Kodu due for late June launch

While the eyes of the gaming world were looking for the "Next Big Thing" at last week's Electronic Entertainment Expo, Microsoft quietly let slip a bit of news that might lead to a "Next Big Thing" a little further on down the road. An entry on the official blog for Kodu reported that the utility is set for an Xbox 360 release at the end of June.

Unveiled during Microsoft's keynote address at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Kodu is designed to introduce people to game design by being easy enough for a child to use. To prove that point, Microsoft had a preteen child show off the tool's features--from wire-frame editing to event timing and gameplay speed--to the assembled masses.

When it does launch, Kodu should be available from the Xbox Live Community Games Channel. To help give users an idea of what's possible with the program, Kodu will come with 30 to 40 minigames showcasing a variety of different gameplay approaches.