Meet Max: The Vale resident attempting a Guiness World Record
A Vale of Glamorgan resident has attempted a Guiness World Record by seeking to become the world’s Youngest Male Videogame Developer.
Max Baker – who is in Year 6 – started coding at school and has since made a number of his own games on the indie videogame platform – Itch.io – under the name CrowStoleIt Studios.
He made his attempt at the Makerspace in Penarth Library, where he spent four hours developing a platformer game with five unique levels.
His work will now be assessed by Guiness World Record adjudicators to determine if he was successful.
In his application to Guiness World Records, Max said: “I started coding way back in Year 2, when I made a simple game in Scratch. I immediately developed a passion for coding, and I loved video games. In my brain, the next step was obvious - make proper video games!
“I am mostly self-taught - YouTube was my mentor - but I was part of a coding and robotics club called V.O.G. Bots in my local library Makerspace and I am also currently enrolled in an intermediate level Python course through Ignite Hubs.”
He added: “I decided to apply because I saw the female record and decided to try for the male one. I am currently making 30 games for my classmates as we’re leaving in July - called One Last Goodbye – and I thought that couldn’t be too hard!”
Max’s attempt required a least two independent professionals to oversee his attempt, and Penarth Makerspace staff were present to ensure everything went accordingly.
Cllr Rhiannon Birch, Cabinet Member for Education, Arts and the Welsh Language, said: “Max’s creativity and passion for coding and innovation reflects the very best of what young people in the Vale can achieve with the help of schemes like the Makerspace.
“We are proud to be able to provide spaces and opportunities where talents like Max’s can flourish and I wish him the very best in his Guinness World Record bid.”