need ideas for a game about programming

hi , im a senior computer science student. my final year's project is a game about programming , or a game that teaches programming. for example if im going to concentrate on the object oriented programming we have classes, objects , inheritance and encapsulations. so need some ideas on how to teach these concepts in a form of a game , in other words how to implement these concepts in a game. and thank you

 

Check out what these guys have done.

https://code.org/learn

 

"screeps" took that idea rather literally

 

TIS-100, ShenzenIO

 

That's an interesting site. Makes me wish I knew some younger kids so I could indoctrina... ahem, teach them to like programming.

 

Could you write C# Objects/Components that represent different programming language elements and can interact with each other?

Something along the lines of the command pattern -> http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/339390/Understanding-and-Implementing-Command-Pattern-in

It would take some work but if you combined enough commands and elements you could create a visual programming system in Unity using 2D or 3D representations.

 

Another option, just give them the Unitu editor.

It's often said that the greatest Unity game is Unity itself.

 

Building a game using editor extensions? Sounds like a fun little challenge.

 

Lol. Not exactly what I was thinking.

I was simply wondering what the point of a game that teaches programming. For anyone over 12 years old learning programming by programming is more effective.

 

Only if they are already able to think logically. A lot of people can't do that, because quite frankly they've never been taught how. Things like Logo and Turtle Graphics (dating myself here) teach the basics of logical thinking: do this, then do that. You'd be amazed at how many people can't think like that without help.

 

Depends on the age group, you could cover inheritance and classes using a simple animal metaphor game.

Which of these animals can be classed as ...?

What sound would this animal make? [class behaviour or method to play sound]

Inheritance animals have babies, of the same class but with new behaviours.

 

That's why you make it an editor extension. It could teach you Unity by assisting with building some simple games. It may be more effective (and less annoying) than pausing your video, implementing the steps you remember, rewinding a bit because you missed a step and didn't realize it, etc.

 

thank you guys so much for your extremely helpful ideas. i really appreciate your ideas and your advices. again thank you

 

great idea sir , it came to my mind but i didn't thought about the sound part which would be nice.thank you

 

For people who actively want to learn it, sure. How many people have learned about things like economies and urban planning and other stuff by playing trading games or Sim City or similar? Do you think they'd have spent that same time studying those things instead? Probably not, because they were looking for entertainment, not education.

Point being that people might play a game because it's fun and cool, and learn some stuff as a side effect, when they would never have spent the time deliberately studying.

I was thinking of something similar myself a while ago, actually. Not specifically to teach programming, but just a puzzle platformer game where the puzzles are programming themed. It'd be an interesting challenge for the exact reasons @ErisCaffee mentions.