I've been working tirelessly with my school towards my computer science degree. One major benefit of being a college student is Microsoft is willing to throw a few bones towards upcoming developers. It has been brought to my attention that both students and upcoming Indi devs have exclusive access to development software free of charge. Should your school be registered and have a computer science program head on over to this link https://www.dreamspark.com/Student/Default.aspx and register. You just need to verify your campus email address and you are then provided with free operating systems, development software such as VS 2013 and Unity for XBone/360 - Windows Phone - and Windows 8.1, as well as much more. I figured I would share this information with the previously uninformed as this has helped me make strides in development. Furthermore, Microsoft offers free online classes for game development with interactive chat and live video. Can't beat a deal like this. Happy Developing!
Where are you seeing XBone/Unity as part of the DreamSpark program? FYI, BizSpark is a great resource for actual startups too.
I signed up for everything of interest in my connect. I took advantage of the partner network and had my listing as entrepreneur software tester / debugging. After shooting dev support a few emails coupled with thorough hate for XBLIG's broken and abandon website with app center issues, I remember getting two additional emails back. One for Windows Azure with a free very large monthly credit (I have yet to read the obligations so I have not accepted that yet), and another with complimentary Unity key and a secure download file for the manager. I just grabbed it to check out what it was and it offered Xbox One as a target platform along with additional stuff in my connect. Aside from that I am not really sure what specifically was the defining step which lead me to the download. I just simply participated in all the programs and resources made available to me. Unity is applicable to almost all platforms imaginable so it could have been anything I joined / did that past week. :/
