Resource Rush: Towards An Open-Ended Programming Game

Programming games provide players opportunities to practice and learn the fundamentals of coding in engaging ways. Many games have players program in block-based languages similar to environments like Scratch and Snap! as a means to scaffold student learning and reduce syntax errors. Block-based environments (BBEs) have been praised for their open-ended, constructionist designs allowing students to develop what they wish, express themselves, and explore the possibilities of the system. However, programming games tend to be more linear, usually designed as a fixed series of puzzles. We present Resource Rush, a game designed to resemble BBEs and present users with a game world that allows users to learn the fundamentals of programming in an open-ended game environment.