Microsoft is today announcing the winners of the first U.S. Kodu Cup. The competition challenged kids aged 9-17 to develop their own video games using the Microsoft Kodu Game Lab, a free tool that enables children (and adults!) to design, build and play their own games on the PC and Xbox 360.

Grand Prize Winner (9-12 year olds category) - Hannah Wyman
Her game is called Toxic, and players collect coins and hearts while solving puzzles to help save the environment.

First Prize Winner (13-17 year olds category) - Jacen Sherman
His game is called The Vortex. It’s a beautiful looking game which opens with the world under nuclear attack. 

First Prize Winner (9-12 year olds category) - David Gardiner
His game is called Alien Attack. The Galactaliens are trying to take over the world and you have to stop them.

The grand prize winners receive $5,000 for themselves and their respective schools, as well as a trip to the Microsoft Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals in New York. The Imagine Cup is a global technology competition for students in over 100 countries. The grand prize winners also win a Toshiba Windows laptop, Microsoft Office Professional 2010 and an Xbox 360 console with a Kinect sensor.