kodu-game-lab
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Microsoft holds Kodu game design competition for kiddos
Microsoft released the full version of game creation utility Kodu Game Lab on PC today, and to celebrate the release of the free software suite, it's hosting a game design competition. Slow down, David Crane -- it's for kids. The Kodu Cup 2011 is a competition for students aged 9-17 (divided up into two age groups), in which kids use the software to design their own game, for submission by May 10. Prizes include $5,000 awards for both individuals and schools, along a trip to NYC, laptops, Kinect bundles, and a Zune HD out of the warehouse.
New programming languages take center stage, aim to create a more versatile future
COBOL, C++, Java -- you know, the usuals. Those guys are about to be joined by two dozen or so newcomers thanks to bright minds who have converged in Portland for the first Emerging Languages Camp at the O'Reilly Open Source Convention. Coding languages haven't really seen a revolution for years now, but a determined group of hobbyists and professionals are hoping to push a handful of new ones that could "enable powerful new web applications and mobile devices." Google's working on Go, Microsoft's toiling away on Kodu and plenty of others are working on alternative languages that are far more sophisticated and advanced than those that are widely used today. If you're interested in geeking out on languages that only CSC majors can speak, give that source link a tap.
Kodu 'Technical Preview' available as free PC download
Microsoft's experiment in casual game creation, Kodu, is now available in preview form online. PC gamers can download the "Technical Preview" version of the game right here, which features a revamped UI sporting mouse and keyboard controls. Microsoft also added other tweaks, enhancing the "move" verb (allowing for scripted camera movements), "streamlined terrain editing tools" and characters that can respond to mouse and keyboard events. If you're a PC gamer wondering what all of the fuss is about, we suggest you check out our video walkthrough. Oh, and do let us know if you come up with any Joystiq-inspired games! [Via Big Download]
Video Tour: Kodu, Microsoft's DIY game builder
Microsoft released its Kodu Game Lab yesterday, giving gamers everywhere the opportunity to create their very own games. Just for you, we snapped up the tool and set to work creating the Next BIg Thing in video gaming. Well, either that or we created a dinky little 2D shooter. Still, it's hard not to feel some pride after creating a real, honest-to-goodness, functioning game. And we did it all without laying a finger on a standard keyboard.Check out our video tour and see what created.Add the trial version of Kodu Game Lab to your Xbox 360 download queue
PSA: Kodu Game Lab is now live
Just a quick reminder from your friends at Joystiq, if you wanted to try your hand at the totally cool visual game programming of Kodu Game Lab, the title is now available on the Xbox Live Marketplace (though you'll have to navigate over to the Community Games section to find it).For just 400 MS points ($5) you can build your very own game from the ground up, all the while being reminded that no matter how hard you work at it, Sparrow still owns you. If you manage to make anything cool (though admittedly never as cool as what Sparrow makes) let us know in the comments below.