Microsoft is pushing it community games development angle hard with the release of Kodu  (formerly known as Boku) – a code-free game development tool available for US$10 from the XBLA marketplace that allows players on an Xbox or a PC to design and develop complete games that can be played on either platform using nothing more than a controller and without any need for code.

During a keynote speech at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, 12-year-old student, Sparrow joined Microsoft’s President of the Entertainment and Devices Division, Robbie Bach on stage to demonstrate the intuitive game that lets players choose from a variety of visual building blocks in order to develop their own unique creation.

At the same time, MS has decided to offer a free trial version of its XNA Game Studio version 3.0 software for those interested but not yet sure about diving into the world of independent game development.  Games created with XNA that are approved can be distributed through XBOX 360’s live marketplace and get in front of millions of eyeballs.  Better yet those games can be sold for Microsoft points and earn the micro-indie developer a return for their blood and sweat.

Download the trial version of XNA Game Studio 3.0 now [Direct Link]

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