 00:16:01.825 --> 00:16:04.660 >> Yeah. So when you 00:16:04.660 --> 00:16:08.500 go and browse games on the Windows Store, 00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:10.385 if you find a game 00:16:10.385 --> 00:16:11.815 that is within the Creators Collection, 00:16:11.815 --> 00:16:13.435 it'll say Creators Collection when you 00:16:13.435 --> 00:16:15.360 scroll down onto the game page. 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:16.045 >> Got you, okay. 00:16:16.045 --> 00:16:17.175 >> But as of now, 00:16:17.175 --> 00:16:20.395 we don't have a curated space 00:16:20.395 --> 00:16:21.815 for Creators Collection games. 00:16:21.815 --> 00:16:23.835 >> Okay, got you. On the Xbox, 00:16:23.835 --> 00:16:25.135 yes. Windows Store, no. 00:16:25.135 --> 00:16:25.720 >> Not just yet. 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:28.165 >> That's pretty cool. 00:16:28.165 --> 00:16:30.915 Now, the program is fairly new, right. 00:16:30.915 --> 00:16:32.040 August of this past year. 00:16:32.040 --> 00:16:33.575 And sometimes giving a game new console 00:16:33.575 --> 00:16:34.800 can be a decent effort. 00:16:34.800 --> 00:16:37.565 How many games do we have now inside of that area? 00:16:37.565 --> 00:16:41.875 >> Yeah, so we had 100 hundred a few months ago. 00:16:41.875 --> 00:16:43.775 So, people are really 00:16:43.775 --> 00:16:45.345 finding out about the Creators Program, 00:16:45.345 --> 00:16:49.790 and really it's been amazing just to kind of to uptake. 00:16:49.790 --> 00:16:52.025 And now, I think we're at in the range 00:16:52.025 --> 00:16:54.600 of 150 to 200 games across the. 00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:56.875 platforms, which is awesome. 00:16:56.875 --> 00:16:58.615 >> That's cool. What kind of games do you see in there? 00:16:58.615 --> 00:17:02.895 >> Honestly, you see a lot of throwbacks, 00:17:02.895 --> 00:17:04.935 you see a lot of like arcade games, 00:17:04.935 --> 00:17:07.665 and things that really like bring your nostalgia back. 00:17:07.665 --> 00:17:10.640 About the games, like I loved my game boy back then. 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:12.905 And I'm seeing a lot of games like are 00:17:12.905 --> 00:17:15.425 reminiscent of those, of that style. 00:17:15.425 --> 00:17:18.085 >> I do love what's going on in that area right now. 00:17:18.085 --> 00:17:20.175 Growing up on some of the early Atari days. 00:17:20.175 --> 00:17:21.375 For me, I'm just 00:17:21.375 --> 00:17:23.055 excited about what we see right now. This is pretty cool. 00:17:23.055 --> 00:17:26.145 >> I mean, I think it tugs at your heartstrings, right. 00:17:26.145 --> 00:17:29.520 In a way that shooter games might not. 00:17:29.520 --> 00:17:32.385 But there are those kinds of games, 00:17:32.385 --> 00:17:34.695 there are some horror games, 00:17:34.695 --> 00:17:36.380 and some thriller games, 00:17:36.380 --> 00:17:38.560 and others just like cartoon games. 00:17:38.560 --> 00:17:41.065 Like, we really have just a diverse range. 00:17:41.065 --> 00:17:42.640 And, as I said, 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:46.840 I think once you talk to developers and understand what 00:17:46.840 --> 00:17:49.435 the story line is and how it connects to 00:17:49.435 --> 00:17:52.015 their life's experiences, it's really awesome. 00:17:52.015 --> 00:17:54.855 And telling of the fact that people have had 00:17:54.855 --> 00:17:57.065 such interesting experiences in their lives 00:17:57.065 --> 00:17:59.400 and they're bringing it to life through these games. 00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:01.605 >> That's really great. Now, being 00:18:01.605 --> 00:18:04.015 here at GDC and talking to game developers, 00:18:04.015 --> 00:18:05.580 what's some of the feedback 00:18:05.580 --> 00:18:06.885 that you've heard about the program, 00:18:06.885 --> 00:18:08.015 and excitement about the program, 00:18:08.015 --> 00:18:09.425 or what's the overall reception been like? 00:18:09.425 --> 00:18:11.625 >> Yeah, I think the reception is good. 00:18:11.625 --> 00:18:13.175 We're still early in GDC. 00:18:13.175 --> 00:18:16.685 So, my ears are in-tune, 00:18:16.685 --> 00:18:19.020 so whatever feedback that we get, I think, 00:18:19.020 --> 00:18:20.505 because we're so new, 00:18:20.505 --> 00:18:23.345 we're always open to feedback, 00:18:23.345 --> 00:18:26.220 whatever feature expansions that people are looking for. 