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General discussionGames with elements of science education(44 posts)(44 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted November 30, 2017
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molerat: I do hope they bring it here. It looks like something I will buy eventually, and I'd rather buy it here.
Good news! On a whim, I decided to inquire about it in an e-mail I sent to Zachtronics today, and he said Opus Magnum will be on GOG once it's out of its early access phase. :)
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Posted November 30, 2017
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molerat: Since you seemed receptive to TIS-100, I'm going to go ahead and suggest looking into the other Zachtronics games. There's one strategy one I don't really know anything about, but the other four (including TIS-100) are all puzzlers, requiring some amount of logic to solve.

I've heard multiple people describe the games as being good at making you feel stupid... Especialy in reguards to Shezhen I/O and Opus Magnum.
Their latest work, Opus Magnum, isn't on GOG, but I've heard good things about it as well if you don't mind stepping over to steam to get it.

They aren't all strictly math/science type games, but they are puzzlers that need that need similar types of problem solving brain workouts.
I think that a big part of my satisfaction in playing Human Resource Machine comes from knowing that the time spent is opening my understanding of something that is real and the applicability of it to the real world. Puzzlers are only mildly interesting to me at best, otherwise.

Before jumping into a game like Shezhen I/O it seems like it would be a good idea to get a a decent grasp on foundational digital logic, where Shezhen I/O looks to be quite a bit more complex and likely much more difficult and involved. For this vein of games based in understanding digital technology, maybe a good order would be, Human Resource Machine, TIS-100, Shezhen I/O.

I would like to find similar veins of games based in math and physics. Maybe Kerbal Space Program will fit the bill, but I haven't yet seen any player examples of using math to solve physics problems. Something themed around general mechanics and nature, with a strong element of math and physics, would be more interesting to me.
Posted November 30, 2017
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higix: <Stuff about coding games>
Just keep in mind that while like coding, these games aren't' in any real language, and the languages they're trying to simulate are more akin to things like basic and even machine language. (I'm sure an actual coder could say how they aren't, but I just know some of the basics so forgive my fudging of things.)

There may be some techniques you pick up in the games that will be applicable to real coding, but for the most part you'll be learning how to play a game, not code a game. :)

Also, with the Shezhen game, I imagine, if its anything like the other Zachtronics games, it has a rather robust series of tutorial like levels where things start simply and slowly ramp up adding new ideas as you go along.
No need to do something else first, as it will hold you hand for a bit giving you the basics in the beginning, and even later on only adding new things one or two at a time.

Your replying about Shezhen reminded me of another game I saw recently. I do not know if this game is any good at all, just saw a quick trying it out vid by a youtuber I watch a bit back. I've read and heard nothing about it since, but its similar to Shezhen in the whole building a computer kind of thing.
Silicon Zeros: http://store.steampowered.com/app/684270/Silicon_Zeroes/

Hope you enjoy the games.
Posted November 30, 2017
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Vythonaut: As others already pointed out, KSP is the one that rules them all. Totally recommended. Also, not a game rather than an educational application, but Universe Sandbox may interest you, especially if you're even slightly interested in astronomy. ;)
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babark: Can you go into more detail about this? I'm very interested in astronomy (admittedly more the stargazing aspect than the actual physics of it all, but still), and while I've seen Universe Sandbox around, like most other games with sandbox/simulator in the title, I avoided it.
Sure: Universe Sandbox simulates the motions of astronomical objects & bodies within the universe and gives the user the ability to interact with them in real time, by changing their properties (such as mass, diameter, density) or messing with their orbits. If you ever wondered what would happen if Jupiter or the Sun dissapeared or if the Moon suddenly gained 100 times more mass and what would be the aftermath of the appearance of a rogue planet/star inside our solar system (quite popular these days!), this is for you. Of course it doesn't stop there as it gives you the ability to build your own solar system from scratch or simulate a collision between Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies and many more. And of course, it's a first class educational tool for kids to learn about the universe and physics principles.

All the above apply to Universe Sandbox; there's also Universe Sandbox 2 which is in early access on Steam right now and includes many more features but i haven't tried it yet.

