Lightbot: Puzzles Game Using Programming Logic(lightbot.com)

162 pointsby karimf9 tahun yang lalu32 comments

Lightbot: Puzzles Game Using Programming Logic

http://lightbot.com

33 comments

Maultasche9 tahun yang lalu

I got this game for my kids (6 and 7). They haven't quite got the concept yet, but I think they'll understand it soon. They can make the robot go straight no problem, but they still have problems figuring out when to put down the left and right tiles.

I also play the board game Robot Turtles with them. It's like a simpler version of Lightbot with physical tiles to move around. They do understand how Robot Turtles works, so Lightbot shouldn't be far behind.

sriku9 tahun yang lalu

The thinkfun series is also awesome - http://www.thinkfun.com/learn-coding/

Appears related to lightbot, but it's closer to cellular automata - where the robot has a state that determines its next step. It's played using cards, which feels more fun strangely. My 10yr old loved it.

eilyra9 tahun yang lalu

The name and art seemed familiar, I remember playing an old Flash version[0] of this. Cool game from what I remember.

[0]https://www.kongregate.com/games/Coolio_Niato/light-bot

ropable9 tahun yang lalu

Anyone looking for a similar type of programming game, but as a tabletop boardgame, look up RoboRally. It's a competitive MP game, but it's a great basic introduction to writing a program. A good family game, as well as one to play with adults.

_raoulcousins9 tahun yang lalu

Is there something similar for Xbox One? Would love to get something like this for my niece and nephew.

slazaro9 tahun yang lalu

I remember playing it years ago, it's very well designed and even as a software developer, some of the later puzzles took a while to figure out.

...I think I'll play again.

Double_a_929 tahun yang lalu

Tricked my nieces into programming with that. :D

sokoloff9 tahun yang lalu

Yeah, my kids love[d] it and it was totally worth buying it.

My one complaint was that it got too hard "all of the sudden". It seems like more puzzles in the middle difficulty level would increase the value and replay-ability of the game.

hargriffle9 tahun yang lalu

I agree. I have been playing this with my daughter (she's 6) a bit. It is fun and she really enjoyed the early parts.

We got to a part requiring the recursive calling of a function and she didn't bat an eyelid at the idea of it.

sokoloff9 tahun yang lalu

Yeah. Strangely [to me], my kids (then 4 and 6) had more trouble with the "do I turn left or right?" than they did with recursion.

Aissen9 tahun yang lalu

If you're interested in this type of games… Look at any game from Zachtronics: http://www.zachtronics.com/ . Plus maybe Human Resources machines: https://tomorrowcorporation.com/humanresourcemachine

Will_Parker9 tahun yang lalu

I second Human Resources Machine. I just finished all the optimization challenges last weekend and it was extremely rewarding.

I'd say it's more about assembly language than general programming. You never (really) get enough power, with the 9 opcodes it gives you, to set up subroutines or functions. And many of the monstrosities that end up solving the problem would probably horrify Dijkstra in his grave. :)

0xBA5ED9 tahun yang lalu

+1 for Zachtronics. I recommend Opus Magnum! You can try their old game "The Codex of Alchemical Engineering" for free on their site to see if it might be your cup of tea.

bananicorn9 tahun yang lalu

Whoa - he's responsible for infiniminer? Considering Minecraft was built on top of it, I wonder how much credit he's been given...

Also, most of these games actually look like you could learn something from them, while having fun...

whatshisface9 tahun yang lalu

Minecraft wasn't built on top of infiniminer, it was inspired by it. The games are actually extremely different if you play them.

akrasuski19 tahun yang lalu

I can recommend one of his older flash games: KOHCTPYKTOP. Awesome, about making silicon-level transistors, gates, eventually chips...

ygra9 tahun yang lalu

Also Manufactoria.

gcatalfamo9 tahun yang lalu

Human Resources machines is a true gem.

tekromancr9 tahun yang lalu

Yea! ShenzenIO is my jam! i have probably dumped dozens of hours playing that.

joshschreuder9 tahun yang lalu

Shenzhen makes me feel like I'm not actually that good of a programmer :)

I beat the first 5-6 levels and got stuck. I should go back to it. I did beat the solitaire game though.

pjmlp9 tahun yang lalu

Thanks for spoiling my commute times. :)

kranner9 tahun yang lalu

Today's Google Doodle is relevant to this.

https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2017/12/4/16733396/googles-doo...

[deleted]9 tahun yang lalu

tasuki9 tahun yang lalu

Check out RoboZZle, which is more advanced (including eg call stack, enabling some fancy tricks): http://robozzle.com/

ateesdalejr9 tahun yang lalu

Wow I'd never heard of it before. I've tried it for a bit and just love it. Though I wish the js version wasn't beta and it didn't require silverlight.

tromp9 tahun yang lalu

Seconded; robozzle offers more variety and bigger challenges.

1100119 tahun yang lalu

Amen. There are some truly mind bending puzzles there.

aalleavitch9 tahun yang lalu

I’ll definitely share this one with my nephews.

notanai9 tahun yang lalu

afghanPower9 tahun yang lalu

I wish that was available for Android/PC/Linux.

megamindbrian29 tahun yang lalu

I loved this game for years.

kentt9 tahun yang lalu

My neice and nephew love this game. They're 5 & 7. My only complaint is that I think the difficulty ramps up a bit fast or their could be a bit more easier levels. Would pay for that.

dunham9 tahun yang lalu

It looks like they have a Jr game - maybe that doesn't ramp up as fast?

My 5 yr old tried human resource machine the other day, got a couple of levels, but that ramped up way too fast for him. I'm afraid that this might ramp up a bit fast, too, but maybe the Jr version would work.

He also plays with "hopscotch" - which is free and a little more free-form. It has some nice tutorial videos that walk you through building various simple games, or you can just do your own thing. (NB - he can read, which helps with that app.)

We're also gonna give the Lego Boost a go this Christmas (partially because I wanna play with it) - it also has a similar block-style of programming, but you get to move a physical robot. (Or any other lego creation.)