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:28.595 Kind of support that they might need, 00:18:28.595 --> 00:18:30.475 "Is our documentation a little out of date?" 00:18:30.475 --> 00:18:32.150 Like, let us know. 00:18:32.150 --> 00:18:35.190 But I think that a really good piece 00:18:35.190 --> 00:18:36.380 of feedback has been, 00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:38.340 that people are really excited 00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:41.320 that Xbox is reinvesting in indie developers. 00:18:41.320 --> 00:18:42.985 And now we have ID@Xbox, 00:18:42.985 --> 00:18:46.460 but I think with the Creators Program, 00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:49.295 they're saying that you're 00:18:49.295 --> 00:18:52.095 reaching a wider range of indie developers. 00:18:52.095 --> 00:18:54.540 Indie developers is not just this small section 00:18:54.540 --> 00:18:57.545 of people in indie dev studios. 00:18:57.545 --> 00:18:59.935 It's people who as I said, 00:18:59.935 --> 00:19:03.530 work on this, work on game projects in their free time. 00:19:03.530 --> 00:19:05.060 They're husband and wife teams. 00:19:05.060 --> 00:19:08.185 They're student teams and 00:19:08.185 --> 00:19:09.610 they're not getting paid for their work 00:19:09.610 --> 00:19:11.045 or they're getting paid for their work. 00:19:11.045 --> 00:19:12.125 But with the Creators Program, 00:19:12.125 --> 00:19:16.115 we're finally reaching all of them, the entire spectrum. 00:19:16.115 --> 00:19:16.525 >> Make it easy. 00:19:16.525 --> 00:19:18.085 No matter what the background, it's easy to get into. 00:19:18.085 --> 00:19:19.815 >> Exactly, and I think 00:19:19.815 --> 00:19:22.425 people are really appreciative of that. 00:19:22.425 --> 00:19:25.015 So, I'm really liking that and hopefully, 00:19:25.015 --> 00:19:26.570 we're over to hear some negative 00:19:26.570 --> 00:19:28.365 feedback and positive feedback. 00:19:28.365 --> 00:19:30.850 So, I'm really excited to hear what people have to say. 00:19:30.850 --> 00:19:32.015 >> I'm a developer and as 00:19:32.015 --> 00:19:33.175 soon as this came out I tried it. 00:19:33.175 --> 00:19:36.380 I said, "Let me see how easy this workflow is." 00:19:36.380 --> 00:19:38.265 Also, about to say it in a second but how 00:19:38.265 --> 00:19:40.610 does a developer get started in this? 00:19:40.610 --> 00:19:43.325 >> So, as I said, the first step 00:19:43.325 --> 00:19:45.095 would be to start at Dev Center. 00:19:45.095 --> 00:19:47.800 So, you sign up for a Dev Center account. 00:19:47.800 --> 00:19:50.695 And then you would publish as a UWP 00:19:50.695 --> 00:19:52.865 and integrate Xbox Live features. 00:19:52.865 --> 00:19:53.935 >> So, we've got a handful 00:19:53.935 --> 00:19:55.440 different engines that are supported there. 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:57.275 >> Exactly. 00:19:57.275 --> 00:19:59.225 To reiterate, it was Unity, 00:19:59.225 --> 00:20:03.905 MonoGames, Xenko, Construct 2 and 3 and GameMaker. 00:20:03.905 --> 00:20:06.355 >> And if you want to do direct in Visual Studio, 00:20:06.355 --> 00:20:07.125 if you want to just hand-code 00:20:07.125 --> 00:20:08.235 everything yourself, that's cool too. 00:20:08.235 --> 00:20:08.665 >> Exactly. 00:20:08.665 --> 00:20:09.755 >> And we talked about 00:20:09.755 --> 00:20:11.180 Dev Center, I think the account is, 00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:12.740 for 19 bucks a year, 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:14.225 lasts you for life, right? 