Ninja Cat Runner: My First Windows 8 Game!

By Shahed C on June 23, 2013
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Download: Download Ninja Cat Runner for free from the Windows Store!

Web: Play the web version on your smartphone, tablet or desktop browser!

Download: Download Ninja Cat Runner for free from the Windows Phone Store!

Having published 2 XNA games on Xbox Live Indie Games, I have been interested in looking at new platforms for future game projects. When Windows 8 was announced, I was disappointed that Microsoft didn’t officially support XNA for Windows 8. I looked at the other options for Microsoft game development, and even wrote a blog post about it.

But recently, I learned about a game creation tool called Construct 2, which provides a UI for quick game design. The games can be exported to all major platforms, as an HTML5/web game, a PhoneGap package, even a Windows 8 game.

Construct 2, from Scirra

Construct 2, from Scirra

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TechEd 2013, Day 4: Scrum in Waterfall, DirectX and Tina Turner

By Shahed C on June 9, 2013
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On the 4th day of TechEd, there’s always a rush to get of lot of things done: expo promotions and booth visits, final sessions, special offers and the closing party. Fortunately, I had my day planned to attend a few sessions and to visit the booths which had special promotions. As for the special offer of TechEd, I had already picked up my Surface earlier in the week.

To start the day, I visited the almuni lounge in the morning, to get some blogging done. Unlike earlier in the week, when I was using the seating area outside the lounge, I had discovered that there was an actual private lounge beyond the doors. There were round tables with extension cords and power outlets. There as an endless supply of snack and drinks, served all day long.

Alumni Lounge

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TechEd 2013, Day 3: OData, Web Api, SPA and John Papa

By Shahed C on June 6, 2013
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On Day 3, my sickness had finally caught up to me. I had started feeling sick on the Saturday before the conference, the same day I was at CMAP Code Camp in Maryland. I had flown to New Orleans on Sunday, and have been at TechEd for the past few days, while coughing throughout the day.

I was completely burned out by Wed morning, so I had to sleep in, and miss the morning sessions. No worries, because I needed the rest and made up for it later that day. Dayquil and cough drops were my new best friends.

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TechEd 2013, Day 2: Async, MVVM, Kinect & Pluralsight

By Shahed C on June 5, 2013
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I started Day 2 with breakfast and made some time to update my blog with Day 1’s post. I have been having wifi problems at the hotel, so I wasn’t able to get my day’s post published the night before. So, the next best thing was to publish it the morning after, at the Alumni Lounge.

Alumni Lounge

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TechEd 2013, Day 1: Keynote, Surface and Reception

By Shahed C on June 4, 2013
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The highlight of opening day is usually the keynote. And the highlight of the TechEd keynote was the Aston Martin. From the snazzy video clip of the fast and furious sports car, to the stage entrance of Brad Anderson in said vehicle, the exotic did not disappoint.

Brand Anderson exiting the Aston Martin

But enough about cars. What are we here for, again? Oh yeah, Microsoft TechEd.

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