A Stress Killing Game for Creative Coders

DT Hero

Tools: Processing (Java), Adobe Illustrator

"Conquer the Codes, Be a DT Hero!"

DT Hero is an arcade game I created in Processing during the MFA Design & Technology boot camp. As we delved into various programming languages, I often felt challenged, likening it to a battle against the codes. Inspired by this, I envisioned a game where DT students triumph over the programming languages essential to our graduate program. In the game, each character level symbolizes proficiency, with the highest level representing the mastery of the Design & Technology boot camp.

Context & Target Users

During a one-month coding bootcamp—a pre-training session to familiarize ourselves with various emerging technologies in design, programming, and user experience—before embarking on the Parsons Design and Technology master's program, many of us felt overwhelmed by the intensive learning required to grasp various coding tools and methods in a short time frame. Recognizing the need for a stress-relief outlet, I designed a fun game for my classmates to play. This game allowed them to combat their stress by winning against various programming software challenges. After playing this 2D meteoroid game, they mentioned how it boosted their confidence in tackling codes and overcame their apprehensions about learning programming!

Game Interaction

Characters and Assets

Way to go, Design Technologists!

Implementation

In order to create the game, In Processing (Java), I made an array of the kinds of programming language below so that the icons are randomly generating as the player kills them. The numbers and speeds of the icons increase on higher levels.

Tools