Gamertell

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to design your own game (I know I have), and have barely any programming skills, that wonder may feel like only a dream. If you have own a copy of Little Big Planet you can let your creativity run rampant through the world but it’s still rather hard to get the challenges to work right without glitches. (And reading poor reviews of your game can be heartbreaking.)

I came across this article in USA Today about a program called Kodu. According to the article, written by USA Today reporter Mike Snider, Kodu is a program that will be available to Xbox Live users later Spring 2009 and will give players the tools they need to create their own game. Similar to Little Big Planet, you can create a variety of levels, bosses and vehicles for your character which kind of looks like the robot from the old Nintendo 64 game Rocket: Robot on Wheels.

According to Microsoft Research site the program uses simple language and is entirely icon-based to make it so easy even a child could create a game using their own Xbox controller. Here’s the quickie description from the Microsoft Research site:

Kodu is a new visual programming language made specifically for creating games. It is designed to be accessible for children and enjoyable for anyone. The programming environment runs on the Xbox, allowing rapid design iteration using only a game controller for input.

Key features highlighted in the program, according to Microsoft’s research site, include:

• High-level language incorporates real-world primitives: collision, color, vision
• Uses Xbox 360 Game Controller for input — no keyboard required
• Runs on Xbox 360 and PC
• Interactive terrain editor
• Bridge and path builder
• Terrain editor - create worlds of arbitrary shape and size
• 20 different characters with different abilities

With these tools players can bring a variety of Kodu characters and items to life. If it’s anything like Little Big Planet it will be quite an adventure just creating a level and then publish it on the server for others to tryout.

I’ve been playing around on my Metal Gear Solid-themed level in Little Big Planet for three months now and have yet to finish my game. Hopefully Kodu may be a little bit easier and be as enjoyable as Little Big Planet.

Read [USA Today] Also Read [Microsoft Research site] Site [XBox community news]