Microsoft has a couple of interesting efforts that seems a nice fit:
popfly: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/devlabs/cc950523.aspx --- "Popfly includes a simple way to create and share games with your friends. Choose from a variety of built-in templates or start from scratch to create a side scrolling game, a 2D shoot-em-up, or a host of others. And best of all, you can get started without writing a line of code" ... I think it can really help being motivated :)
- smallbasic: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/devlabs/cc950524.aspx --- supposed to be simplified but having intellisense+.net framework support (the short description is too marketing like, so I didn't paste it :P)