00:20:14.225 --> 00:20:14.555 >> Yes. 00:20:14.555 --> 00:20:18.775 >> Which is kind of nice. Export from your own engine, 00:20:18.775 --> 00:20:20.415 deploy to the Xbox in dev mode 00:20:20.415 --> 00:20:22.905 or export from the engine to Visual Studio, 00:20:22.905 --> 00:20:24.780 deploy to the engine in dev mode, 00:20:24.780 --> 00:20:27.280 and deploy to the Xbox in dev mode. 00:20:27.280 --> 00:20:29.505 Easy as that. Like it literally is easy as that. 00:20:29.505 --> 00:20:31.015 I tested it myself. It's pretty good. 00:20:31.015 --> 00:20:32.465 >> Yeah, so you can 00:20:32.465 --> 00:20:34.605 publish your game and you'll get approved. 00:20:34.605 --> 00:20:36.195 There's a range of days depending 00:20:36.195 --> 00:20:38.490 on what the queue is for approvals. 00:20:38.490 --> 00:20:43.230 But I've seen games go up in a day after they published. 00:20:43.230 --> 00:20:45.615 So, it's really quick 00:20:45.615 --> 00:20:47.810 and you get to iterate on your game, 00:20:47.810 --> 00:20:50.740 you can publish different versions of your game, 00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:53.645 you can publish a preview of your game before you launch. 00:20:53.645 --> 00:20:56.415 So, this is just a platform for people 00:20:56.415 --> 00:20:58.135 to do with it what they 00:20:58.135 --> 00:20:59.835 will and show their games to the world. 00:20:59.835 --> 00:21:02.345 >> All right, lastly. How does somebody get started? 00:21:02.345 --> 00:21:03.405 Another is, where do they go to find 00:21:03.405 --> 00:21:05.195 information out about the program? 00:21:05.195 --> 00:21:07.365 What they need to do is a developer to? 00:21:07.365 --> 00:21:09.580 What are the steps, not what are the steps. 00:21:09.580 --> 00:21:11.535 How do they find out about where they can do this at? 00:21:11.535 --> 00:21:15.055 >> Yeah. So, we have a lot of documentation online. 00:21:15.055 --> 00:21:20.165 So, if you check on Microsoft's homepage, 00:21:20.165 --> 00:21:23.485 if you check in or if you type in the Creators Program, 00:21:23.485 --> 00:21:24.675 you'll find our home page, 00:21:24.675 --> 00:21:27.110 you'll find all those steps distilled down, 00:21:27.110 --> 00:21:29.860 you'll find all the links to the Dev Center, 00:21:29.860 --> 00:21:34.280 links to documentation, 00:21:34.280 --> 00:21:37.865 pictures of all the engines that we support, et cetera. 00:21:37.865 --> 00:21:39.120 So, you have all of the resources 00:21:39.120 --> 00:21:40.880 right there on our homepage. 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:43.945 >> Right before we started the interview, 00:21:43.945 --> 00:21:44.975 I decided to check it out, 00:21:44.975 --> 00:21:46.195 because we've had a huge motion at 00:21:46.195 --> 00:21:49.755 Microsoft to really get our new documentation, 00:21:49.755 --> 00:21:51.845 really revamped and in one location 00:21:51.845 --> 00:21:53.255 because we've kind of been all over for a while. 00:21:53.255 --> 00:21:54.735 So, now we've got docs at Microsoft.com. 00:21:54.735 --> 00:21:56.500 I was just like, you know what, let me see, 00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:58.485 if this is up on docs at Microsoft.com. 00:21:58.485 --> 00:22:00.075 And sure enough, getting started with 00:22:00.075 --> 00:22:01.355 the Xbox Live Creators Program 00:22:01.355 --> 00:22:02.465 was there with all the steps I needed. 00:22:02.465 --> 00:22:03.660 So, you guys have done 00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:05.195 a great job with getting that information out there. 00:22:05.195 --> 00:22:05.935 So, I appreciate that. 00:22:05.935 --> 00:22:06.275 >> Thank you. 00:22:06.275 --> 00:22:07.765 >> This is exciting, I can't wait to talk to 00:22:07.765 --> 00:22:09.535 some other developers during the rest of GDC 00:22:09.535 --> 00:22:11.185 and let's move back and talk about 00:22:11.185 --> 00:22:13.060 game development for you as the next step too. 00:22:13.060 --> 00:22:13.395 >> Yeah. 00:22:13.395 --> 00:22:13.715 >> All right. 00:22:13.715 --> 00:22:14.265 >> All right. Thank you. 00:22:14.265 --> 00:22:16.155 >> Thank you Diane, this has been a pleasure to have you, 00:22:16.155 --> 00:22:17.240 and we'll chat some more, 00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:19.365 and tune into us in just a little bit. 00:22:19.365 --> 00:22:20.445 We have some more exciting interviews 00:22:20.445 --> 00:22:22.455 to come up and thank you very much.