Kodu

Kodu is a fun game lab which allows you, or even your kids, to create your own games. The best part is that you don't even need to have any skills in programming. It helps to teach kids how to create games, as well as get them interested in coding.

This is a Microsoft experiment and it's still being developed. To anyone who has played with beta (or alpha) games and programs, you know that this means that you can expect the odd crash or random bug.

Still, it's very usable with only the occasional problem.

Kudo is different from other coding editors because it's kid-oriented and kid-friendly. You and your kids can build games without needing to write even one line of code. This is very easy to use.

It's so intuitive and fun that it's almost like a game by itself. It has sample games to help get you started, as well as tutorials and lessons. It also comes with some pre-rendered assets such as characters, objects, and obstacles.

It's a great way to bond with your kids and to get them interested in not just games and gaming, but in learning the behind the scenes aspects of such.

Admittedly, this probably isn't the best editor for an advanced coder, and it can be frustrating for people who have the talent to create bigger and better codes with a variety of assets to be so limited by this program. But remember that it is designed to be easy for children with no coding experience to use and enjoy.

Pros:

• Original idea
• Easy to use
• Powerful editor
• Helps teach with lessons and samples
• You can also use it on Xbox 360

Cons:

• May be boring for advanced coders
• Limited selection of assets