Scratch

Earlier today I typed the following query into Google: "easy to use programming language." The third hit in the results was to a web page with a blurb and link to another page which had a link to the Scratch website. I've been playing with Scratch now for about three hours and all I can say is, "Wow!" This is SO cool. I used to do some web programming with Cold Fusion, SQL, HTML, and Javascript (and before that HyperCard) and always wanted to create some farily simple role-playing/stagegy games (along the lines of Oregon Trail). I think Scratch will allow me to finally have an outlet for my creative urges. I can't wait to start building my first game -- Trade in the Age of Sail -- where students sail a ship around the world in the mid-1800s, buying and selling goods and trying to make a profilt. Thanks MIT!!