content catalog

This sample shows how to manage the transitions between different menus and gameplay states.

This utility converts Windows TrueType fonts into .bmp files, allowing you to modify the rendered font .bmp file before loading it into your game and add effects such as drop shadows.

This sample shows how to use bloom post-processing filters to add a glow effect over the top of an existing scene.

This sample shows how to extend the Spacewar VectorShape code to create PrimitiveBatch, which can be used to easily draw points, lines, and triangles on the screen.

This sample introduces the concept of a particle system, and shows how to draw particle effects by using SpriteBatch. Two particle effects are demonstrated: an explosion and a rising plume of smoke.

This sample shows one of the most basic uses of shader effects — vertex lighting.

This utility is a set of Xbox 360 Controller graphics that you can use in your game.

This supplemental article outlines the different coordinate spaces that are necessary when creating shaders.

This series of articles is an introduction to using data structures in games, with several game-specific examples of using data structures, and a quick-reference data structure performance "cheat sheet."

This article is an introduction to the Shader Series, a set of samples and articles that allow an intermediate 3D developer to begin to explore the programmable graphics pipeline.

This supplemental article is a quick guide to the differences between fixed-function graphics architecture present in Direct3D9 and the programmable pipeline architecture used in the XNA Framework.

This sample shows how shaders can be used to implement special effects when drawing 2D graphics with SpriteBatch.

This sample shows how 3D models can be generated by code during the XNA Content Pipeline build process.

Marblets is a puzzle-style game that challenges you to eliminate groups of same-colored bubbles.  This starter kit version offers only a few game modes, providing ample opportunity to add your own unique game types and modes.

The Minjie mini-game is a puzzle game that challenges you to flip your opponent’s pieces to your own color by surrounding them on two sides with your own pieces.