$10,000 Bounty for an Xbox Game

Posted by Robert Janelle Mar 5, 2007

Last August, Microsoft released XNA Studio, a program that allowed almost anyone to create their own Xbox games.

But making the console development tools public did have one drawback: game makers using the free express version of the software couldn't distribute their game to regular Xbox players.

One year later, they'll be changing that with a contest, giving independent developers a chance to get their game on Xbox Live Arcade (the online download service for the console) and a large cash prize.

According to the New York Times, Microsoft will announced the contest, called "Dream-Build-Play" today at a game developers conference in San Francisco.

Next August, the creator of the best game using XNA Studio will win $10,000 along with their chance at spot on Xbox Live Arcade.

That's not the only announcement expected today, according to the Times.

In order to encourage more Xbox players to download indie games, the company will also be releasing the 512 meg portable storage unit for the system, allowing games on Xbox Live Arcade to be bigger and richer.