Initially developed for the Windows Phone, it now works in iPads, Safari, Chrome and even IE 10!  This means you can use the Surface or other Windows RT devices to build your apps.  Well not quite, but close.  To build a Windows 8 Store app or Phone, either 8 or 7 you do need Visual 2012 running on Windows 8.  If you are a student that is pretty easy to do, but for non-students you will need the Windows 8 and then use the completely free Visual Studio 2012 Express for Windows 8 to build Windows Store Apps

Check it out at http://www.touchdevelop.com/app this is just the start.  Cool stuff.

So quick, go to Scirra.com and download Construct 2.  I have purchased the Construct 2 professional version and it is worth the money.  The community is quite strong and the output is pure HTML5/JavaScript so for the open source people, it is an awesome tool.

To upload the output there are a number of tutorials to help you with that.

• HTML5 & CSS3 Fundamentals
• This is a nice way to brush up on your HTML 5
• Download the source code at: http://media.ch9.ms/ch9/code/C9HTMLCode.zip

Couple of tips that save a great deal of time:

• Bob Tabor is an awesome video speaker, but you can save time by downloading the videos and then playing them at 1.4 speed.  If you don’t understand something, then slow the video down to 1 times and listen at that speed.
• Work through the samples, not a length of time saver, rather over your lifetime savings

This is kind of out of order, but please start using this training material so my blathering makes more sense.

• JavaScript Fundamentals: Development for Absolute Beginners
• If you need to review JavaScript you should view the videos, it is a worthwhile review
• Source code can be found at: http://media.ch9.ms/ch9/javascript/C9JS_Code.zip

Couple of tips that save a great deal of time:

• Bob Tabor is an awesome video speaker, but you can save time by downloading the videos and then playing them at 1.4 speed.  If you don’t understand something, then slow the video down to 1 times and listen at that speed.
• Work through the samples, not a length of time saver, rather over your lifetime savings

Do this JavaScript training so that you can understand the Windows 8 Environment better.  For instance, C++ is much easier to use in the new environment, which might seem scary if you have suffered other training classes on C++, but seriously Windows 8 is much easier to use.

Download the Win8GameKit at https://win8gamekit.codeplex.com/ , the demo game shows you how to build a simple HUD (Heads up display) Scoring, Simple touch on a moving object and so forth.

Let’s say you are using one of the trailing edge operating systems like Mountain Lion, and you want to get into the new way of design software, then take a look at IE 10 Preview.  Light, interesting and easy to design, it’s a new look this modern software design stuff from Microsoft.

http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/ 

Fun things that should not be used at work (unless you are a game designer):

The Arcade, an awesome package of fun, fun, fun.  And excellent design example.

Azure 90-day Free Trial:

Get started or learn how to build cloud apps!

• https://aka.ms/socalacademic_90day_azure

VS Express 2012 RC for Windows 8 & Windows 8 Release Preview Downloads on Dev Center

This has SDKs, hands on labs and other useful items to get you started

• https://aka.ms/socal_academic_vs2012Express_dev

VS Express 2012 RC for Windows 8 Download on VS Site:

Similar to the previous one, except has different tools and guidance

• https://aka.ms/socal_academic_vs2012Express_VS

30 to Launch Win8 Signup:

Guidance for doing an app in 30 days!

• https://aka.ms/socal_academic_30DayToLaunch

Phone SDK Download:

Windows 8 Phone SDK

• https://aka.ms/socal_academic_PhoneSDK

30 Day to Launch Phone:

Like the Windows 8 30 days to launch but for the Current phone or future Windows 8 Phone, but no in person labs and some material that will be changing as time goes on

• https://aka.ms/socal_academic_30DayToLaunchPhone

GenApp HomePage:

Windows 8 app ideas, community and other stuff!

• https://aka.ms/socal_academic_GenApps

• http://box2d-js.sourceforge.net/index2.html

This won’t be your final library to build your game, but it certainly is useful if you like to slam code!  Thanks David!  You are the best.

Good library, one that used in the Scirra.com tool Construct2 that you can find at http://www.scirra.com.

This means that if you are considering creating your own WinRT based library in C++ that consumes Box2D could be better used to utilize the already converted library in your HTML5/JavaScript work.  WinRT is designed for Language projection. 

Here are links to a related //BUILD 2011 related sessions, which are somewhat out of date:

TOOL-527C – Building Metro style apps using JavaScript

Also, you and your team, if you win, will also get a free round trip to St. Petersburg, Not St. Petersburg Florida, but St. Petersburg, RUSSIA!  I am thinking major party!  Well for you, if I get to go, I have to work.  As always.

Don’t waste time, get over there and sign up, then get building that $50,000 app.  NOW!

Free Online Hackathon!

Build that Windows 8 application and make big money!

But I like this process, no spending long hours on Saturday in a room away from home.  You can drink your own coffee and use your own bathroom.  Nice, very nice.

So join us online!  Learn, program, make money.