Programming game
Encyclopedia
A programming game is a computer game where the player has no direct influence on the course of the game. Instead, a computer program
or script is written in some domain-specific programming language
in order to control the actions of the characters (usually robot
s, tank
s or bacteria
, which seek to destroy each other). Most programming games can be considered environments of digital organism
s, related to artificial life
simulations.
Programming games of note include AI Wars, BattleCode, Carnage Heart
, CodeWar, Colobot, Core War
, Crobots
, Darwin
, Grobots, Marvin's Arena, OMEGA
, Prog&Play, Robot Battle
, Robocode
, RoboCom, RoboWar
, and Terrarium. Final Fantasy XII
also includes some elements of a programming game, as the player creates the AI of his characters, although the player can also choose to directly control the action.
There are different tournament
s and leagues for the programming games where the characters can compete with each other. Usually a script is optimized for a special strategy.
Programming games may be derived from almost any other type of game. For example, the World Computer Chess Championship
consists of matches between programs written for the abstract strategy game
of chess
. Also, some non-computer games borrow elements of programming games; in the board game RoboRally
, players arrange cards to "program" their pieces with a sequence of moves, causing moves to be made without the knowledge of one's opponents' preceding moves.
Computer program
A computer program is a sequence of instructions written to perform a specified task with a computer. A computer requires programs to function, typically executing the program's instructions in a central processor. The program has an executable form that the computer can use directly to execute...
or script is written in some domain-specific programming language
Domain-specific programming language
In software development and domain engineering, a domain-specific language is a programming language or specification language dedicated to a particular problem domain, a particular problem representation technique, and/or a particular solution technique...
in order to control the actions of the characters (usually robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
s, tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
s or bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
, which seek to destroy each other). Most programming games can be considered environments of digital organism
Digital organism
A digital organism is a self-replicating computer program that mutates and evolves. Digital organisms are used as a tool to study the dynamics of Darwinian evolution, and to test or verify specific hypotheses or mathematical models of evolution...
s, related to artificial life
Artificial life
Artificial life is a field of study and an associated art form which examine systems related to life, its processes, and its evolution through simulations using computer models, robotics, and biochemistry. The discipline was named by Christopher Langton, an American computer scientist, in 1986...
simulations.
Programming games of note include AI Wars, BattleCode, Carnage Heart
Carnage Heart
Carnage Heart is a video game for the PlayStation, developed by Artdink. Its gameplay is a mecha-based, turn-based strategy game, where the player takes the role of a commander in a war fought by robots...
, CodeWar, Colobot, Core War
Core War
Core War is a programming game in which two or more battle programs compete for the control of the "Memory Array Redcode Simulator" virtual computer . These battle programs are written in an abstract assembly language called Redcode...
, Crobots
Crobots
Crobots is a programming game released for the first time by Tom Poindexter in December, 1985.The robots are controlled by a program written in a stripped-down version of C. The robot's mission is to seek out and destroy other robots, each running different programs...
, Darwin
Darwin (programming game)
Darwin was a programming game invented in August 1961 by Victor A. Vyssotsky, Robert Morris Sr., and M. Douglas McIlroy. The game was developed at Bell Labs, and played on an IBM 7090 mainframe there...
, Grobots, Marvin's Arena, OMEGA
Omega (1989 computer game)
Omega is a computer game developed by Stuart Marks and published by Origin Systems in 1989.-Summary:The game puts the player in the role of a cyber-tank designer and programmer. Given a limited budget, the player must design a tank that can defeat a series of ever more challenging opponent tanks...
, Prog&Play, Robot Battle
Robot Battle
Robot Battle is a programming game for Microsoft Windows where players design and code adaptable battling robots. Robot Battle takes strategy rather than reflexes, accuracy, or timing to succeed. What differentiates one robot from the next is its programming, for which the player is responsible...
, Robocode
Robocode
Robocode is an open source educational game started by Mathew Nelson . Currently contributions are being made by various people; officially Flemming N. Larsen and Pavel Šavara are working on Robocode to keep it current and fix the bugs...
, RoboCom, RoboWar
RoboWar
RoboWar is an open source video game in which the player programs onscreen icon-like robots to battle each other with animation and sound effects...
, and Terrarium. Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XII
is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2. Released in 2006, it is the twelfth title in the Final Fantasy series and the last in the series to be released exclusively on the PlayStation platform...
also includes some elements of a programming game, as the player creates the AI of his characters, although the player can also choose to directly control the action.
There are different tournament
Tournament
A tournament is a competition involving a relatively large number of competitors, all participating in a sport or game. More specifically, the term may be used in either of two overlapping senses:...
s and leagues for the programming games where the characters can compete with each other. Usually a script is optimized for a special strategy.
Programming games may be derived from almost any other type of game. For example, the World Computer Chess Championship
World Computer Chess Championship
World Computer Chess Championship is an annual event where computer chess engines compete against each other. The event is organized by the International Computer Games Association...
consists of matches between programs written for the abstract strategy game
Abstract strategy game
An abstract strategy game is a strategy game, aiming to minimise luck, and without a theme. Almost all abstract strategy games will conform to the strictest definition of: a board or card game, in which there is no hidden information, no non-deterministic elements , in which two players or teams...
of chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
. Also, some non-computer games borrow elements of programming games; in the board game RoboRally
RoboRally
RoboRally is a board game originally published in 1994 by Wizards of the Coast . It was designed in 1985 by Richard Garfield, who would later create the card game Magic: The Gathering. The game and its expansions received a total of four Origins Awards...
, players arrange cards to "program" their pieces with a sequence of moves, causing moves to be made without the knowledge of one's opponents' preceding moves.
See also
- Programming games category
- List of digital organism simulators