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Hi tarr11, thanks a lot for the in-depth feedback, this is hugely helpful for us. I had actually read your blog post when it was posted, and we got a lot of hel
by gsaines 13y ago
Hi tarr11, thanks a lot for the in-depth feedback, this is hugely helpful for us. I had actually read your blog post when it was posted, and we got a lot of helpful information out of it.
Here are some responses to the problems:
* When you the browser loses focus, do you mean the code editor or the entire browser? Also, have you kids had any problems with backspace taking them to the previous page? We're trying to diagnose the latter problem and can't reliably reproduce it, but know that it's causing users a lot of frustration.
* Syntax is actually our hardest problem for new players, and we're considering ways to make it easier for people to get into the game. One idea is to shorten the method names (say to this.attack(); rather than this.attackNearbyEnemy();) enabling drag and drop or click and insert from the spell editor, etc. Do you have any specific recommendations for changes we might make?
* We're definitely shielded from the distraction-quits since our UX testing sessions tend to be either paid or semi-compulsory (classroom time), but I imagine this is a big problem. Do you find that there's a point of reliable minimum interest among players? Say during a particular level or challenge?
Again, thanks a lot for so deeply engaging and getting us some areas to work on. If you are interested, we'd love to have someone as communicative and engaged working on the open source when it gets released (hopefully in the next week or so)!
- tarr11 13y agoDefinitely contact me (contact info is on my website) - happy to give you more feedback and I have a small army of young beta testers in Marin. ;)
- zachlatta 13y agoI think simplifying method names is a very good idea. However, please don't implement any sort of drag and drop interface. I've taught a few programmers using drag and drop tools and all of them have run into significant issues transitioning to "real" coding.
- leoc 13y agoBetter, probably, to learn programming through a drag-and-drop interface, then make a difficult transition to typing, than try to overcome both challenges at the same time and likely give up. Having done microcomputer BASIC programming as a primary-school child I can testify that syntax errors are just a horrible waste of time and enthusiasm at that level.
- vinceguidry 13y agoI think the problem is better solved by using a DSL rather than a general purpose programming language. You can make the syntax simple as pie and still keep the platform as expressive as you need it.
- plantsbeans 13y agoAutocorrect, code completion!
- serickson 13y agoIt's on the list!