Microsoft Transforms Kids from Game Players into Game Changers

In 2005, the International Game Developers Association reported that only 2% of the game developers were black. At the same time, African Americans were spending more money than the average gamer. The gaming industry has been taking some hits of late on the financial front, but it’s still a viable industry, ripe with opportunity for people with the talent and technical know-how. But how do we show our kids that gaming can be a serious and lucrative career choice? Simple, just let them make their own game, code and all.

Kodu, is a developer language created specifically for kids. Created by Microsoft, Kodu takes complicated code and turns it into easy to understand icons. Since it’s designed to help kids create new games, it makes sense that Kodu runs on Xbox 360 and is navigated using the tried-and-true controller that  kids are accustomed to. According to CNET, “Kodu has found its way into 200 schools and there have been more than 200,000 downloads of the free software” Key features of program include:

• High-level language incorporates real-world primitives: collision, color, vision
• 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

Since it’s debut at the 2009 CES, Microsoft has been hard at work making the program even more accessible, rolling out the PC version of the program. In lieu of an Xbox controller, users will be using a keyboard and mouse to create the game of their dreams. Other changes include improvements to the programming language and “a game export feature which allows users save games as documents that can be emailed or placed on servers for sharing.”

If you have a young gamer in your household, you might want to consider downloading the preview version of Kodu. You never know, with the proper inspiration, you could be raising a future developer.

About the Author
Sherri is a freelance writer that has a love of all things fun and geeky including gadgets, gaming, anime, and comics. When she isn't writing or out on the town living it up, she loves doing 10-12 hour marathon sessions on her Xbox 360 or one of her older consoles. It's not an addiction, it's a way of life!
See all posts by Sherri L. Smith.