Written by Anthony L. Cuaycong
Title: FUZE4
Developer: FUZE Technologies
Publisher: FUZE Technologies
Genre: Education, Other, Utility, Lifestyle
Price: $39.99
Don’t be fooled by the name. FUZE4 may carry the title of an adrenaline-pumping racer or futuristic action romp, but it’s neither. In fact, it isn’t even a game. Rather, it’s a tool for coding games, and, as described in Nintendo’s official site, “designed and developed by a team of experienced gamers, programmers, artists, and educators. The end result is a language ideally suited to coding games and apps for absolute beginners and seasoned programmers alike.” In other words, it’s not out to provide quick fixes for those unable to stop fidgeting in their seats for long periods at a time.
FUZE4 isn’t cheap. At $39.99, it comes off as a Nintendo eShop offering that requires careful consideration prior to purchase. For those serious in their intent to learn — or further expand their knowledge — about the intricacies of game programming, however, it promptly exposes itself as a decided bargain; on tap are a thousand dollars’ worth of assets that can be used to create two- and three-dimensional models for gaming content across a variety of genres. The interface is both intuitive and well-designed, with support for Joy-Con, touchscreen, and even keyboard inputs. And, most importantly, it features tons of support for newbies; tutorials and on-the-fly references replete with explanations and examples are easily accessible.
Needless to say, there’s a learning curve even for the resolute and well-prepared. On the other hand, FUZE4 does an excellent job of starting slow, and then of escalating the transfer of knowledge, and always at the users’ pace. Actions and accompanying texts of code are first shown, followed by the requirement of simple commands to get objects to move on the screen, and then of inputting changes to existing programming to see their effects.
Make no mistake. FUZE4 can, and likely will, be daunting. There can be no sugar-coating the effort needed to progress. That said, the possibilities are endless. The extent of the imagination is the only limit, and, in this regard, the key is not to see the absorption of information as a means to an end, but also as an end in and of itself.
THE GOOD
- Outstanding coding tool for would-be programmers and experts alike
- Myriad assets on tap
- Intuitive interface, with keyboard support
THE BAD
- Requires significant investment of time
- Learning curve can be daunting
- Price tag only for the resolute
RATING: 8.5/10
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