Q&A: Microsoft's Pete Isensee on XNA and Xbox Live development

GameSpot AU talks XNA development, Xbox Live, and compression with Microsoft's director of XNA development connection Pete Isensee.

If you're a gamer, then the chances that you've had some sort of exposure to online services such as Xbox Live is high, but how tough is it for developers to get their games on there? At the recent Game Connect Asia Pacific Conference 2007 (GCAP) held in Melbourne, Australia, GameSpot AU caught up with Pete Isensee, Microsoft's director of XNA development connection, to discuss the Xbox Live marketplace, the Xbox Live Server Platform (XLSP), and the future of disc-based media.

GameSpot AU: During your GCAP presentation, you pushed the value of disc-based expansions to developers, including discussion on new tools to make it easier to roll them out. Given the strength of the Xbox Live Marketplace, why are you pushing publishers away from online distribution?

Pete Isensee: I guess we look at it as another opportunity for game publishers to get in front of their audience, because not everybody is going to be online. Demos are a very effective way for publishers to get the word out about their title and to sell more copies. If we can enable that, we'll do it. Xbox Live is our ideal solution for getting demos out and that will always be our number one, but if we can do things that make life easier and better for publishers, it's good for everybody and it's an easy thing for us to do.

GS AU: Is it an incentive to get them developing on the platform because they know they can hit a large install base by releasing an expansion for their game or a demo?

PI: I think the point of the tool was that we already have the technology to pack everything up and to build a demo package. That package is currently distributed on Xbox Live, but there's no reason we couldn't plop it on some other form of media like a disc, CD, whatever. It's an easy thing for us to do that makes publishers happy, and it's good for business.

GS AU: Do you think the Xbox Live Server Platform (XLSP) is a prohibitive feature for small publishers and developers who might not have the capital to support their own servers?

PI: It's definitely a lot to take on for a small publisher; it's a commitment in terms of time, money, and energy to make sure they can run a data centre or support an existing data centre for a long period of time. But not necessarily knowing how long that might be, or what that might entail if their game is really successful in terms of hardware cost, in terms of support and maintenance, so it's a long-term commitment that has the potential to be a significant commitment.

GS AU: Obviously developers need the financial backing to take on adding XLSP support to their game. Do you think the terms of support will scare off potential implementers, especially when they don't know how successful their title will be?

PI: That's really what the costs are, the hosting costs. Not just what we would think of as the typical hosting costs, but the guarantee that the data centre will run 24/7.

GS AU: Is there a typical time frame for support on an Xbox 360 title?

PI: I don't know the answer to that question.

GS AU: Does it vary by publisher?

PI: It varies by title.

GS AU: During your presentation you mentioned the submission and validation process of games being slowed by incorrectly labeled items in the preduplication process. How big a role does that play in companies missing shelf dates?

PI: I wouldn't say it's a major cause of slipping ship dates; it's a hiccup in the process where something got missed. It's at the last stage of the project, where everything is focused on getting that game on the shelf, and any hiccup in the process is painful, even if it's just an hour or a day. Typically with submission errors it really is a matter of hours or days; it's not weeks or months. I wouldn't say it impacts release dates.

GS AU: You mentioned Microsoft's R&D commitment to improving compression for Xbox 360 games. Given that we are in the high-definition era and that the console is currently limited to a dual-layer DVD disc format, how long do you foresee compression being able to keep up to the media's physical limitations?

PI: Actually we're pretty bullish on compression technology as well as Xbox Live itself, which gives you the ability to get extra content for games, where you're not limited by the original storage media. So between those two things we don't have huge amounts of concern. You look at titles today that have managed to ship on one disc with hours' and days' worth of content, clearly game developers can make it happen, and we're trying to address the challenges they have with tools like game layout, game disc layout, compression, and so forth.

GS AU: Do you think, then, that regardless of which type of compression or format is used, physical media limits the creative freedom of developers?

PI: I certainly haven't found that to be the case. It usually makes them more cognisant of space issues, but that tends to refocus them in a different creative direction than they may have originally taken.

GS AU: Do developers innovate, then, because they want to, or they need to?

PI: For most titles it hasn't been an issue. It may be an issue years out, but for right now there has only been a handful of [publishers] who have come to us and said that's a big problem, and we've helped them through it with these tools we're providing. All I can say is look at our title lineup and look at where we're at, and it hasn't been a significant issue for us. In the future? (shrugs)

GS AU: Pete Isensee, thanks for your time.

