I’ve come believe that board games offer a fantastic way to teach programming. So much so that I’ve begun bringing strategy games into my introduction to programming class. Programming and board games are both ultimately about problem solving. Both require that you set goals, break complex problems into smaller pieces, and work through unexpected complications.
A new game that’s finishing its Kickstarter run this week more explicitly bridges that gap. Src:Card pits you and an opponent in a race to see who can simultaneously build the biggest, strongest robot core while also attacking your opponent’s robot. Along the way, you get to learn a bit about actual programming.
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The game is just barely short of its goal; in fact, by the time you read this they may have (hopefully will have) met their goal. While I haven’t had a chance to play the game, the game’s Kickstarter page has enough details to make me quite excited about the game. A pledge of only $20 gets you the full game. I have backed the game and look forward to getting to play it once it’s complete.
Editor’s Note: In the latest Kickstarter update, the creators of Src:Card announced their post-Kickstarter plans (assuming the game funds). They hope to introduce the game to underprivileged communities, using a buy-one-give-one program (similar to the One Laptop Per Child project). It’s nice to see them thinking ahead about how to use their game to benefit those who need it most, rather than just how to squeeze out maximum profits.
Check out the Kickstarter page for more information.
