Kodu Game Lab

Client Notes

Dev Environment

The Kodu client still builds with Visual Studio 2010 due to the dependency on XNA. You can get VS 2010 here.

Prerequisites

XNA 4.0 – Graphics, sound, input, etc.

WiX 3.10.4 – Used for building the release installer.

Branches

Currently we have two active branches, Main and V2. The Main branch contains the current release build of Kodu. This branch is primarily used for fixing bugs in the release. The V2 branch is a working branch where currently the underlying UI system is being rewritten/replaced. The V2 branch builds but is not yet fully functional.

Building Kodu

In the solution there are several build options. The three that matter are Debug, Release, and Installer. The Debug and Release builds are for building and running Kodu from within VS and work just like you’d expect them to. The Installer build creates the .MSI and .EXE installation packages. For this, select Installer and then build as usual. At the end of the build process a Windows Explorer instance will be opened to the folder containing the build results.

Notes:

  • The Installer build will automatically increment the version number which touches 3 files (which need to be checked in in their new state).

Deploy a New Desktop Build

Currently, the builds are being hosted on Azure blob storage at https://kodugamelab.blob.core.windows.net/blob/Builds/.

Building for the Microsoft Store

The Microsoft Store build uses the results of a normal build.

Requirements

Steps for creating build

  • Build the installer as normal. In the target folder, rename the MSI to include the version number.
  • Run Hyper-V manager.
  • Run the MSIX Packaging Tool.
  • In the MSIX Packing Tool select “Application package”.
  • Select “Create package on local virtual machine”.
  • In the dropdown select “MSIX Packaging Tool Environment”.
  • Enter local username and password for virtual environment. (scoy, ERT4me!)
  • Click Next. Dismiss Windows Security dialog. Doesn’t seem to work.
  • Check box to deactivate Windows Search, click Disable Selected, Click Next.
  • Browse to the MSI. No args. Choose “Do not sign package”. Click Next.
  • Package information

    Package name = 9673InfiniteInstant.KoduGameLab_jhcksg2e634ay
    NOTE This name is no longer accepted by the MSIX packaging tool so use 9673InfiniteInstant.KoduGameLab BUT this will fail validation when uploaded to the Store Dashboard. Apparently if you just hit Save in the dashboard anyway it will work.
    Package display name = Kodu_Game_Lab (note the underscores)
    Publisher name = CN=92DF2F3C-F659-4DB2-9E93-41141C78BA29
    Publisher display name = InfiniteInstant
    enter current version
    Package Description Kodu Game Lab
    Installation location = leave blank

  • In Hyper-V manager, connect to MSIX Packaging Tool Environment.
  • Click Next to start installation. When installer pauses, run XNA installer, click Refresh, click through and finish installation. DO NOT RUN KODU! Running Kodu at this point will create the SiteOptions file. This will then be used by every single instance of Kodu instead of being unique to each machine.
  • In the MSIX Packaging Tool: No restart needed, click Next.
  • Do not run any “first launch tasks”. Click Next, “Yes, move on”..
  • No Services, click Next.
  • Save location = C:\GitHub\store builds
  • Click “Create”.
  • In Hyper-V, right click on “Fresh Slate” checkpoint and apply. This resets the virtual machine to pre-install state for next time. Right click on VM and turn off.

Steps for uploading to Partner Center

  • In Partner Center click on Kodu project.
  • At Game overview select Update for the current submission.
  • Click on Packages.
  • Drag/drop new msix package into box on web page. After the upload, a quick validity check will be done. This will find errors in PackageName or PublisherName etc.
  • Decide whether to force this update or roll it out slowly and hit Save.
  • Once saved the final step is to Submit to Microsoft Store.