Puzzle Game Programming
*The event has already taken place on this date: Fri, 08/04/2023
Please help us keep this calendar up to date! If this activity is sold out, canceled, or otherwise needs alteration, email mindy@kidsoutandabout.com so we can update it immediately. If you have a question about the activity itself, please contact the organization administrator listed below.
Back by popular demand! For new and experienced coders alike, in this camp you'll create your own simple video games using PuzzleScript. Taught by a former UBC computer science professor, you will learn about coding, algorithmic thinking skills, and how to design engaging games. Everything you make will be visual, creative, and playable from day one!
When?
Monday July 31 - Friday August 4, 2023; 9:30am-12:30pm.
Who?
This camp is designed for students ages 10-14 years.
Cost:
$295 (including tax).
If the fee is a barrier to your participation, a limited number of bursaries are available for eligible families - please email camps@visst.ca to inquire.
Where?
The Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology (VISST) - #200 - 1490 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC.
Why should you attend?
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Learn coding from a former UBC computer science professor with years of experience teaching introductory programming.
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Be creative with the games you create and the artwork you design.
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Build something you can show your friends in just one week.
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Try something you won’t find in school that combines programming and puzzle solving.
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Earn a certificate of completion from the Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology.
What will you learn?
The Basics: We’ll get oriented with PuzzleScript. You’ll learn how to create artwork and basic rules. You’ll work on creating a simple game to practice your new skills. By the end of the day, you’ll have a link to share your first game with friends.
Coding with Puzzlescript: We’ll dive into some more sophisticated rules in PuzzleScript. Can two objects occupy the same space? Can the game update between your moves? Does the order of the rules matter? We’ll answer these questions with hands-on exercises. Then, you’ll start to plan your own PuzzleScript project.
Puzzle Game Design: By now we have learned the concepts of how PuzzleScript can be used to create puzzle games, but what makes a good game? And beyond that, there are many ways to code the same game, so what makes good code? We’ll dive into design philosophies to answer both of these questions: what makes a puzzle game fun and, once you’ve settled on a game design, what is the best way to code that design?
Projects and Playtesting: We’ll play-test each other’s games and give each other feedback. Then we’ll implement the feedback we received and, finally, share our games with the class.
Everyone will leave the camp with a shareable link to their game, new knowledge of fundamental programming concepts, and perhaps a new hobby!
*Times, dates, and prices of any activity posted to our calendars are subject to change. Please be sure to click through directly to the organization’s website to verify.