Not much information has surfaced yet.  They just revealed it at CES.  Basically KODU is a game creation software that makes it easy enough for anyone to create games, but complex enough for them to be fun and comprehensive.  It's like a visual programming software.

Here is a screenshot of it:

Do you think with this new software, Microsoft is trying to target the type of customizable levels Little Big Planet offers?  I think it would be a fair supposition, especially since this looks like it may be easier, and a bit better given that you could make full games.  Hopefully more information will come out soon since it is CES and I will update you all on what I find!

No, I think they are going a different direction. It is a competitor, but it looks like this will probably be low cost or free and really is made to get people into developing games rather then being a platform designer program.

Definately, doesn't have the depth of LBP as a whole package. I saw it in October at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference and it has come a long way since... But, I think Microsoft looks at this as an add-on, not a game to compete with LBP. Doesn't look like you will see Halo levels on it. LOL.

It is a learning tool to teach young people about programming concepts. And does it in an entertaining way.

Well of course!   This is probably more geared towards arcade game creation.  I merely meant they took the idea of offering something with a visual programming experience like LBP, and tried to make it better.  Even with my programming knowledge the XNA is still a bit confusing for me to create games with.  I wouldn't mind giving this stuff a try.

NeoRatt, do you know if this is just a PC offering or if you will be able to mess with it on Xbox 360?

This is far more flexible and able than LBP, however it's also harder to grasp. You can do far more with it than you can do with LBP, depending on what they add in there.

^ Yeah. Like I said in a previous thread, it reminds me more of software along the lines of "Multimedia Fusion" or "The Game Maker." It uses a simplified interface instead of coding everything yourself (even though you can code things yourself).

It looks like a good introduction to game making, but can we really make all kinds of games in KODU? =P

How do you figure that? A 12 year old girl was the one designing the game at the CES.

It would be a lot better if they would reskin the graphics. The visuals didn't look at all pleasing to me.

Well, if you want to make a more complex game I doubt the 12 year old would pull it off.

One of the MS Researchers started the program in 2006 to teach his 8 year old how to program (He thinks this is an important life skill)...  At the Microsoft PDC a lot of people were at the MSR booth telling them they should turn it into LBP.  They probably just took the advice...  They were shocked when people talked to them about it, so if anything the outcome is an accident.

I really don't know if it is a PC offering.  I know it was developed on and for 360 by the MSR staff member.  Really it was about teaching programming concepts and looks like it has morphed into "Heh, this may blunt LBP's impact".   I think Microsoft's goal is to get more people writing real games, not gamers turned into sack heads like LBP is.  The interface teaches a lot of game designing concepts.  Not really oriented to level designers like LBP.