{"id":756349,"date":"2021-06-23T08:59:45","date_gmt":"2021-06-23T15:59:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/?post_type=msr-research-item&#038;p=756349"},"modified":"2023-07-29T10:04:06","modified_gmt":"2023-07-29T17:04:06","slug":"web-based-programming-for-low-cost-gaming-handhelds","status":"publish","type":"msr-research-item","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/publication\/web-based-programming-for-low-cost-gaming-handhelds\/","title":{"rendered":"Web-based Programming for Low-cost Gaming Handhelds"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Low-cost microcontroller boards like the BBC micro:bit are used to engage and inspire students worldwide to learn more about computing. Easy-to-use web-based programming environments and low-cost hardware allow novices to build <em>physical computing<\/em> systems with the micro:bit &#8212; systems that sense and respond to the real world. However, devices such as the micro:bit may not capture the attention of every student, as the interests of some may lie in graphic design, animation, or other areas that are not the main\u00a0focus\u00a0of\u00a0physical\u00a0computing.<\/p>\n<p>Video game creation offers the opportunity for students to engage with computing concepts from a different angle, while keeping open the possibilities for physical computing. To date however, there is no game creation platform that has both the same low-barrier to entry and low-cost hardware as the BBC micro:bit.<\/p>\n<p>We present <a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" href=\"https:\/\/arcade.makecode.com\/\">MakeCode Arcade<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a>, a web app for creating video games for gaming handhelds, built on the same technologies as the BBC micro:bit, extended to support multiple microcontrollers and including a 2D game engine and easy-to-use sprite and music editors. We also designed a simple hardware specification that resulted in five different companies creating seven Arcade-compatible handhelds. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation demonstrates that Arcade enables a modern and fully web-based programming experience for low-cost microcontroller-based gaming handhelds.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Low-cost microcontroller boards like the BBC micro:bit are used to engage and inspire students worldwide to learn more about computing. Easy-to-use web-based programming environments and low-cost hardware allow novices to build physical computing systems with the micro:bit &#8212; systems that sense and respond to the real world. However, devices such as the micro:bit may not 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