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Most of our Creators here on XNA Creators Club Online know what it’s like to take their idea and turn it into a game. Until now, there has been an understandably high bar for entry, because making a game takes an incredible amount of technological know-how and is pretty much reserved for space brains. While this still holds true, aspiring game makers of all ages now have chance to bring their own game creations to Xbox 360 with Kodu Game Lab. For just 400 Microsoft Points, or $5, anyone with a passion for game creation can harness the magic of programming and game development at every level.
Built on Microsoft’s XNA Game Studio, Kodu Game Lab keeps minds active by developing logic, problem-solving and creative thinking skills since it was originally designed as a learning tool for kids. Game design and programming requires all of these skills, but making this simple enough for children to understand was a three-year journey for Microsoft Research.
What they created is Kodu Game Lab; an image-based toolset ideal for anyone who has ever had an idea for a game pop into their head. You "play" using only an Xbox 360 controller from the comfort of your couch. Kodu Game Lab offers a number of lessons to introduce you to the more than 200 different programming features, including a bridge and path builder, a terrain editor to build unique playgrounds, co-op gameplay for up to four players and 20 different characters with a range of abilities. Fledgling game developers are also given Sample Games and Starter Worlds to help ignite and empower their own creativity. Kodu Game Lab has educated and entertained students in more than 200 schools across seven countries and is now available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace through Xbox LIVE Community Games!
“Learning to program at a young age was an amazing revelation for me. With Kodu Game Lab, we wanted to provide folks today with an easy way to explore their own imagination through programming.”, explained Lead Kodu Game Lab Designer Matt MacLaurin.
Although the Kodu Game Lab Team is part of the family here at Microsoft, they got no free passes here on XNA Creators Club. They believe in our system of Playtesting and have benefited from the incredible feedback from other Premium Creators for the past week. Just like any other potential Xbox LIVE Community Game, Kodu Game Lab also went through our strictly objective Peer Review process to appear on Marketplace. If they had failed Peer Review – the would’ve had to wait through the same seven day “jail” just as any other Premium Creator would – so they were eager to Playtest first!
Kodu Game Lab offers multiplayer for up to four players on the same console. It will also let your share and trade your creations with your friends! You can download Kodu Game Lab to your Xbox 360 now for just 400 Microsoft points. What are you waiting for?
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