# For the Love of the Game

URL: /show/coder-radio/12/
> Michael and Chris discuss the state of XNA, different options when entering the game market, the basics you need to think about, and a bit of a reality check. Plus – Should everyone start with C? And much more of your feedback!

- Show: [Coder Radio](/show/coder-radio/)
- Episode: 12
- Date: 2012-08-27
- Hosts: chris, michael
- YouTube: https://youtu.be/z2dJHxxHomo





### Episode Links

#### Feedback

  * Tzvi heard that new coders should start with C. Also, wants to know what a Javascript framework is
  * Niklas’ email: [Money from OSS](http://slexy.org/view/s20IeUJunM/index.html)
  * [Simon shares an open-source German project management tool](https://github.com/arago/rike/index.html)
  * George reminds me of my favorite type of debugging — Rubber Duck BABY!
  * [Alex writes in to share OpenHatch](http://openhatch.org/index.html)
  * Mike N has a question for Chris
  * [Voytek wants to know what I think of RubyMotion for iOS](http://www.rubymotion.com/index.html)
  * Brandon reminds us that sometimes changing a project’s stack makes sense.
  * Derrik would like my thoughts on Lua.

#### Why Games Why Today?

  * [Spelunky](http://spelunkyworld.com/index.html)
  * [Fez](http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Fez/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584109c0/index.html)
  * [XBLA allows first F2P game!!! Happy Wars](http://www.happywars.net/index.html)

#### What doth make a game dev?

  * It has never been easier / cheaper to get started.
  * Platforms.
  * Required knowledge.
  * Budget??? or you can’t afford to make WOW 2

#### Platform platform, my kingdom for a platform!

  * Console?
  * Mobile?
  * Desktop?
  * Web?
  * Is one better than the others? How do you choose?

#### Tools for every wallet size!

  * Native or web?
  * 2D or 3D?
  * [Unity 3d](http://unity3d.com/index.html)
  * [Monogame](https://github.com/mono/MonoGame/index.html)
  * [Cocos2D](http://www.cocos2d-iphone.org/index.html)
  * OpenGL / Direct2D?

#### Monetization

  * Free to play == fad? or here to stay?
  * [When free to play goes bad…. the Gaskteball story](http://penny-arcade.com/report/editorial-article/going-broke-with-success-how-an-app-with-200000-downloads-led-to-devel/index.html)

#### Tool of the week

  * [Tiled](http://www.mapeditor.org/index.html)

#### Book of the week

  * [Think Like a Programmer](http://www.amazon.com/Think-Like-Programmer-Introduction-Creative/dp/1593274246/ref%3dsr_1_1803d.html?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346080783&sr=1-1&keywords=think+like+a+programmer\\%22)

#### Plugs

  * [Code Journal Direct](http://codejournalapp.com/index.html)
  * [Code Journal App Store](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/code-journal/id5404872018027.html?mt=12\\%22)
  * Consulting?