Tag: Microsoft

UWP: Loving the Windows Template Studio Extension

I subscribe to a number of development blogs and articles, and I have been meaning to play around with the new Visual Studio extension that got announced at Build 2017 for a while now. What better time to use it than when I am about to complete the transition from “proof of concept” to fully fledged Universal Windows Store application?

Installing the Windows Template Studio Extension

Microsoft has made it super simple for anyone with Visual Studio to install this new extension. If you have Visual Studio 2017 (I have not personally tried it on an earlier version of Visual Studio), navigate to Tools – Extensions and Updates…

Once the new Extensions and Updates window appears, on the left hand side navigation pane select Online and then Visual Studio Marketplace. On the top right hand side there is a search bar, enter “windows template studio” and press the Enter key on the keyboard. You should see Windows Template Studio now appear in the list of tools and extensions. Click Install after selecting the Windows Template Studio extension; to start and complete the installation you will need to close Visual Studio.

After the installation process completes and you restart Visual Studio, you should see the extension Windows Template Studio with a green check mark. A screenshot of a successfully installed extension/tool is shown below.

WindowsTemplateStudioInstallation

Using the Windows Template Studio Extension

With the installation complete we can start using the new extension. I was super excited to see first hand how the extension could simplify the process of creating a new UWP application. If you haven’t opened Visual Studio, open the application. Create a new Project (default shortcut key is Ctrl + Shift + N). Open the Windows Universal Visual C# Template on the left hand side pane and select Windows Template Studio. Fill in your solution/project details as you see fit and click Ok.

UsingWindowsTemplateStudio

The Windows Template Studio wizard will launch and right off the bat it offers some templates and frameworks to get you started on the right foot; a good first sign. First you get to choose a Project Type; and you get three options (I guess the options they give are ones that most developers will use when developing their apps). You also get to choose a Framework, one of which is based on a third party; it looks like Microsoft isn’t playing any favourites here and is offering what they feel is best for developers (this goes to show how much Microsoft has changed and how much they really care about developers). Click Next once you have chosen a Project Type and Framework.

WindowsTemplateStudioWizard1

If you have never developed for the Universal Windows Platform then already having a Project Type and Framework setup for you makes things much easier for you in the future. But now is where the true customization and helpfulness really begins; in this part of the wizard you get to add the Pages and Features you want to your application. To make the next couple of choices easier for you, it would be beneficial if you nailed down how you would want your application to look and how many Pages you want (but you could always manually add more at a later date).

You first get to add Pages to your application. I found this part of the wizard extremely useful as it provides some common Page Types such as Settings, Map, etc. A bonus is that you can add as many as you want 🙂

WindowsTemplateStudioWizard2

Microsoft went above and beyond for the Features part I believe, kudos Microsoft. You get a plethora of Features to choose for your project. They are some of the most common when working on your application such as a First Run Prompt, Live Tiles, and Suspend and Resume. I really appreciate how Microsoft broke them all down them into easily recognizable Features, and on top of that if you are not sure what the Features do, there is a little information button you can click to learn more. Once you have selected all the Features you want click the Create button

WindowsTemplateStudioWizard3

If you look in your Solution Explorer, you will find all the Pages and Features that you selected ready for you to work on, just like magic. It could not be any simpler. If you want to start developing for the Windows platform and you choose UWP, then it would be foolish to not use this extension. It is easy to use, offers all the basics and groundwork to get started quickly. When I start working on any new UWP project, I’ll be using this extension going forward unless I can add all the necessary features faster myself (but most likely not). Overall I am very impressed with the options that you could choose to quick start your development.

For more information about the Windows Template Studio Extension have a look here and here.

My E3 2017 Summary

It has been a very busy week (and weekend), and not just in the gaming world. With me being a massive gamer I was paying close attention to this year’s E3. I was surprised and fairly satisfied with the announcements, especially from coming from the Microsoft Press Event (to be up front, I am a massive Xbox and Windows gamer so there is some bias in what I am interested in). Below are my memorable moments from E3 and the games, products, features or services that I am looking forward to the most or am excited to get my hands on (in no particular order):

