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Record-breaking achievement for young coder
An 11-year-old boy from Penarth, Wales, has officially become the youngest male video game developer to earn a Guinness World Record. Max completed a five-level game in just four hours during his attempt in May, securing his place in the record books after a six-month verification process.
From hobby to world record
Max's passion for coding began at age seven, and he has since published multiple games independently. His father, Trevor Baker, revealed that Max was inspired to pursue the record after noticing a gap in the Guinness listings-while a record existed for the youngest female game developer, there was none for males.
"He put together an application, and Guinness sent him the requirements," Trevor, 42, explained. The attempt was closely monitored by experts to ensure Max received no external assistance during the four-hour development period.
Community support fuels ambition
Max developed his record-breaking game at a local Makerspace, a council-run facility in Penarth and Barry libraries that provides access to digital and creative tools. The Vale of Glamorgan Council describes the spaces as hubs for skill-building across all ages.
"He often meets people there who share their expertise and teach him new techniques," Trevor said. "They help him solve problems-like making a character jump-and then he tests it in the game environment."
"I like coding because whatever you can dream of, you can put into a code language and make it real," Max said.
Dreaming of a future in game design
Max described the record as "amazing" and hopes it marks the first step toward a full-time career in game development. "I always have ideas for new games," he said. "It's brilliant to be able to make them happen."
He has already begun researching local game development companies and reaching out for industry insights. His father confirmed that Max's achievement has drawn attention from professionals in the field, with several offering mentorship opportunities after a post about his success was shared on the Vale of Glamorgan Council's Facebook page.
Self-taught success stories
Max is not alone in his self-taught journey. Osian Taubman-Edwards, a 14-year-old from Mold, Flintshire, began developing games on Roblox after becoming "majorly obsessed" with the creative process. His game, Barry's Prison Run, has amassed four billion visits, making it one of the platform's most popular titles.
Like Max, Osian is entirely self-taught, a feat he attributes to passion and accessible learning tools. "I don't think it's something anyone can do-it's the heart that's needed," he said.
Osian highlighted how YouTube tutorials have democratized coding education, eliminating the need for traditional university pathways. "Technology is helping us get to where we need to be quicker," he added.
Makerspaces inspire next generation
Local councillor Rhiannon Birch praised Max's achievement as a testament to the impact of Makerspaces. "These spaces are central to our commitment to nurturing the next generation of innovators, creators, and digital leaders in the Vale of Glamorgan," she said.
