Xbox 360 Registered Content Creator Program

Note:The majority of tools and technologies available for audio and graphic art development are freely available through the DirectX Software Development Kit and XNA Game Studio Express. No special license is required to download and utilize these tools, and we encourage freelance artists to take advantage of these and their excellent supporting resources (newsgroups, community forums, samples, and documentation.)

The Xbox 360 Registered Content Creator Program allows established freelance content creators (composers, sound designers, and artists) access to Xbox 360 content creation tools, hardware, and support in order to familiarize themselves with the architecture, and to be able to bid for and secure projects for the Xbox 360 console. The program is solely for artists actively working on game titles; it is not intended for full game production teams, freelance programmers, media delivery companies, pre-rendered animation studios, merchandising, peripherals, or game idea submissions.

This program is unrelated to specific “gigs” working on particular games – contracted positions for content creators are offered by individual game developers such as Microsoft Game Studios. (That said, familiarity with platform tools can certainly be an asset when soliciting involvement in game projects.) Should you or your company be accepted into the program, you will be allowed access to content development tools and passive technical support in form of the Xbox 360 Central web site and newsgroups. You may also be invited to participate in various technical sessions and seminars that are held over the course of the year.

Key Points

·        Applications for entry to the Xbox Registered Content Creator Program may be requested by inquiring with a current approved and in-development Xbox 360 title’s Microsoft Development Account Manager. (Again, if you are not actively working on an Xbox 360 title, most artist-focused tools are freely available through the DirectX and XNA Game Studio Express websites.)

·        If accepted, the content creator will be allowed to obtain no more than two (2) Xbox 360 Development or Test Kit licenses, subject to the terms of the Microsoft Registered Content Creator XDK License Agreement.  Please note that the license granted under the Xbox 360 Registered Content Creator Program restricts the content creator to creating sound, music, art or other non-executable Xbox content. The program does not allow for the development of executable code or game titles; those interested in creating executable content should investigate other programs specifically designed for programmers and title development.

·        Artist support under this program is limited to access to Web-based information and materials, newsgroups access, and may include invitations to participate in Xbox technical seminars.

NOTE: Acceptance into the Xbox 360 Registered Content Creator Program in no way implies any endorsement by Microsoft of the artist or their work, and does not guarantee approval of the work as an authorized Xbox title by Microsoft. NO XBOX SOFTWARE PRODUCT(S) MAY BE PUBLISHED, OR DISTRIBUTED TO END USERS, EXCEPT BY A LICENSED PUBLISHER PURSUANT TO AN XBOX DEVELOPMENT KIT AND XBOX PUBLISHER LICENSE AGREEMENT EXECUTED BY MICROSOFT.