Microsoft to kick off Project Spark Windows 8 beta in October

During the Xbox One E3 event, Microsoft had revealed Project Spark, which is essentially a game creation tool that is dressed up as a simple-to-play game. It was earlier thought that Project Spark would be an Xbox One exclusive, but Microsoft has announced at the ongoing Gamescom that the Project Spark beta will be kicked off on Windows 8. According to The Verge, the beta on Windows 8 is set to start sometime in October. The Xbox One beta, on the other hand, is set to start sometime in January, 2014.

In Project Spark, players use the Xbox One’s Kinect and SmartGlass to build environments using pieces such as mountains, rivers and towns. Players can also create events like inter-character battles. Players can start with either a blank map or a pre-designed level, but are always given the tools to customise the level’s topography, add flora and fauna, and even program specific behaviours for objects.

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Project Spark is making its way to Windows 8

Players can use the Kinect to do some nifty things. For example, the Kinect sensor can capture players’ facial animations, body motions and voice that could then be used to create a custom character with its own dialog and voice acting in the game. Players can even record their own body motions and set them up as attack animations.

Earlier, Game Designer Claude Jerome had stated that the game is “all about giving players options.” This includes things like the ability to add a single flower versus a whole field of flowers by simply changing the size of the flower’s paintbrush. All of the worlds created in Project Spark will be shareable. Other players who enter shared worlds can duplicate the worlds if they want to make changes.