This can, obviously, build into something quite complex, but it's reasonably easy to set up - most of the time you're just choosing icons, there's no text editing involved. When you bump into an object, lose some health maybe when the character sees an object, move towards it when the player hits a particular key then perform some action when the player moves the mouse then move the character accordingly. The core programming is just as straightforward, as it involves only one construct: When/ Do. And it all works with mouse clicks, so you'll quickly feel at home. Kodu uses control wheels that graphically display all the options available at any one time. There are no boring text-based lists here, either. And you can then add a range of characters and objects: a flying saucer, balloon, jet, blimp, cannon, clouds, buildings, rocks, stars, coins and more. A terrain editor brings point-and-click simplicity to the task of creating your game world. Their Kodu Game Lab is so simple even a child can use it, and the results are attractive 3D games that are playable on both the PC and Xbox 360. But, Microsoft's FUSE Labs say, there is an alternative. Creating your own games normally requires expensive software, in-depth knowledge of C++, years of spare time and a brain the size of a planet.
