Add Games To Your Zune (Revised for 3.0)

Games and Applications on the Zune have been available since May 2008. ZuneBoards.com has a small community of people developing these games therefore, all of these games are completely free.

I added games and applications to my Zune very easily but a lot of people get the impression from the instructions at ZuneBoards that it's way too complicated. So I made this Instructable to try to simplify things a little.

After you figure out what's going on, you can add a lot of games and applications to your Zune quickly and easily.

Refer to the images in this Instructable to get a better understanding of how to use Visual C#.

Note: This Instructable has been revised for the Zune 3.0 firmware update.

And also, this Instructable has been changed to collaboration. Since I no longer have a Zune, I don't really keep up with the cool stuff.

Step 1 Download and Install

There are two programs you need to download and install before you can add games to your Zune.

Note: If you updated your Zune from 2.5 to 3.0 you will need to uninstall Microsoft XNA Game Studio CTP.

The first program is Microsoft XNA Game Studio 3.0. Download it for free here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=7D70D6ED-1EDD-4852-9883-9A33C0AD8FEE&displaylang=en

The other is Visual C# 2008 Express Edition. Download it here:

http://www.microsoft.com/express/vcsharp/Default.aspx

Install Visual C# 2008 Express Edition first (vcssetup.exe), then install Microsoft XNA Game Studio 3.0 (XNAGS30_setup.exe).

XNA Game Studio 3.0 is a toolset intended for developing games on the Zune, Windows Computers and Xbox 360. Since we are not developing games (just syncing them to the Zune) we won't use it but it still needs to be installed for any of this to work.

Comments

[REA]

i wonder if MS will just add an option to sync games through the normal zune software instead of having to use XNA and C#. its a hassle and C# VS only has a 30 day trial for free.

[kittyofdoom]

Funny Microsoft let me haveit for free, after 30 days I just registered... and I am all clear now

[REA]

ya i just figured out that its a free register. still they should add it to the Zune software. by the way, do you know how to install .ccgame games?

[fordman15243]

C# won't install on my computer. Any ideas about what's causing it? HELP!

[austinburke.]

All of the games and apps compatible with zune 3.0 are put in a list here. And are available for download (it's on the same site). This is a great Instructable and I'm excited to be playing cool games on my zune!

[austinburke.]

here...whoops. forgot to put in link. wow. here...

[physco13]

could you please help me walk through this like a phone number man i really wanna learn this and seem smart thanks soo much NORMAN

[physco13]

i dont have the build option on the c# 2008 i cant find it am i a dummy or is it just not there

[aDimWit]

On Step 1, the link was dead because XNA Game Studio 3.0 Beta was updated to 3.0. I fixed the link. You will probably need to Uninstall Beta and download/install the latest version. XNA was probably updated again (On Oct. 30, 2008) to be compatible with the Xbox 360 Fall update.

[yeaitskimmel]

i drag the sln into the the program and solution builder stays blank

[sparenciia]

My zune is updated to 3.0 and i dont know if im still able to put games into it. how can i add games to it?

[aDimWit]

I updated the Instructable. You can now add games to a 3.0 Zune.

[aDimWit]

The games don't work with the Zune 3.0 firmware update. The games only work with the Zune 2.5 firmware until XNA Game Studio 3.0 Beta is released. XNA Game Studio 3.0 CTP is only compatible with the 2.5 firmware. XNA Beta is supposed to come out soon, and when it does I'll try to update this Instructable.

[cantthinkof bettername]

I haven't been able to get on the Marketplace for over a week. Can anyone help me?

[killersquirel11]

Just curious... does this void your warranty?

[aDimWit]

No. The ability to add games was specifically added to the Zune 2.5 firmware update by Microsoft. The two other programs were also developed by Microsoft to put games on the Zune (and the 360).

[cross_the_border731]

OK, I've installed both programs in the order you said. When i try to add my zune to V. C#, it prints an error message. >System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException (0x80004005): Could not >connect to 'Cross_the_border731'. 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.OpenPrimaryConnection(StringBuilder >diagnosticBuilder) > at Microsoft.Xna.RemoteServices.HostConnection.ConnectToHost(Int32 >millisecondTimeout, StringBuilder diagnosticBuilder) I dont know what it means or why its happening. help, anyone?

[cross_the_border731]

I have it working now. I had to uninstall the V C#, XNA and Zune and delete any traces of them in the hard drive as well as the registry. reinstalled C#, XNA and Zune in that order. Did not open Zune software at all.

[aDimWit]

I think I got that message a couple of times too. Does your Zune Software startup when you connect the Zune to your pc? If it does, turn the auto-open thing off in the software settings. Then disconnect the Zune device and close the software and C#. Then reconnect it and restart C# and try again.

[cross_the_border731]

The setting is turned off. (note: to change this setting, go to "settings", then "device" its at the top. click on "device options", and at the bottom there will be an option that says "start the zune software when i connect a device" uncheck to disable or vise versa) I have modified the registry so that it shows up in My Computer. Restarted. Nothing. I've unistalled the Zune software and the drivers. Restarted. Installed Zune driver. Nothing. I even updated the Zune firmware and software to 3.0, but now I have to wait for the beta release of V C#. Thanks for the tip though.

[cross_the_border731]

sorry for the confusion. I meant to say the beta of XNA.

[PlaDD]

How do you change that setting on your zune software?

[Solderguy]

Will this work on other mp3 players?Specifically a 8gb Sansa view?

[aDimWit]

No. Both of the programs needed to put games on the Zune are designed to be compatible with the Zune and Xbox 360 only.

[learningmasters]

whats your zune tag

[aDimWit]

Mine is just "aDimWit"

[learningmasters]

mines leeator

[JellyWoo]

NOOO!!!! i have the zune software on one computer and i tried to install visual basic on it and it didn't work so i installed it on my other computer but now i can't install the zune software! this is annoying!

[Rockerx]

Should i continue to install V. Basic if I have the zune software on my comp.?

[JellyWoo]

yes

[Rockerx]

k

[aDimWit]

Yeah. I think Visual Basic will detect your Zune even if you don't have the software installed

[Karel Jansens]

Dude, what's a "zune"? ... lol

[JellyWoo]

omg! r u serious?

[Rockerx]

Cool! I always wondered if this was possible. I'll have to try it out. Do you think I could use Visual Basic Express 2005 for this? It's already installed so it would be one less step for me.

[aDimWit]

I'm pretty sure you need the 2008 version. I think 2008 is the only version that has the ability to deploy the games to the Zune.

[Rockerx]

Alright. thanks!

[learningmasters]

thank you thank you thank you!!!!!! love it.....

[lil_timmy1990]

Whoa! I have had a Zune since the day they came out and never knew about this! Maybe that's because it sits around not being used lol.