I also recommend Python. It is a very powerful language - have a look at so=
me of=20
the programs written for CAELinux. I think there is a CAD tool written in
Python. You can write scripts for Blender, which also might interest him
as a program for video games.

Back to Python. I recently received my Rapsberry Pi and bought Dr. Simon Mo=
nk's
book, "Programming the Raspberry Pi." The book and language are easy enough
for somebody as young as 12, I think. If you are interested in him learning
some basic microcontroller stuff, then get him an Arduino for one of the
last projects in the book.

The Raspberry Pi uses different Linux distributions and they are making it =
easier
and easier for noobs to use. Scratch is available as well.

Another alternative for learning Python is CodeAcademy.com. Their beginner'=
s
Python tutorials are easy enough at many ages, in my opinion. Try it and se=
e.

The Python IDE's are also easy to download and install, both 2.7 and 3.3
They are different so it is worth checking out the differences.
CodeAcademy.com allows you to work in the webbrowser but I do not know if
you can save your code there. Using the Python IDE will be good for this pu=
rpose.

There are also free PDFs on writing video games using Python. These are
probably most easily found through looking at the video games provided=20
on the Raspbian Wheezy distro. Libraries of all types are also good
resources for programming books.

With a little more programming experience, you can introduce him the the
Parallax Propeller which has platforms for game development.

>It is a tall order but my son (12) has asked me several times to teach him
how to write games.  This seems like it would be so much easier on a
commodore 64 (I enjoyed moving sprites around the screen with a joystick)
but as that is long gone I thought i would ask the list what would be a
good way to start.
=20
I am (was) familiar with C, assembler and perl.  I enjoy PIC assembly but I
dont think that would be appropriate for a intro into programming games.
=20
Years ago I attempted Windows programming in C and assembler was just too
much for me.  A case of not able to see the tree for the forest.
=20
Perhaps starting with perl and moving alpha-numerics around the screen to
start with.
=20
Any thoughts.
=20
Justin >


 		 	   		 =20
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