18 Comments

  • ironstealth86

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 2:03 pm GMT

    yeah,sure the blu-ray drive is slower,but you have to remember that the data is huge for the disc size so performance would seem to not be hindered. blu-ray was released a gen early but i think the R & D has stepped up particularly well. most people dont go for it cuz of cost issues but give it another year and things will have significantly changed for the format.

  • andrew_ribbons

    Posted Dec 7, 2007 6:55 am GMT

    "I didn't know until a week ago that to chat on PS3 you have to go into a chatroom and sit there." So you mean...unlike on the 360, where you enter a chat and then can leave the page and go into a game, but will remain in the convo....you can't do that on the PS3? Holy crud that's just useless...

  • lowenergycycle

    Posted Dec 5, 2007 8:15 am GMT

    "Q&A: Microsoft's Pete Isensee on XNA and Xbox Live development"

    Where in this interview did anybody talk about XNA?

    I sometimes wonder why I still return to this website.

  • ps2forever

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 5:11 am GMT

    now as of right now , i think that there are nothing wrong with DVD's they simply work fine, for Example. GEARS OF WARs. but the sad part is that . While blu-ray have alll these spaces in their disk. Microsoft still put out full 1080p games and have a wide variety of games. But ps3 is still lacking in that software spot. they are showing off videos of their exclusives, MSG4 but yet they are backing up and delay all the time. then wats the point of putting all the space in the bluray when ps3 developers and Third party developers are making game that graphically fails agianst the Xbox 360? and it's proven that Assassin's Creed fail on detail on the Ps3 , and the Xbox360's versions look 10X better. so , maybe next Gen microsoft will looking to upgrade to a HD dvd but i think for rite now, they are better off with DVD. Unless, they are comming up with a firmware or and update to allow games to play on the HDDVD ADDon. but it would be bogus to let that happen.

  • NahNeverDat

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 6:50 pm GMT

    M,,

  • XboxGuyxx

    Posted Nov 29, 2007 2:11 pm GMT

    You've hit the nail right on the head MasterChief725. Gamespot is notorious for being on Sony's payroll. When Xbox first came out they didn't even try to hide their hatred for the system. They would say that games that clearly looked better on Xbox rather than PS2 were "slightly crisper" or it was "unnoticable". But look at reviews now, they always try to skew it that the PS3 games look better. They pratically attack Xbox PR's while they gently cradle the PS3's faults. With so much squaking about DL DVDs they hardly ever mention the lack of features with Playstation's online. I didn't know until a week ago that to chat on PS3 you have to go into a chatroom and sit there. It just seems like they try display PS3 in a positive light even though the PS3 hardware sales are awful and the software sales are nearly non-existant, and yet they think DL DVD is the problem with this gen? I think the problem with this gen is Gamespot.

  • vanhalendlrband

    Posted Nov 29, 2007 4:41 am GMT

    The N64 cartridge was why FF VII didn't come out for N64. 8 Cartridges i believe was the number. FMV's sure, but thats part of the game. I don't know if DVD would have the same problem, look at Gamecube, and i think this is where MIcrosoft got the idea, Gamecube was a 1.2 or 1.8 gb disc with mass compression that kept it right up with everything, i don't eve know how many multi-disc games there were. I honestly don't understand how Blue Dragon was 3 DVD's, somebody please explain that, either they put really really high quality videos on there, which i don't think it was necessary really given the in game graphics (which would've saved on a lot of space) and the fact that you can go to most areas on all discs anyways, just like FF VII and so on, so it seems like its an FMV thing again with Blue Dragon, but then you look at Oblivion all on one disc, but no FMV but it sure is hell is long enough. Same with Morrowind, they must have some kind of secret or something, that or they use a lot of the same stuff, but who doesn't.

    I don't know, i'm pretty sure Microsoft knows what they're doin, if they are in any communication with the Windows department, they've had to been up on formats and compression for awhile i'm sure. Also if these are dual layer that should give them twice as much room as the XBOX original discs.

