Apart from copying several pages of BASIC into a Speccy in a failed attempt to make a tennis game, and writing a 2-player turn-based penalty shootout game in a desperate attempt to wring some entertainment out of the graphical calculator I was forced to purchase by the state, I've never really gotten into programming. It's something I've always fancied trying, but my severe lack of work ethic and my personal philosophy of Extreme Amateurism has always held me back. UNTIL NOW! Maybe.

In the last couple of weeks I've played only two games, and this is one of them. After a bouncing ball in one of the tutorials accidently made a neat rhythm, I got obsessed with the idea of making a drum machine. Learning how to make this system do what I want has been the most satisfying thing I've experienced in a long time. Doesn't hurt that it's incredibly charming too, all the Nodon are funny little freaks and I love them.

I'm sure, as many folk seem to love po-facedly pointing out, that this is very limited compared to "real" game creation tools. Who gives a shit. Working within limitations can be a wonderful experience, and is something everyone should try. Plus have you seen what people are doing with this? Starfox, Metal Gear, Kirby's Air Ride, Waverace...I think people are going to be stretching this thing to breaking point, and I'm excited to see how far that is.