I've responded to the posts in the Simple Simon discussion. I'll be putting the next stage of the game up in the next few days.

In the meantime, you might like to take a look at XNA 3.0. This is a sneak preview of the next version of XNA. It looks especially interesting because it lets you write games to run on your Zune. Expect to see a Zunified version of Bread and Cheese on these hallowed pages real soon....

Find out more here.

I'm trying something new. It will either work or it won't. Shaun is working on a Simon game in XNA. I've made a kind of start, and now I want everyone to chip in with comments and answers to questions that I've posed. (and ideas for other questions too). If I get a good response I'll make the next section of the game, and so on.

One good way to learn is to look at existing code and try to figure out how to make it do new stuff. So, with that in mind take a look at what I've done and move things on. There will be prizes too. Just not very big ones......

I've been a bit busy lately on the latest silly program that I seem to have been spending quite a lot of time on of late. It is actually in use in our department at the moment, displaying messages on our "Big Plasma Display". Everyone seems to like it, although apparently the jokes get a bit tiresome after you have read them a few times. Or even just once.

Anyhoo, feel free to download and play with it (the link is on the left). If you like it let me know. I'm working on a better version with a clock and maybe even picture rendering and a different backdrop.

Whilst I was at GDC I picked up a free Creators Club membership at the XNA sessions. I think it is for four months, but you may be lucky. Anyhoo, I'll give it to the the person who comes up with the silliest game idea in the next couple of days. My decision is final (I consider myself an expert in silliness).

Remember that if you are a student on a course of study you can get a Creators Club membership for free via DreamSpark, but for anyone else out there, this might save a bit of cash. Put your idea as a comment on this post.

Not content with providing mugs and T shirts, the Very Silly Game franchise is now moving into game developer resources. Every now and the we will be posting items that you might want to include in your games.

Today you can download the only sound effect you will ever need. Created by accident in the Very Silly Games labs, this sound can be used for any purpose, from a stylish ring tone to game over, and just about everything in between.  Simply grab the bit that you want from this symphony of sound...