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Teaching Kids to Make Games?

FreakerSFX asks: "My son has shown an avid interest in video games like most kids his age. What's different now is that he insists that he wants to learn how to build his own game. He's 9 and fairly gifted from a mathematics and computer standpoint and certainly capable of learning basic programming. What tools/books are recommended for a neophyte computer game programmer?" I remember one of my first exposures to computer languages was Logo, which was a language that seems perfectly suited to young children. There is a Windows version available here that seems like it would be perfect for the development of simple games, especially for youngsters. What languages, and language resources, are you aware of that might be suitable for youngsters with an interest in creating games, and learning programming?

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  1. On a related note by stoborrobots · · Score: 3, Informative
    Some links which may be useful...
    • GameDev, and in particular the How do I make games? and Game Programmer's Beginners Guide
    • for the hardcore out there, a Win32 Assembly Tetris Clone how-to guide, with full source code and commentary...
    • A programming language called Euphoria which is so unlike "real" programming languages, that it might just be easy enough for a kid to pick up and learn in a couple of days... (I got into it a few years ago, well after I learnt to program)
    • XBasic - a decent BASIC for graphics support... (Win32 graphics... I got it because it was a step up from QuickBASIC!) There's a linux version, and it's all GPL these days...

    That's all I can find in a quick scan of my bookmarks from way back when...