Wario DIY on the DS

[Callan S.]

Great little game and scripting language. From the demo's on the game or that you can download, you can do quite a few neat little tricks in it. My son wanted it and has made a few games so far. Took some help from me with the programming logic, as everything he wanted to do, although it sounds simple to him, takes a bit of figuring out (sadly you have to work around the simpleness of the language in some ways - I wouldn't have to think as much in other languages (but by the same token I'd have to manage more boring little things, which this game does for you)).

I think it's good for kids to program at an early age - it's quite a mental discipline to go from having developed a imagined game in ones head to the cold, hard laying down tracks of logic in code. It makes you realise the often difference between ones imagination and hard reality, which is a good thing to realise.

And I wish when I first programmed, it had cute music and neat little sounds as I did it.

Highly recommend it for a present for any young folk you might be buying for. There's also a capacity to download games if you have the wireless usb thingie too.

[Jackolantern]

I had heard of Wario DIY before, but never actually knew it was a full-on game creator for kids. I am definitely curious enough to rent it to see how it works