Editing Programming game (section)

==As puzzle games==
Early games in the genre include ''[[System 15000]]'' and ''[[Hacker (video game)|Hacker]]'', released in 1984 and 1985 respectively.

Programming games have been used as part of puzzle games, challenging the player to achieve a specific result once the program starts operating. An example of such a game is ''[[SpaceChem]]'', where the player must use its visual language to manipulate two [[waldo (device)|waldo]]s as to disassemble and reassemble chemical molecules. In such games, players are able to test and debug their program as often as necessary until they find a solution that works. Many of these games encourage the player to find the most efficient program, measured by the number of timesteps needed or number of commands required. Other similar games include ''[[Human Resource Machine]]'',<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/10/03/can-video-games-teach-you-programming/ | title = Can Videogames Teach You Programming? | first = Matt | last = Sayer | date = October 3, 2016 | access-date = October 3, 2016 | work = [[Rock Paper Shotgun]] }}</ref> ''[[Infinifactory]]'', and ''[[TIS-100]]''. [[Zachtronics]] is a video game development company known for its programming-centric [[puzzle games]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tarason |first1=Dominic |date=7 February 2019 |title=Zachtronics book Zach-Like shows how the puzzle sausage gets made |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/02/07/zachtronics-book-on-game-design-crowdfunding-on-kickstarter/ |website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]}}</ref>

Other games incorporate the elements of programming as portions of puzzles in the larger game. For example, ''[[Hack 'n' Slash]]'' include a metaphor of being able to access the internal programs and variables of objects represented in the game world, pausing the rest of the game as the player engages this programming interface, and modify the object's program as to progress further; this might be changing the state of an object from being indestructible to destructible. Other similar games with this type of programming approach include ''[[Transistor (video game)|Transistor]]'', ''[[else Heart.Break()]]'', ''Glitchspace'', and ''[[Pony Island]]''.<ref name="rps best">{{cite web  | url = https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/11/09/best-programming-games/ | title = The 10 Best Hacking, Coding, Computing Games | first = Brendan | last = Caldwell | date = November 9, 2015 | access-date = October 3, 2016 | work = [[Rock Paper Shotgun]] }}</ref>

Another approach used in some graphical games with programming elements is to present the player with a [[command line interface]] to issue orders via a domain-specific language to direct objects within the game, allowing the player to reissue commands as the situation changes rather than crafting a pre-made program. Games like ''[[Quadrilateral Cowboy]]'' and ''[[Duskers]]'' have the user command several small robotic creatures in tandem through the language of code to reach a certain goal.<ref name="rps best"/> ''[[Hackmud]]'' presents the player with a simulated mainframe interface through which they issue commands to progress forward.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/09/27/hackmud-review/ | title = Wot I Think: Hackmud | first =  Brendan | last = Caldwell  |date = September 27, 2016 | access-date = October 3, 2016 | work = [[Rock Paper Shotgun]] }}</ref>