Developer

Developer Summary:
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 visual programming environment allows rapid design iteration using only a game controller for input. Share your creations with friends over XBOX LIVE.

What We Think:
Kodu Game Lab is a unique and engaging Xbox Live Indie game, if you can call it that; it allows you to create your own games by providing you with a set of characters, objects, and environment editing tools, as well as allowing you to program (on a very high-level) different constraints and events.

Don’t get too excited – you can’t create the next Call of Duty game in Kodu.  However, it is a very stimulating way to get a very basic introduction to programming and to be rewarded for your creativity.  One example of a game I created was a maze-type game where you would have to navigate your way through a series of different rooms with various obstacles.  The first was a narrow bridge with clouds that try to kill you.  The next was a large room with jump pads that you had to use to reach a very high point.

You can program winning conditions, character hit points, paths for object movement, and so much more.  Each object and character has its own unique physical characteristics, as well. For example, the motorcycle is fast and can jump, but is difficult to steer, whereas the star is extremely fast and can turn on a dime.  You can also include support for up to four players in the game!   The idea is that while you can’t create a game of epic proportions (especially since you have limited amount of memory usage for each game), you can create pretty interesting things if you have innovative ideas.

Rating: ★★★★★