Today i’ll be briefly looking at the differences between the two different programming softwares Kodu and Scratch.
Kodu is programming software that can be used on both Xbox and computers. It’s a fantastic gateway to basic game programming. When starting Kodu I found it quite difficult but after watching a few simple you tube tutorials I found it was easier than I first assumed.
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Kodu involves navigating an in game ‘Kodu’ and coding his actions.
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As you see from the above screenshot you simply input simple instructions. You instruct your game how to re-act when an action happens.
I really enjoyed developing my own game where you seek to pick up apples and stars but avoid the rocks. If you have Kodu on your computer you can play it here.
http://www.kodugamelab.com/world/kN2ohTLRNUeGrwxMTuNlQQ
I think you’ll agree my true future is in game design.
Now to have a brief look at Scratch and compare the two.
Scratch
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Scratch is a slightly more complex piece of software where you build games using commands as building blocks. I very quickly managed to make a simple game using these blocks but I was following guidelines. I always get that feeling if I were to try and re create this game without the guidelines I would get the same result as If i tried to create a Soufflé without a cookbook.
Scratch is most definitely software suited to older children, I believe it is a step closer to what actual programming is like, and for that reason I think it’s an extremely useful piece of software.
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Scratch software in use.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH9hixoHWAI
So in summation, I believe both are excellent progressions towards teaching children to code. This will be an extremeley useful life skill for them in the future. I believe Kodu is suited better to younger children as an introduction. Its brighter graphics and simpler instructions are more appealing and are a slower introduction to the skill. Scratch is more complex but at the same time more in depth. A logical progression.
|I hope this has helped with the key differences. What do you think about the two pieces of software? Opinions in the comments below.
