Games for Programmers

Much of this work has been inspired by my efforts to teach Extreme Programming, but we won't limit ourselves to that topic.

If you try these games, please let me know how they've worked for you.

• Best Fit!: a framegame of adjectives and nouns.
• Scrum from Hell: practice a standup meeting.
• Push-Line/Pull-Line: push ("batch") vs. pull ("lean")
• Floor Plan: improve your ability to see how a room's layout affects communication.
• Refactoring Grid: apply small steps and safe transformations.
• Customer's Shoes: Release Planning
• Customer's Run: Iteration Planning
• Stoplight: The Test/Code Cycle
• Pair Practice: consider how pair programming can make people more productive.
• Release Planning Party
• Metaforma - Brainstorming Metaphors

Origins '04 Trip Report - a major game conference

For Fun

Game Word Stack (Dec., '05)

Other Games

• The Electric Apple Market - a simulation of electricity deregulation.

Links to Other People's Games

• XP Playing Cards
• Design Patterns Playing Cards
• PairDraw

Extreme Hour (Peter Merel)

XP Game (Belgian XP User's Group)

Planning Poker (James Grenning)

Workshop (OOPSLA '02)

Using Play to Enhance Learning About Objects

Abstract

Play is serious! Games, simulations, puzzles, and toys in the classroom can improve student motivation, lead to better long-term memory, and reduce learning anxiety. Used effectively, play can leverage competition and foster collaboration. Above all, play makes learning fun.

We started exploring how play can make it easier to learn about object-oriented technology.

Workshop home page: Using Play to Enhance Learning About Objects