The exponential growth of esports is undeniable, and competitive coding is now one of the fastest-growing segments in esports. Educators should get fully empowered to fully explore its potential in the classroom.
Schools have begun to recognize the value of esports, with more than 8,600 US high schools having started video-gaming teams since 2018.
The CodeCombat AI League takes a unique approach. Players must program a backend strategy and use their coding and problem-solving skills to outsmart competitors. It’s as much game development as it is gameplay. The best of these young coders are learning to use code creatively and developing a tangible skill set that they will use in future careers.
Founded in 2013, CodeCombat was born from a simple idea of making learning to code engaging and accessible to all. Since then, the game-based learning platform has been used to teach over 20 million students real-typed Python, JavaScript and C++ coding languages through the power of play.
Learning the language of code is not unlike learning any other language. To communicate, one must develop an understanding of vocabulary, syntax and structure. Those who master a new language are able to find interesting combinations that convey deep meaning and purpose.
To make it to the top of leaderboards, competitors need to be creative in their use of advanced coding methods. A 15 year-old going by the username Shininglice has dominated the competitive coding league since its launch in 2021. Having played CodeCombat since the age of 10, he’s finished first overall three times, never losing a single match, and developed some of the most creative coding strategies.
These young coders are outwitting professional programmers and others with well over a decade of experience. They’ve proven that there is no age requirement when it comes to mastering one’s coding capabilities. The limitless potential of code-controlled gaming is just now starting to be realized. With proper access and tools, young coders will revolutionize the esports landscape.
