How to Install Zune Games/Apps.

[Crippler]

So you want to try out some community developed games and apps on your Zune? Well, since the Zune software does not 'officially' support Games yet, you're going to have to install these games like a Zune developer would. Sounds awesome right? Maybe not worth the trouble? Well, it's really pretty simple. If you can install software and open a file, than you can do this. Really.

Ok, first you're gonna need to download & install two software packages (WinXp or Vista only):

1) Visual C# 2008 Express Edition
2) XNA Game Studio 3.0

Install the software in the same order as numbered above. Not sure if it makes a big difference or not. But that is the order I followed so that is how I will explain it.

The installs are straight forward, typical software installs. Just click on the 'exe' file and allow Windows to do it's thing.

Once you have installed the software packages, we need to associate your Zune device to the software. This will NOT work if you have the Zune software running. So close it now. Then make sure your Zune device is plugged into your sync cable.

Ok, to associate your Zune device we need to run a program called XNA Game Studio Device Center. Follow me here.....go to:

Start--> All Programs--> Microsoft XNA Game Studio 3.0 (CTP)--> XNA Game Studio Device Center.


Open that and you will see this:
Click on Add Device->


Click on Zune ->


Click on your 'Zune Device name' and then click NEXT.


At this point, the XNA Studio Connect will test your Zune's connection......then you should see the screen below.





You have just associated your Zune device to the XNA Studio software. That wasn't so hard now was it. You can associate more than one device too.

Before we get to the Visual C# software, go download some games/apps. Here is a list of all the games and apps available at this time:

Games and Applications List

Some of the games may not support the Zune 30 at this time. I use a 30GB and I haven't had too many issues. Most support it or plan to in the future.

Now that you have a game downloaded, we can deploy (install) that to your Zune device using the Visual C# software. But first, let's unzip that file onto your desktop. Open the zip file of whatever you may have downloaded and follow the steps to extract the contents into a folder onto your desktop. Now we have something we can read from within the Visual C# software. (For this demo, I will be install the Zune calendar.)

Let's open the Visual C# program. Again follow me here:
Start--> All Programs--> Microsoft Visual C# 2008 Express Edition
Start that bad boy up and let's get to installing. Here's what you'll see when you run the Visual C# software:


You may also notice that the screen on your Zune now says "XNA Game Studio Connect...Connected....Exit. If not, don't worry...the software will connect and install the game/app. when we deploy it. Remember, the Zune software can not be running while we do this. The Visual C# software will connect with your Zune much like the Zune software itself does.

Go ahead and open the MS Visual Studio Solution file within the folder you had extracted for the Game or App.


Click on that file and it will be loaded into the Visual C# software.
Select which Zune device you would like to install the game/app to if you have more than one device associated to the XNA software.


You can leave this set to default if you only have one Zune device associated (it is your defualt then.) Now let's deploy the game/app to your device.

Go to Build--> Deploy Here I am installing the Calendar.


Once you click that, the software will begin to deploy the game/app to your Zune device. You can watch the files being installed onto your Zune on the Zune screen. (If you happen to get a Can't connect to device error within the Visual C# software. Disconnect your Zune (unplug the sync cable) and it will reboot. Once it has rebooted, deploy the game/app again. It should worked this time.) When the software has completed the install, your Zune device screen will just show "connected". You can now uplug your Zune device. It will reboot and you will now see a new menu option titled games direct under podcasts. Drill down into that menu and you will see your game/app. that we just installed. Select it and click play. The game/app will now load.

Here is the new menu:


And my currently installed games/apps:



That's it. Not too bad. Now that you have the software installed and the knowledge, you can continue to install games/apps in the same manner we just followed. More than one Zune device can be associated to the XNA software too. So you can install on multiple devices. Just remember to select which Zune you would like to install on within the Visual C# software.

Deleting apps is as simple as selecting -delete on your Zune for each game/app.

I hope this little write-up helps.

If anyone has some other tips and such on this process, feel free to add them to this thread. Isn't that what this community is all about?


EDIT: I was able to get 2 shots w/a cam phone up this morning. (Thanks R1Raven) The res isn't the greatest, obviously. I promise I'll rock some nice high res shots tonight. (Maybe..if the kids don't drive me insane.)

[zunerama]

That's a great write-up, Crippler. Great clarity! I've linked to it from our Zune games board on Z'rama. - Harvey

[Crippler]

Originally Posted by zunerama

That's a great write-up, Crippler. Great clarity! I've linked to it from our Zune games board on Z'rama. - Harvey

Thanks Harvey. I'm a fan of Zunerama, probably the best Zune community out there. Keep up the great work you do over there.

