MazeBot

MazeBot

Origins- This game was created to give unplugged opportunities to think critically in the context of coding.

It is inspired by a series of questions on the AP Computer Science Principles exam. The questions have lines of code with very few instruction options and players have to guide the robot through a maze by selecting or adding the correct code.

The mechanics are based loosely on the card game Touring (which inspired Mille Bornes). In this case the coder is helping the robot travel to the destination instead of the driver completing a prescribed distance. The target audience is students with basic coding knowledge, though all are invited!

Objective- Earn points by guiding the robot down the path to the destination by placing a course of card-commands that the robot will follow.

Game Concept- Deck of 54 cards. Uniquely, both sides of the cards are used in game play. One side shows the actions that can be played and the "back" has the mazes that the robots will move through. Players add a card per turn, creating the code the robots follows. Alternately, they can play error cards to slow the progress of others