Microsoft Opens the Flood Gates of Community Game Development in New R Options

[Xbox-Scene]

Microsoft Opens the Flood Gates of Community Game Development in New Regions Posted by XanTium | November 24 18:08 EST | News Category: Xbox360

From the press release: [QUOTE] Following the highly-anticipated launch of the Community Games channel as part of the New Xbox Experience on Nov. 19, Microsoft today announced that it will open up the service to even more developers around the world to create their own games for Xbox 360 and share them with millions. Beginning on Dec. 15, independent, student and hobbyist developers in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand will have the opportunity to distribute their titles on the new Xbox LIVE Community Games Channel and potentially share in the profits from their creations. For developers like team Gambit of Singapore that created the 2008 Dream-Build-Play first place winner "CarneyVale: Showtime," this offers the unique ability to develop games using Microsoft's free XNA development toolset, share them on a console like never before and potentially turn the hobby of game-making into a full-fledged career. An XNA Premium Creators Club Membership, which is only $99 (USD) a year, will allow game makers to participate in the multi-billion-dollar-a-year industry. For Xbox LIVE members, it means more diverse and innovative titles that are only available on Xbox 360. "If our annual Dream-Build-Play competition taught us one thing, it is that there is such a wealth of creativity and imagination in this region, and all over the world, that should be shared with millions," General Manager of the XNA Boyd Multerer said. "Now even more developers can participate in what we expect to be a worldwide movement to truly democratize game development." A host of new and creative ideas are already appearing on the Xbox LIVE Community Games Channel, including 3-D fighting experiences like "Colosseum" and games for the entire family like "Word Soup." Community-created games on Xbox LIVE are expected to add hundreds of titles of the Xbox 360 video game library, offering some of the most inventive and unpredictable games ever seen on consoles. By the end of 2008, Xbox 360 owners are expected to have access to the largest, most creatively diverse game library across all next-generation platforms, with more than 1,000 titles spanning Community Games, Xbox LIVE Arcade and retail blockbuster titles. Singapore, Australia and New Zealand join the growing list of countries including the United States, Canada, England, France, Italy Spain and the Nordic regions that can publish Xbox LIVE Community Games. More detailed information about Community Games and Creators Club Memberships can be found by visiting http://creators.xna.com. [/QUOTE]

[DataBitz]

Does this mean the Xbox LIVE Community Games Channel will be available to normal users in NZ, AU and Singapore?
Or just that developers in these countries will be able to submit content to Xbox LIVE Community Games Channel.