Microsoft Kodu 'Game Lab' Launches

Author	Hugo Jobling
Published	2nd Jul 2009

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Gordon made precious little mention of Kodu at CES, through no fault of his own I am sure, but the game cum games creation environment is now available on Xbox Live and you might just want to take a look.

Kodu is, in Microsoft's words, a "visual programming language made specifically for creating games." The premise is simple: using just an Xbox 360 controller children and adults alike should be able to use the toolset Kodu provides to create their own games. Okay, so you're not going to be making Crysis, but there should be scope for anyone with even a little imagination to make something fun.

Harking back to the "programming" side, part of Microsoft's intention with Kodu is to introduce a young audience to the principles of coding, without the abstraction that less-visual programming languages can be hindered by. I guess you could think of it as Visual Basic, but even more visual and basic.

Let's be clear; whatever you may have heard Kodu isn't Microsoft's attempt to take on LittleBigPlanet (LBP) in the same way as LBP wasn't MediaMolecule's attempt to take on The Sims. There are similarities, yes so too are there between Pride and Prejudice and Marie Clare - and you wouldn't claim the latter was mimicking the former there I hope.

What Kodu does look to be is full of the potential. Unsurprisingly co-operative play (and creation) is featured, enabling players to team up to both create and play their Kodu-based games.

I must confess to being preeety tempted by its low, low 400 MS Points asking price.

Link:
Kodu.

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Hugo said on 3rd July 2009

If anyone's interested, I played this for a couple of hours last night and it's pretty fun! Well worth the £3 or so 400 MS Points equates to.

Penguin said on 3rd July 2009

so this means one can buy it in a shop for 3 Pounds? I'm a bit confused here :(

Pbryanw said on 3rd July 2009

@Penguin - I think it's only available from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace, which is an online store only accessible from your Xbox 360. To buy it you have to use MS points which i... more

chiery said on 11th November 2009

I think Kodu can be categorized as a serious fun games. It doesn't have realistic graphics, huge explosion, or even a way to win. But Kodu makes creating is more challenging than c... more

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