Here in Japan, there is a programming language you can acquire for only 800 yen from the Nintendo eShop called "Puchikon" (プチコン). It uses BASIC syntax. As of last month, there is an updated version, Puchikon mkII with a ton of new, useful features (including the ability to save programs to an SD card or a PC).

I have already developed one simple game (551 lines of code, ~32 kilobytes of code) for Puchikon/Puchikon mkII. It is a word search game called "Big Apple Word Search" with a database of 366 vocabulary words. It generates random word searches and the player can solve them.

I was wondering if anyone out there has also used/written programs for Puchikon. I dedicate this thread to discussing the Puchikon programming language and game development for the Nintendo DSi/3DS using Puchikon/Puchikon mkII. It really is a wonderful tool.

I wish we had Puchikon in the Americas. I'd be buying it so I could work some ideas out.

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I am Le Mat, The Comfort In Hell
FC 1: 5026-4461-7961 FC 2: 2380-2936-2441

I think I've heard about this some couple of months ago. Makes me very jealous of you guys in Japan.

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Hero of the Skies~

Yeah, it's an awesome tool, especially now that it can save to SD card for easy distribution of files over the Internet (it couldn't do that before). Seriously, considering it's mostly in English (with the exception of the documentation, which could be translated quite easily in a few days' time), I wonder why they don't release it in North America and elsewhere.

The new version, mkII, even allows you to convert your programs into QR codes so people can get your program just by scanning a piece of paper! You could literally hang a piece of paper on your wall containing a complete game... Sweet!

For reference, when I converted my 551-line, ~32K program into QR codes, it came out to 13 QR codes. So I'm supposing each QR code stores between 2~3 kilobytes. Which is pretty amazing when you consider that they're just glorified bar codes...

That seems a bit ridiculous then, being in English already for the most part, and still only being in Japan

I like the idea of distributing games through QR Codes. It's pretty cool, but 13 QR Codes for such a small game :/

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I am Le Mat, The Comfort In Hell
FC 1: 5026-4461-7961 FC 2: 2380-2936-2441

Sounds like an advanced game making program. But I think I'll stick to WarioWare DIY. :P

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The Legend Of My Ass!
-AVGN

Heh, basic syntax? That takes me back.

Though, I am a bit jealous. I NEVER had that kind of powerful visual/audio support with my basic.

Then again, my old computers i used for basic would give their left modem to be as powerful as a 3ds.

Cant say i envy coding through a touch screen though.

Sounds awesome, would love to see a release in Aus. The QR codes feature is brilliant.

WHAT. IS. THIS. MADNESS. YOU. SPEAK. OF.

Sounds nice, though I don't know BASIC and don't really want to learn... Unless it's a fun programming language to work with.

You know, Nintendo should allow you to sell games made with whatever software on their service - that would sell like hotcakes, even for just a buck or fifty cents or something.

I highly recommend taking a course in some programming language at some point. It doesn't have to be BASIC (it can be C++ or Java or assembly), but seriously, programming is a really useful skill to have.

Think of it kind of like cooking. Not everybody needs to be a professional chef, but everyone can benefit from knowing how to make a baked potato or fry an egg.

It's the same thing with programming. Obviously not everybody wants to be a programmer, but it's good to be able to write a program. There are so many times in my life when I've found writing a program the simplest way to solve a problem. Plus, much like cooking, it's just a fun and rewarding thing to do, sometimes, even if what you make isn't all that amazing.

Well, they kind of do, but not to the same extent as, say, Apple with its iPhone.

You could write a game in Puchikon mkII and sell it. You'd have to figure out a way to advertise it, collect payment for it, and distribute it, but there's no reason you couldn't, say, create a nice game and burn the file onto a CD and sell it on eBay. Not that many people would buy it unless it were really cool, but it's possible. Of course, your customers would need to install Puchikon mkII first (and pay 800 yen for it) and most people probably can't be bothered to do that, so my guess is that this would not be very financially successful.

The next step up is to become a Nintendo-licensed DSiWare developer. It is much cheaper to become a DSiWare developer than it is to become a regular Nintendo developer. However, it's not something the average 16-year-old in his parent's basement can do, because Nintendo requires that you show proof of the following things:
- A secure, commercial office space
- At least $2,000 for the SDK and dev kit (or more depending on which system you are developing for -- I believe DSiWare has the cheapest dev kit at ~$2,000, but I could be mistaken)
- Show that you have already developed some software, either for a Nintendo system or other platforms

Thanks. And I am a programmer, as well. I've been programming for years. I know Python fairly well, and have worked with Game Maker Language, ActionScript and C++ a tad. I just never learned BASIC.

Yeah, those requirements are a bit steep for a true indie game developer - maybe a whole studio would be able to get a license, though, which is why I think that Nintendo should make an effort to host Indie Games like Microsoft did with the 360. That was a good move in my opinion.

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound condescending... I didn't realize that you had programmed in other PLs.

And agreed, I wish that Nintendo were slightly more open to indie developers...

I am very interested in the discussions of this topic, especially the QR code part. Actually, I am new to know the java library that generates customized qr codes, feeling quite curious about the related themes. This topic is impressive.

Nice but I think I'll stick to homebrew
I can't figure out why Nintendo doesn't just allow homebrew games on they eshop. It would reduce piracy because the homebrewers won't see incentive to hack it leaving only the pirates to batter. Plus I can make professional style games with it.