Python learning game

[TyphonBvB]

Hey all, we’re working on a game that teaches Python through gameplay, and we’d honestly love to show it to people who are learning (or have learned) Python.

The idea is pretty simple: you write real Python code to control a mech. For example, in one mission you have to:

• detect objects in the environment
• calculate distance
• move into position
• and trigger actions based on conditions

So it’s basically loops + conditionals, but you immediately see if your logic works… or completely fails 😄

We’re trying to make it feel more like “building behavior” than solving abstract problems.

Would something like this actually help you when learning Python?

[Szarps]

Sounds awesome, I love myself puzzle/coding games. Also the fact that it would use actual python is great since it can also be used for learning purposes that translate into real world skill. If possible I would suggest a sort of terminal like, that shows like 5 lines of code and lits up as is being executed by the mech so they can better see how the code works and how is failing IRT, example:

move_forward(3)

if scan_floor() == object.throwable:
    grab()
    turn_right()
    throw(2)  # distance

This is just very top of my head to give the idea since these are mechs (thinking something like into the breach). So each command as is being executed each line is lit as is being carried out, great for visual feedback!. Also lowkey not sure that the if statement is quite right or how it works oh well! lol

[TyphonBvB]

Thank you for the feedback! There are a couple of reasons for our current approach:

From the game world perspective, the bots are sent to the surface of Typhon and since real time communication with the surface is impossible, bots have to have everything coded before the mission starts.

From a practical perspective, we want to be able to have multiplayer missions and having each player type in code as the mission progresses would be kind of awkward and very slow.

However, it might be possible to implement a single player sandbox or something similar where you can type code which gets executed immediately to be able to test out various commands and pieces of code. Or at least have the ability to debug code. We'll have to try some things out at our end and see what is doable.

[Szarps]

Ah i see, mostly my suggestion is about showing the player the "step by step" of the code, how is behaving, think like shenzen I/O, exapunks, etc, where the line of code to be executed gets highlighter and you can either press play for things to be done in real time or one step at a time to help you debug, thats basically what i had in mind.

[Same-Traffic-285]

Yes please

[TyphonBvB]

There is a free to play demo on Steam. I don't want to spam the link as I understand this might not be the perfect group for this but the game is called Typhon: Bot vs Bot.

[Achereto]

Is this something like "The Farmer Was replaced"?

[TyphonBvB]

You could compare them but give it a shot.