KludgeHack

Kids programming

This is nothing new to those that were lucky enough to visit Microsoft TechFest 2007 in March. In this event Microsoft shows their incredible researches projects and joins together its hundreds of researchers and visitors.

I wast there, but many content was made available after, and one I think is kind a special.

Boku is a “video game” to help kids (or others) to learn programming. Looks and feels like a game, with no text typing, fantastic interface.

Using Xbox 360 platform, a 3D gaming world and only the console controller, this game can attract anyone interested in solving logic problems.

By creating a programming model extremely (really) simple, using behavior cards to enable a small robot to navigate its virtual world and achieve specific tasks.

There are no possible syntax errors; the only programs it’s possible to create are correct ones. Programs can run quickly after they’re created.

The goal is to provide a gentle introduction to some functional elements of creative programming to children who may not yet be ready for the complexity of classic computer languages.

The main character in the “game” is a robot named Boku who lives on an island. Players give Boku different instructions that vary in complexity to make him do different things. Each programming task represents a level in the game, and the programs get more sophisticated as the player advances through levels.

It is beautiful, and I sure hope it reaches final version soon. I also wouldn’t mind if they released also for Windows.

Check out its demo at Channel 10.

Note: There’s also an independent board-game based on C/C++/Java.