New Crowdfunding Project: "Codemancer"
May. 3rd, 2014 01:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis fundraiser aims to create a fantasy game where the magic works like computer code. The setting is gender-neutral and the protagonist is female. It is well past the initial goal and very close to the stretch goal that unlocks a level editor.
I am massively in favor of anything that teaches about computers in a fun way. But this project has extra awesomesauce: it basically presents a reality in which science and magic are the same (go quantum physics girls, go!) and it teaches that making mistakes is no big deal. You can debug on the fly, and if your character dies anyway, the level resets very quickly so the stakes are low. All of this encourages kids to try new things, experiment, fool around and see what happens.
I am massively in favor of anything that teaches about computers in a fun way. But this project has extra awesomesauce: it basically presents a reality in which science and magic are the same (go quantum physics girls, go!) and it teaches that making mistakes is no big deal. You can debug on the fly, and if your character dies anyway, the level resets very quickly so the stakes are low. All of this encourages kids to try new things, experiment, fool around and see what happens.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2014-05-03 07:00 pm (UTC)...I just bought a stack of books so I can't really justify spending money on this, much though I'd love to. why not has moneys. :( But they're already funded, so I don't have to worry that my failing to contribute will result in their failing to produce the game.
Well...
Date: 2014-05-03 07:02 pm (UTC)Re: Well...
Date: 2014-05-03 07:04 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-05-04 02:39 am (UTC)Yay!
Date: 2014-05-04 02:43 am (UTC)It doesn't get much more magical than that.
*ponder* Which suddenly gives me an interesting twist of an idea for a fantasy setting. Usually fantasy worlds portray magic as part of the material world. But what if it wasn't? What if it existed on an alternate plane, like cyberspace, which wizards could access and control easily, but other people could access only with help and influence only in limited ways?
Re: Yay!
Date: 2014-05-04 08:30 pm (UTC)Re: Yay!
Date: 2014-05-04 08:53 pm (UTC)It's common for cyberpunk. It's not for high fantasy, which is what I'm thinking of here. It might make an interesting match for this Tuesday's "science and math" fishbowl.
>> Have you read "True Names"? <<
I'm not sure. I'm familiar with the concept, though, as it's common in fantasy. Like file names in a computer program, it can give you a lot of power over something or someone.
Synchronicity
Date: 2014-05-04 03:59 am (UTC)GREAT to have both of us find it at the same time but from different angles-- and I've sent a link to hubby so he can geek over it, too.
Re: Synchronicity
Date: 2014-05-04 04:03 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-05-03 07:04 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-05-04 02:41 am (UTC)Okay...
Date: 2014-05-04 02:50 am (UTC)