Dungeons and Developers

Many first-year students, especially those with no previous experience, have difficulties learning and understanding Computer Science. This is due to a variety of factors including lack of engagement and low motivation. Students who have difficulty with content in their first semester often experience a noticeable drop in motivation compared to those who perform well. This decline in motivation can lead to a cycle of lower grades and continued disengagement. To combat this issue, the use of games as a learning tool (i.e. game-based learning) can be utilized. Extensive research on game-based learning has frequently yielded positive results but tends to take a generalized approach. This project focuses on the effect that real-time competition has on the motivation and engagement of first-year Computer Science students.

This project was split into three (3) separate sub-projects developed by each member:

1. 1v1 Mode: Engage in one-on-one battles where wit and pace determine the victor. Beat each monster (easy, medium, and hard question) in the maze and claim the treasures that await at the end.
2. 2v2 Mode: Through the power of peer programming, team up with a partner and dominate your opponents. Within the 2v2 mode, each team consists of both a driver and navigator. The driver writes all code that traverses the maze and answers the questions while the navigator guides and assists them where needed through both text and voice chat. The game otherwise plays the same as the 1v1 mode.
3. Backend & Admin Panel: A powerful game backend allows for full control over the questions and statistics within the game. An admin panel allows for full control over the questions within the game. Statistics from student submissions will be shown in the panel to highlight student difficulties and potential areas for improvement. All features were designed to facilitate competition with security being placed at the forefront of system design.