Video Game Scripting to Enhance Learning.

Abstract

<p>Every year, Iowa State hosts the IT Olympics which expose junior high and high school students to principles of computing. One event requires students to automate navigation through a video game with self-written scripts. This project delved into the details of solving the design and coding problems associated with creating a game which includes scripting. The project aimed to create a fun and challenging avenue for students to observe basic programming principles. Development followed a traditional lifecycle including design, development, and testing phases for the major components. Major challenges included designing the commands and tools for students to use. Additionally, creating a compiler with sufficient complexity to allow for complex scripting actions proved difficult. Translating graphics from their original resolution which supported 16-bit screens to a 1080x1920 screen presented challenges with handling distortion of images. The resulting game will be used at this year’s IT Olympics and provides increased complexity and reliability over previous iterations of a scripting-based game for the competition.</p>