Your dream of creating an Xbox game about your heroic rescue of kittens from trees is one step closer to becoming a reality, as Microsoft has announced their XNA Game Studio Express program for amateur developers. The software will be free, and it will allow tech-savvy hobbyists to create their own games for the Xbox 360 and the PC. Microsoft is setting up a "Creators Club," a $99 per year service that will allow game builders to share their creations with fellow designers. In a couple years, created games may be able to be purchased through the Xbox Live Arcade, ensuring that you won't be the only person to ever play your masterpiece. The software is a simplified version of the XNA toolkit that the pros use, so while you probably won't be able to make Halo 2.5 on it, there should be enough to play with to keep you occupied for a while. A beta version of XNA Game Studio Express should be available by the end of the month, with the full version slated to be released by the holiday season. — Adam Frucci