Remember when we said that Microsoft will be announcing a few Xbox 360 surprises before Christmas? Well, here's one for you! The XNA Game Studio Express toolset which is currently only available to developers will be available for free to the public. On August 30th Microsoft will be running an open beta where gamers will be able to download the software and have a go at developing games for themselves on both the Xbox 360 and Windows XP.

There will also be a 'creators club" that will have a yearly subscription fee of $99 and enable would-be developers to exchange and test their games.The 'creators club' will also mean that you will be eligible to showcase your game on the Xbox 360 where others will be able to download it!

Any gamers out there who may be intimidated at the thought of creating their own games will be given access to a starter kit that will contain tutorials and examples of full games that were created using the toolset.

More information on the developer's kit will be available today after the Microsoft Game Fest in Seattle.