Kodu Game Lab facts for kids

Kodu Game Lab, first known as Boku, is a special computer program from Microsoft. It helps you create your own video games! You can use Kodu on an Xbox 360 or a Windows computer. It was first released for Xbox on June 30, 2009. A version for Windows computers is also available for everyone to download.

What is Kodu Game Lab?

Kodu is a tool that uses visual programming. This means you learn basic coding by using pictures and blocks instead of typing lots of words. Its design makes it easy for almost anyone to use.

You can download Kodu as an Xbox One Indie Game. There is also a PC version that anyone can try from their website. Kodu is different from other coding tools in a few important ways.

How Kodu is Different

• It lets you build programs using visual items. You don't need to type code. You can use a game controller, mouse, or keyboard.
• Your programs run in a cool 3D world. This is different from older programs that only showed 2D pictures. It's similar to another program called Alice.

Kodu Game Lab is also used in many schools. It helps students learn about coding and how games are made.

How Kodu Works: Making Games

Kodu's programming style is very simple. You can program it using a game controller or a keyboard and mouse. It doesn't use many of the complicated rules found in "serious" programming. For example, it avoids complex math or special commands for repeating actions.

This simplicity comes from how Kodu is set up. You program the actions of characters in a 3D world. Your programs are like a set of rules. These rules tell characters what to do when they sense something. This is similar to how programs like AgentSheets work.

Kodu's Simple Rules

The most basic Kodu program is like saying "hello world" in other languages. In Kodu, it looks like this:

see - fruit - move - towards

This means: "If you see some fruit, then move towards it."

The way you write these rules is simple:

<condition> <action>

The <condition> part is what your character senses. It looks like this:

<sensor> [<filter> ...]

For example, "see" is a sensor. "Fruit" is a filter.

The <action> part is what your character does. It looks like this:

<verb> [<modifier> ...]

For example, "move" is a verb. "Towards" is a modifier.

Here's another example of a Kodu program:

see - red - fruit - move - towards - quickly

This rule tells your character: "If you see red fruit, then move towards it quickly."

You can create many different kinds of games in Kodu Game Lab. These include racing games, strategy games, adventure games, puzzle games, and even first-person shooter games.

See also

• Educational programming language
• Visual programming language