Novgorod University teacher Andris Ivanov developed a unique training program for novice programmers based on the principles of “game jamming” – a competition in which a full-fledged software product is created in a short time. The main difference of the methodology is that students do not use external examples and hints, they are trained to solve non-standard problems independently and in a team.
Nowadays there are many tools that allow you to create games without deep programming knowledge, such as Unity or Unreal Engine. However, according to Ivanov, such technologies can negatively affect the development of young specialists’ skills. He explained that when automated algorithms are used to solve problems, programmers often lose the ability to understand how their solutions work, leading to errors and the inability to work without outside help.
The program developed by Ivanov focuses on creating games for PlayStation 2, a console about which little information is available on the Internet and is not supported by modern game engines. Using only basic tools and the C programming language, students write a game from scratch in a limited amount of time and solve assigned problems with minimal assistance. The program takes place in teams, where participants are taught to delegate tasks and meet deadlines, which are important skills for working in a team. In the future, Ivanov plans to develop a course on creating games for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System using the Assembler language.
Source: Ferra
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