[supafreak]

That is a great write up Crippler. I will have to get my lazy butt off the couch and get some games/apps on my Zune.

[CoryB23]

Great tutorial Crippler. Makes me somewhat second-guess my decision to get an iPod Touch instead of a Zune.

Consider it Dugg!

[Crippler]

Thanks guys. I'll try to set some time aside tonight to get better pics of my Zune 30 with the games and apps.

[zunerama]

Here are a few Zune game screenshots (pulled from our Zune Games directory):

4ToWin:



Blackout



Galactic Wars 3

[Desi Cuse]

Nice job Crip. Now to find time to actually do it...

[Peench]

Wow! You don't mess around man. That's an awesome write up bro! Thanks. You make it sound so easy that I totally want to try it now!

Question - my Zune software loads automatically when I connect my Zune. Does that cause a problem or can I just close it down when it loads up?

[Crippler]

Originally Posted by Peench

Wow! You don't mess around man. That's an awesome write up bro! Thanks. You make it sound so easy that I totally want to try it now!

Question - my Zune software loads automatically when I connect my Zune. Does that cause a problem or can I just close it down when it loads up?

Just close it after it loads. I'm glad yours will still load automagically when you connect. I disabled that option in the software when I didn't have my Home A/V kit. Now that I have the A/V kit, I want it to load automatically but it won't. I re enabled that option in the software. Tried turning on processes I had off. Nothing. I have no idea why it won't start for me anymore. No answers on the Zune forum either. Manually starting the Zunelauncher.exe doesn't work either. I can't get this to work on either my work PC or home PC. So that's 2 for 2/

[Peench]

Dang, that's crazy and some good info to have. I won't change it from autoloading then. Cool.

[Lord Geoff]

Some new apps and games have popped up over the last week, so be sure to visit ZuneBoards to check them out. There is now a solitaire game and an alarm clock, as well as several others.

*sorry, didn't see that you were already directing people to Zunerama. That works also!

[Brandonn?]

Thanks for the write up!

But there is only one problem.

I own a Zune 30, and am trying to install the Clock and Calendar applications onto my Zune.

And I open the right file, but when I go to deploy, it starts and shows up with an error message saying: "Illegal Characters In Path"

I was thinking maybe it was with the path that Visual is trying to open the file?

I'm not so sure.

Please help!

[Crippler]

Originally Posted by Brandonn?

Thanks for the write up!

But there is only one problem.

I own a Zune 30, and am trying to install the Clock and Calendar applications onto my Zune.

And I open the right file, but when I go to deploy, it starts and shows up with an error message saying: "Illegal Characters In Path"

I was thinking maybe it was with the path that Visual is trying to open the file?

I'm not so sure.

Please help!

If I remember correctly, those programs are using a default Vista font that is not installed by default in WinXP. I can't remember the font name right now but it needs to be installed on a WinXP machine for those to work. Hence the error during deployment. I couldn't find a free version of those fonts, so.... I gave up on those. Then again I didn't really dig around much either. Try a Google search on those apps. Maybe that will point you in a dir of some free fonts for those.

[lil_neel_99]

i have question for some reason i get a error when i download Visual C# 2008 Express Edition
if u can plz tell me wht i did wrong
my zune software is closed
and just got my zune a week ago

[Peench]

Give us a little more information and we'll help. For example, what error did you get?

[namehater]

nice bumpage, i missed this thread, ill have to try it out on my zune30

[The Milk Man 09]

Yea I missed this thread too, Gotta try it now some of those games look awesome.

[lil_neel_99]

nvm mind i got tht fixed but then when i tried to connect my zune with XNA
this showed up


System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException (0x80004005): Could not connect to '!@$Neel!@$23(my zune name)'. Make sure the device is connected to the computer and not busy syncing content.
at Microsoft.Xna.RemoteServices.ZunePrimaryConnector. Connect(String hostId, Session session, Int32 millisecondTimeout, StringBuilder diagnosticBuilder)
at Microsoft.Xna.RemoteServices.HostConnection.OpenPr imaryConnection(StringBuilder diagnosticBuilder)
at Microsoft.Xna.RemoteServices.HostConnection.Connec tToHost(Int32 millisecondTimeout, StringBuilder diagnosticBuilder)

[Paintballhero]

Alright Im trying to get my sons zune to work for games and hes been trying to get it to work all day..... he showed me what happens and I have no idea, so thats why im coming to you guys for help. When he trys to open up the .sln file it says: The Project File 'C/Users/Adam/Desktop/zuneboardgamespackage\XNAaliengame\aliengame\zune. csproj' can not be open the project type is not supported by this installation. Any help on this?