Best Application for Simple Game Development?

[nluoma]

I'm interested in creating some simple, (rpg) games for either Windows or the PocketPC. My daughter wants to script one, and have some help putting it together. I know *nothing* about game programming, though I do program (MS Visual Basic, JavaScript, and Flash mostly). Is there anything with a small learning curve that would let her create something simple? (Or rather, let me create something simple. She's only 9, so probably won't do much of the programming.)

[mouser]

I love this question.  I don't have much advice to offer but I am keenly interested in what others suggest and in hearing how it works out for you.  Please keep us informed nluoma, I know you aren't the only programmer-parent who is interested in the subject, and I'd love to hear how the project works out.

[Ruffnekk]

Well, you should really check out http://www.kidsprogramminglanguage.com/index.php

There's another thread about it here: http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=7259.msg52028

[Ruffnekk]

Better yet, check THIS out:

http://www.enterbrain.co.jp/tkool/RPG_XP/eng/

RPG Maker XP is specifically for RPG making...

[wmain]

Perhaps you will find something of interest at the Microsoft http://Coding4Fun site.

[Eóin]

Aside- everyone should download the demo video for RPG Maker XP, it's the funniest thing I've seen online in a long while. Ok sorry for dragging this off-topic... I'll go now...

[Crush]

The game Anachronox offers the APE programming language that´s for creating games inside the game. There are some APE games made by fans. The problem is: You can only play them inside of Anachronox. 

Otherwise for Adventures you could use AGS:http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/

[f0dder]

RPG Maker XP looks decent - and while the video is pretty funny, the English in it is a lot better than I expected

[nluoma]

Thanks all for the great suggestions. We downloaded and installed RPG Maker XP and my daughter loves it. She was able to make a "game" (actually, just a scene from a game) in about half an hour. Now she's learning basic programming to control the game better, as well as how to storyboard.
And I'm hooked, too. )

[kyrathaba]

Some other tools you might find interesting are the various interactive-fiction engines, such as TADS and Inform.  The newer editors allow you to include images and sounds in your games.  There is a learning curve, but its slope is milder than that of learning a programming language.

[nite_monkey]

lol, I tried to goto the site for rpg maker xp, and my school has it blocked and the reason was because it had porn on it...

[Deozaan]

I recently found http://www.byond.com/ through another post somewhere here and it will make a simple game. Best part is that it has multiplayer/networking built in!

A few of us here at DC have enjoyed playing a Tower Defense game together. Fun stuff.