  • Mark_HD

    Posted Nov 27, 2007 10:53 pm GMT

    But the N64 games also had less content, lower quality audio/voice, and in some rare games LQ FMV, etc... It's better to have more space, so that developers don't have to limit their creativity and lose their time thinking about video compression and crappy stuff like that... They should have made their games on HD-DVD (Microsoft)

  • OremLK

    Posted Nov 27, 2007 4:25 pm GMT

    The Playstation was notorious for excessive load times due to its format. The N64 had both better graphics and less loading. Compression is not a problem.

  • Mark_HD

    Posted Nov 26, 2007 3:21 pm GMT

    All that compression talk reminds me of the N64 cartridge VS Playstation CD, compression sucks...

  • okassar

    Posted Nov 26, 2007 2:56 pm GMT

    For now,there's nothing wrong with DVD's.but next-gen,Microsoft and Nintendo gotta' switch to Blu-Ray.

  • sickside6

    Posted Nov 26, 2007 12:10 am GMT

    DL DVDs are enough for now. Microsoft's compression methods are getting better and better everyday and i'm pretty sure they'll keep up with the HD era

  • Dryker

    Posted Nov 24, 2007 2:47 pm GMT

    I have no idea what I'm talking about, but I would imagine that space issues have everything to do with how efficiently the game is coded, in engine of course and not pre-rendered cinematics, to a point. I wonder, when games finally shift to multiple engines, will they require more space than what Dual-Layer DVD's can provide? I believe, if memory serves, that Lost Odyssey for the 360 is supposed to be on two or more discs. Which is fine by me, in a linear game, but were it to be a sand-box title, it would become cumbersome to switch discs every time you wanted to move from one area to one that happens to be on another disc. That would cause concern.

  • MasterChief725

    Posted Nov 22, 2007 5:40 pm GMT

    Jeez, that was a pretty harsh interview. I know they are suposed to ask tough questions, but first they try to make it seem like XBLS is impossible to develop for, and then that Dual-Layer DVD is inferior. Its funny, in my opinion, the games that have been developed for Dual-Layer DVD have been great. Crysis, Halo 3, COD 4, Orange Box, Super Mario Galaxy (Wii Disk has 8.5GB limit, same as Dual-Layer DVD). I mean, almost no one is purchasing an HD-DVD or Blue-Ray Player on thier new PC, so we are going to be seeing DVD games for a long time in PC, so what is wrong with DVD? Next, of course it is expensive to develop for XBLS, do you see any average joe just making a X360 game and integrating XBL?? I dont think so, you wanna do that, u put it on XBLA. But has that ever limited a big game company like Activision, EA, Ubisoft, Midway, etc? No, so what does it matter?

  • Titanicles

    Posted Nov 22, 2007 12:37 pm GMT

    Good point, they say games like Resistance takes up 20GB but Crysis takes up less than half that.

  • Agermemnon

    Posted Nov 22, 2007 10:40 am GMT

    @Unreal_007 blu-ray in the ps3 was to try and swing the film companys to adopt it as their next format because sony thought they would sell big numbers to impress them with a large user base as for games lol now what does CRYSIS come on dvd rom ???? cant be can it ? but mgs4 needs lots of space i hear lol yeah stop wasting it and learn to code properly i think .

  • Unreal_007

    Posted Nov 21, 2007 10:35 pm GMT

    Darth_Tigris very good point despite what many sony execs may have to say compression doesnt seem to be an issue at all i mean if oblivion or mass effect can fit on 1 dvd i dont see what cant. they are much greater challenges facing developers today. in my opinion the blu ray move was one generation too early, modern innovations into compression are proving huge storage options are just unnecessary

  • Darth_Tigris

    Posted Nov 21, 2007 8:48 pm GMT

    "Actually we're pretty bullish on compression technology as well as Xbox Live itself, which gives you the ability to get extra content for games, where you're not limited by the original storage media. So between those two things we don't have huge amounts of concern. You look at titles today that have managed to ship on one disc with hours and days worth of content, clearly game developers can make it happen, and we're trying to address the challenges they have with tools like game layout, game disc layout, compression, and so forth. "

    That's a fantastic point. While DVD-9 definite can create space concerns, creative ways (as mentioned above) of handling it are needed and usually turn out great results.

    I think of this in reference to how PS3 devs have to 'deal' with Blu-Ray. Since the drive either reads or streams (can't remember which) slower than DVD, devs had to get creative with how to handle that (such as HDD loads and whatnot).

    We argue about limitations and devs just do their best to get it done on whatever system the games are for. Its all good.

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