So I've been watching the progress of a very interesting development from Microsoft's XNA development studio called Kodu. As the official site says, "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.
The core of the Kodu project is the programming user interface. The language is simple and entirely icon-based. Programs are composed of pages, which are broken down into rules, which are further divided into conditions and actions. Conditions are evaluated simultaneously.
The Kodu language is designed specifically for game development and provides specialized primitives derived from gaming scenarios. Programs are expressed in physical terms, using concepts like vision, hearing, and time to control character behavior. While not as general-purpose as classical programming languages, Kodu can express advanced game design concepts in a simple, direct, and intuitive manner."
This is soooo awesome, and I'm super excited to try it out. Check out the preview video and a letter I sent to the dev team regarding limitations and such on the dev tools within Kodu. If you're into games and have always wanted to try to make one, here's your chance. If a 12-year old could do it, so can you.
"Hi there!
I've been watching this project for quite a while now, and I've grown VERY fond of how you guys have been developing this awesome platform for codeless designers like me to learn to program and create games (based on ideas I've had brewing but never the know-how or resources to execute). I can see the truly endless potential of Kodu's framework and the outstanding GUI you all have implemented into the game.
Now on to my questions. As I've been thinking of games to try my hand at developing, I came across a few hitches that I haven't yet seen answered (it's very difficult to track down very much information on the specifics of the limitations of the project).
As I understand it, there will be 20 custom Kodu characters that each serve specific archetypes on which to build. Among those characters, will there be a humanoid type? I'm fine with the awesome Kodu characters, but for some ideas I had, I was curious if I could use a humanoid character in some of my games. (Or could I use my Xbox Live Avatar perhaps?)
When it comes to items and props, how many types of objects will be available? Along the same lines, will any of the 20 characters be able to be assigned actions to equip certain items that are assigned modifiers for the character's benefit?
Also, will there be any way to implement dialog boxes and NPC interaction besides blowing them up? If there is such a feature, will I also be able to create things such as inventories that keep record of items on hand and allow actions for equipping or using such items?
Will there be any way to link levels together (such as entering a dungeon from outside and being in an enclosed space with an isometric camera view) to allow for multiple levels within a game? Or will I need to simply make paths to these various levels and make it very clear that they are in a different area? Or can I assign teleport actions to certain doors and such and have them link to a separate part of the map, where the level is self-contained and set apart from the main overworld?
Finally, with regard to camera options, will there be a way to blend camera movements for tutorials and flybys? Say I have a character that is on flat ground and starts walking up a mountain. Until he begins the ascent, he has full camera control. Once he crosses an invisible marker, can the camera change properties and become a sidescrolling locked view of the character as he winds up the hill, then give back control when he reaches the top?
These are a few of the questions I've had. I'd really love to jump right into the experience when I purchase this next week, so it would be nice to have a little head start so I don't disappoint myself with hyped up expectations (by no fault of your own. The team has made it abundantly clear that this is first and foremost an educational tool for a younger audience).
I hope I haven't overburdened you with questions and hope you all enjoy the last days of development! You all rock and I'm so excited to try my hand at Kodu!!"
-Scott Hernandez
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