64BLOG
Occassional, direct and not politically correct.
Thursday 8 January 2009, 2:36 PM
Programming Is Childs Play, I KODU you not!.
This was Steve's first crack at this show as it has always previously been Bills domain. He pulled it off with his usual enthusiasm, and the next 12 months looks interesting to say the least.
One thing that really bit my imagination was KODU, this demo involved the participation of a 12 year old Sparrow Buerer who had created a 'world' using KODU. Kodu is described as being a programming concepts game coming soon to an xbox near you thru the Live Community Games Channel. Now this probably means US first, UK and ROW, who knows. Kodu though is really great. The ease at which this girl chose the commands and made things happen made me think back to my first days learning how the hell to make the blocky graphics of a Sinclair ZX81 appear on a screen.
Being the proud father of a 10 year old who is grossly into the antics of Sonic The Hedgehog and friends and also the little plumber guy Mario, he has had many ideas for games of his own, complete with power-ups, levels and before even a line of code is written, the cheats. Actually trying to get him into the programming aspect has proven difficult. I have installed Scratch, KPL and even the new SmallBasic from Microsoft hasn't really enthused him.
Having seen KODU in action, this could be what starts the ball rolling for him, at least I hope.
Do you have children who have taken to programming? If so, what worked for you?
PreviousComments on this post
Well Mr 64-Bitz,
Firstly I'd like to point out that there is no second 'e' in Bridgwater.
Secondly, my sponsors at the National Envelope Opening Society of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Commonwealth Territories just might take umbrage at your suggestion that I'll drop anything for a free mini-Scotch egg canape and a glass of White Lightening.
That said, I've been watching an increasing amount of tech content in video format online due to a) ZDNet.co.uk's video channel blossoming as it has b) being stuck in the US for a month and feeling cut off and c) Adrian Mars' recent suggestion to look at YouTube for How-To content.
I'm always a bit wary of 12-year olds in programming demos though. Microsoft's Europe Tech.Ed keynote 2006 used some snotty nosed little upstart showing off how she'd built a calculator tool using MS technology ... most of us just sat there thinking, "But who cares?"
However, your suggestion for KODU and your integration with your 10-year old does seem rather more constructive, inspired and, well, home grown and honest and is probably more productive as a result.
I wish you luck and am keen to hear how you get on.
I wish I had come to DOOM about 4 years before I did do and really gotten involved with game level design and started to create worlds in the way that you describe. I fear, like you, that spent far too long trying to recreate Donkey Kong on a ZX81 too.
In the meantime, may I recommend you contact the Yorkshire-Scottish Envelope Appreciation Society? Web site www.scots-yorkie-drinkingbuddies.com -- I hear they need a new patron and I thought you might be interested?
Regards and much respect - AdrianB