Having said that, and since you enjoy the nightsky, make sure you'll also check out Stellarium (great open-source planetarium software) if you haven't done so already. ;)
Posted November 30, 2017
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higix: Before jumping into a game like Shezhen I/O it seems like it would be a good idea to get a a decent grasp on foundational digital logic, where Shezhen I/O looks to be quite a bit more complex and likely much more difficult and involved. For this vein of games based in understanding digital technology, maybe a good order would be, Human Resource Machine, TIS-100, Shezhen I/O.
One thing about SHENZHEN I/O is that it is the best of the group at making the puzzles relate to the real world. Sure, it's unrealistic; it's a game, not a job. But while spacechem will claim you need the chemicals for something or other, SIO will offer real-world products with real-world functionality as the goal. Also, unlike spechem, it doesn't have some silly real-time arcade elements at the end. That's also what turned me off of KSP: the fact that you have to actually fly the rockets yourself.
Posted November 30, 2017
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darktjm: That's also what turned me off of KSP: the fact that you have to actually fly the rockets yourself.
There's a mod for that: mechjeb. Not sure about it's status right now though.
Posted December 12, 2017
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molerat: Silicon Zeros: http://store.steampowered.com/app/684270/Silicon_Zeroes/
Too bad this one isn't on GOG. It looks like fun at the moment.

By the way, I am still playing Human Resource Machine daily, and I am still enjoying it. About halfway through the game, the difficulity level steepened quite a bit, and I have turned to writing out solutions on paper during my free time at work. I'm not kidding in saying that this is the most satisfying game I have ever played, and I am looking forward to playing more games in this genre.
Posted December 12, 2017
There is a demo of Silicon Zeroes at https://pleasingfungus.itch.io/silicon-zeroes

It seems less about building logic to solve problems and more about puzzling using logic as a theme. I will likely give it another go, but my first impression was, meh. The memsum puzzle reminded me of an old Tomb Raider, where you would run around for hours, finally noticing a lever hidden in the shadows and wall texture, which isn't my idea of fun. I'm also not crazy about the constant reminding in the dialog that you are being strung along toward a hidden goal.

I suppose what I like is logical problem solving, rather than plain old puzzling. This game would be more interesting to me if it started at building logic components and progressed from there, using what is learned along the way to solve useful problems. I think the satisfaction would come from building understanding and applying that understanding, rather than making wild guesses toward ah ha moments. I don't enjoy the latter.
Post edited December 12, 2017 by higix
Posted March 19, 2019
There was a Edutainment series:

Physics: Physicus
Chemistry: Chemicus
Boilogy: Bioscopia

Seems like there was another game, but
I don't recall
Posted October 05, 2019
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higix: Are there any good games out there which include strong elements of science, such as using math and physics principles in challenges?

I have only seen Kerbal Space Program so far, but many reviewers say that it seems half-baked.
I know this thread is old but if you are still here or anyone read this thread:

Science Sleuths 1/2 - Great old cd-rom science mystery games with 1 mystery and 5 different ways to play it per game/cd. It also replies on measuring and using scientific investigation methods quite a bit, and was fun to boot. It is very hard to find though....mainly existing on physical discs.
Posted October 22, 2019
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higix: I have only seen Kerbal Space Program so far, but many reviewers say that it seems half-baked.
You can try Orbiter instead. It's far more realistic in terms of science.

http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/
Posted January 16, 2020
DROIDWORKS!!! You learn about basic physics and problem solving. I've been waiting for it to come to GoG for years.

Man... Necro'd hard...
Post edited January 16, 2020 by Celton88
Posted October 20, 2021
Without any doubt Kerbal and in the most hardcore sense, Orbiter.

I remember that years ago I finally assimilated the space newtonian physics principles and how the orbits worked in a practical way, with Orbiter Space Simulator. There are numbers and data and it helps but it is not absolutely necessary except for fine tuning and near profesional homemade simulations. Later it came Kerbal and it could be a valid option and more accessible and polished. More a videogame.

In a different concept I would recomend The Incredible machine and Crazy Machines. Useful for the kids' minds and their fathers' if the Rube Goldberg idea can be treated as science. I believe it is.
Posted September 21, 2023
That's a hot load of spam-shit.

All Bridge Constructor games except The Walking Dead are good structural integrity teachers.
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionGames with elements of science education(44 posts)(44 posts)
(44 posts)