Educational Game Programming with JavaFX - 2D Game Framework Integrating JavaFX with Physics Engine

Abstract

Java@Kodeklubben Trondheim students have expressed wishes for making games, but programming physical movements and interactions proved too complex for the students. This research aimed to design a prototype of a game development framework that could be used as a tool for learning JavaFX, where movements and interactions were based on physics. The game development framework was aimed at both pre-university students and university students who are learning programming.

The research looked at existing frameworks for learning programming with games and learning theory as a basis for the design, then designed and implemented a prototype based on the derived information. The prototype was evaluated by creating a set of example games and performing a usability test with university students.

The research found that the students learning process was affected positively by using the prototype in combination with real programming tools, and that by using real programming tools when learning, the knowledge learned was transferable to real world programming. The prototype also made it simple to make complex physical games.