Lab RoboZZle - A Robot Puzzle Game

Computer Science
Lab RoboZZle - A Robot Puzzle Game

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVE: Although you are likely to have a lot of experience driving an automobile, you have probably never built your own car engine! Similarly, although you have likely used computers a lot, you have probably never programmed a computer. Just like the skill sets of car driver and automobile mechanic are different, so too the skill sets of computer user and computer programmer are distinct.

This lab is designed to give you a taste of programming in the fun setting of a puzzle game. It is NOT intended to be fustrating or to stress you out. :-) In particular, if you just don't grasp RoboZZle---don't fret; do your best and see what you can do.

Getting started

Sign onto one of the KOM lab Windows computers. To get past the initial "lock" screen, use your PipelineMT username and corresponding password. (Of course, you most likely have already done this because you are reading this lab.)

Optional: Access the RoboZZle YouTube Video

You should have already seen the RoboZZle video in lecture --- if so, skip to the following Access the RoboZZle Web site section.

Do this step ONLY if you need to see the video. If you decide to view the YouTube video, you will need sound for your computer. Although the computers in the KOM computer lab will be able to display the video, their speakers are not useful and you will need to use earbuds or a headphone if you want to hear the audio.

Remember that this video was intended to show off the full features of RoboZZle. Because we are NOT experts in RoboZZle (and don't intend to be) some of the video will show things beyond what we will learn. So don't be overwhelmed!
One way to access the YouTube video is to copy and paste the following URL into your browser:

http://igoro.com/archive/my-youtube-debut-a-roboZZle-demo-video/
Scroll down the browser window until you see the video screen; play the video. Remember you can pause the video as you desire, rewind, etc. The key information you should get from the video is how to drag commands from a template to create a RoboZZle program. Again, many of the puzzles found in this video are somewhat complicated and beyond what we will do!

Access the RoboZZle Web site

Bring up the web site http://www.robozzle.com/beta/. (If clicking on the link doesn't bring up a second window showing RoboZZle, you will need to manually bring up a second browser window. Then copy and paste the URL over to your second browser URL window.) After the second browser window pops up, arrange the two browser windows (the one that you are using to display this lab text and the new RoBoZZle one) on your desktop so they don't overlap. Remember that you can resize a window by placing the mouse over the top or side window edge, then click the left mouse button, hold and drag. You can make any window active by clicking the mouse on it. If Silverlight is installed, then the following should appear in your browser window.
RoboZZle

Now click on Tutorial Part 1. The following window should appear.

Continue with the tutorial, i.e., read the information in the upper left part of the screen, click continue and proceed. As you move through the tutorial and have questions, please ask. The goal in this puzzle is to have the robot move forward two times, then turn around and move four times. As the robot moves over a star, the star will disappear. Give it a try.

Once you complete the first tutorial successfully the following screen should appear.

There are four different tutorials. You just finished the first one. Now click on the continue link, the second tutorial will start.

Please complete all four parts of the tutorial. When you are done with all four parts, use the tab labeled Tutorial to return you to the four part tutorial overview page. All four parts of the tutorial should now have a check mark on them indicating you have completed each of them successfully; your screen should look something like this:

Exercise 1. Raise your hand to get the lab assistant's attention and show the lab assistant this completed check marked tutorial screen. The lab assistant will record that you completed the tutorial section.

Now, use the tab labeled Campaign to continue and find the puzzle called Stairs. Solve the Stairs puzzle.

Exercise 2. Once again raise your hand to get the lab assistant's attention and show the lab assistant your solution to the Stairs puzzle. The lab assistant will record that you completed the Stairs puzzle.

Congratulations! You have finished Lab RoboZZle.