Puzzle Game Programming

Our longest running and most popular camp! For new and experienced coders alike, in this camp you'll create your own simple video games using PuzzleScript. You will learn about coding, how to design engaging games and algorithmic thinking skills. Everything you make will be visual, creative, and playable from day one!

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!

Why PuzzleScript?

PuzzleScript is a special-purpose programming languages for making puzzle games. What we discovered is that it’s also a perfect tool for education. Because PuzzleScript is so visual, it’s super easy to hit the ground running and start channeling your creative impulses right away. In fact, you will be able to create your own simple puzzle game after just one day of this camp!

In the process of learning PuzzleScript we’ll encounter fundamental and challenging questions in programming and algorithmic thinking, with a lot to offer for new and experienced programmers alike.

Testimonials

“I liked that I learned a lot about coding and how it works. Before the course I felt like I didn't know much about coding and how to code. Now that the right instructors have taught me and helped me learn I know a lot more about coding and how to code.”
—- Participant, Puzzle Programming, Age 13

”I loved it! It’s really fun and I love making the little games, it’s just satisfying to see the games coming out of my own hands!”
—- Participant, Puzzle Programming, Age 13

”I liked how the teachers taught us how to code and then let us create fun games ourselves. It was really fun.”
—- Participant, Puzzle Programming, Age 12

Past Student Work

Check out the PuzzleScript games made by past camp participants at our Student Work page.

For a detailed program description and more information please see: https://www.visst.ca/camps/puzzles.