Now you can build your own games for your Xbox 360, Windows Phone 7, or Windows-based PC-as you learn the underlying concepts for computer programming. Use this hands-on guide to dive straight into your first project-adding new tools and tricks to your arsenal as you go. No experience required!

Learn XNA and C# fundamentals-and increase the challenge with each chapter

Write code to create and control game behavior

Build your game's display-from graphics and text to lighting and 3-D effects

Capture and cue sounds

Process input from keyboards and gamepads

Create features for one or multiple players

Tweak existing games-and invent totally new ones