Ask HN: Cato's Hike - Programming for Kids on iPad and iPhone

5 points

14 years ago

Not many games take the player out of the game and make them think about it abstractly up front rather than controlling the player directly which is why this is so special! Cato's Hike teaches kids, teens (and adults) basic coding and programming using a fun card-based interface.

The biggest problem I have is how to reach kids through the game. I've added a manual, tutorials and more levels. Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I create video tutorials? Write more articles? I feel everytime that the first things kids do is skip the tutorial and go straight to the game and get lost. When I'm around to help they get it, if they read a bit they get it as well. Anyone else figure out how to deal with this in a game setting?

The current update added a manual and more UI tweaks, but I'm really excited for the next update which will add support for goto's as proxy for procedures :) I think at that point I will have covered enough concepts!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/catos-hike-programming-logic/id574335479?ls=1&mt=8

http://hwahba.com/catoshike

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