  • Microsoft Xbox One X (aka Project Scorpio):
    • What more can I say than, “The World’s Most Powerful Console”? True 4K gaming, HDR and Dolby Atmos support. Even though I do not have a 4K TV, having the games supersampled on my brilliant 65” 1080p Panasonic TV and reducing the loading times while increasing the framerate is always a bonus. Day one purchase for me, no questions asked 🙂
  • State of Decay 2:
    • I absolutely loved the first one. A little rough around the edges but it was super fun. It was a great zombie survival game. Happy that they are releasing a sequel. Looks like they have doubled down on what worked and removed elements that were a pain and fell short in some areas. Another day one purchase for me.
  • Crackdown 3:
    • Terry Crews. Can I get a hell yeah? Collecting orbs has never been so much fun. The chaos and mayhem I created when playing the original and sequel will always have a special place in my heart. This sequel has been a long time coming and I am looking forward to this one.
  • The Evil Within 2:
    • The first was a horror masterclass IMO. It knew how to create the most intense and gripping moments, while also pulling back and letting you do your thing. If the sequel is anything like the first (and from the videos I have seen, it is) then this will be a horror game that I cannot pass up on. Any true fan of horror games will most likely be keeping this on their radar.
  • Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus:
    • If there was one game that was worthy of a sequel it was the rebooted Wolfenstein: The New Order game. The reboot was a masterclass in showcasing how an FPS should and can be created. Pure chaos and fun with characters that felt unique and memorable. From the trailer this appears to be more of the same. New guns to blow your enemies into giblets, what more could a FPS fanatic want?
  • Star Wars: Battlefront 2:
    • Did someone say battledroids? A beautiful, rich and engrossing experience from what I have seen. Nothing more needs to be said. I grew up playing with Star Wars toys and a mate of mine summed up the new series perfectly.

“It is a Star Wars kids dream. EA and DICE have crafted a sequel where you can go in and play with your favourite Star Wars characters and worlds you love; just as you did when you were a kid playing with your Star Wars toys.” – DEFJESTA 17.

  • Anthem:
    • This was a surprise, coming out of left field. Most of the games BioWare create are magical. From the characters to the story. Anthem looks to be EA’s answer to Activision’s Destiny. A little disappointed with the game that is Mass Effect Andromeda, so I am cautious about this one. Will be paying very close attention to this and will make a decision to pick this up at a closer date, probably after the reviews. Will also talk to my mates to see what they think, it appears to be heavily co-op focused.
  • A Way Out:
    • It is great to see a developer come out onto the stage and be so confident and pumped for the title that they are developing. This one was a favourite of mine when it was shown at this year’s E3. It looks unique and ambitious with plenty of potential. If they can pull this off then this will be a really enjoyable experience with replay value galore.
  • Sea of Thieves:
    • Nearly all of my Xbox mates are looking forward to this title. A romp across the open seas, having a blast looking for treasure and fighting other pirates. Something about this game reminds me of the Fable franchise, which is a good thing. Everything that I have seen of this game is leading me to make this a day one purchase.
  • Middle Earth: Shadow of War:
    • The Nemesis System was nearly perfect. Having refined it and having what appears to be objectives that can be failed and never replayed, makes everything worthwhile and meaningful. It just builds from a solid first game outing.
  • OG Xbox Backwards Compatibility:
    • This was a complete and utter surprise. I know Phil Spencer said the titles in this backwards compatibility list will be smaller due to licensing, but I am still looking forward to playing some OG Xbox games [1]. Please let KOTOR 1 and 2 be playable *fingers crossed*. So to the entire Xbox team, thank you for this, from the bottom of my heart. I know we didn’t need to have this feature, but it shows you really care for what gamers find important; and this is playing games no matter the generation.
  • Ori and the Will of the Wisps:
    • When this came up and the music played, a tear shed from my eyes. The first game was beautifully crafted. The tight controls, perfect art style and masterclass score made Ori and the Blind Forrest deserving of a sequel. Day one purchase, no questions asked.
  • Metro: Exodus:
    • When the 4a Games logo came up on screen, my brother and I both widened our eyes at the same time. Could it be a new Metro? Boy were we jumping for joy when it was. The first two games were not only gorgeous but were difficult. Day one buy again.
  • Forza Motorsport 7:
    • The only racing franchise now that I play is Forza, sorry Need for Speed. Be it the brutally realistic Motorsport series, or the more arcade Horizon. This game is really going to showcase what the Xbox One X can really do in 4K at 60 fps. I bought Forza Motorsport 5 when the Xbox One launched and I will be buying this racing game when it comes out for the Xbox One X as well.
  • Vampyr:
    • Coming out of nowhere, this game intrigued me. I need to see more of it, but from what I saw it looks like it is going to be fun. There is something about the setting and vampires that gel well. As the release date comes closer and more information is released I’ll be making a decision whether to purchase it, or wait for it to go on sale. Either way it will be going in my digital game collection.
  • Age of Empires Definitive Edition:
    • Growing up as a kid, this franchise was my got to RTS, next to Warcraft (sorry I didn’t play StarCraft). I played the HD remaster of the second game and enjoyed playing that one, even though the multiplayer matchmaking was slightly broken (but that is for another time). This will likely be a game I pick up purely based on nostalgia.

Being such a solid week for gamers, no matter what platform that you play on or the genre of games you prefer, there is something out there. I probably missed some other games, but these are the ones that I remembered off the top of my head. If there are others that you think were worthy of mentioning then feel free to add them in the comments below.

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