Microsoft released their second beta of the XNA framework earlier this month and it's time to have a closer look at what it is and what it does. XNA is "is a product that enables students and hobbyist game programmers to create games using C# that will run on both Windows and their Xbox 360".

My first thoughts after readin through a bunch of FAQs and listening to Scott Hanselman's last show was: "can I replace my modified HTPC XBOX with a XBOX 360 with a mediacenter created with this framework?".

I'm not a hardcore console gamer, so I've been really happy with my modified first gen XBOX, but it can't do HD stuff, so the timing for