‘Battlesnake’ engages kids’ brains

Virtual game accommodates social distancing

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With local schools closed for several weeks at least, local techies David Ehnebuske and Gage Pacifera aim to engage kids in learning code and help parents find educational activities to keep their children busy.

The duo assembled a group of volunteers from the Port Townsend Web Developers group to teach kids how to create computer programs that could compete in a game called “Battlesnake.”

The group meets online every Thursday at 1:30 p.m., via Google Meet, to teach participants how to write code, discuss gameplay strategies and stage matches between players. URLs for the meetings are posted online at porttownsend.ai 30 minutes prior to start time.

“When I was first introduced to Battlesnake, I found it to be incredibly fun, very approachable for both beginners and more experienced coders and completely addictive,” said Pacifera, a developer and business owner. “For those with an inclination toward problem-solving, puzzles and gaming, it’s the kind of thing that you can lose yourself in for many, many hours. It’s perfect for bright kids who suddenly have a lot of extra time on their hands.”

Ehnebuske, an IBM Distinguished Engineer emeritus, noted the program is quarantine-friendly.

“We can do essentially everything online, including the tournament,” he said.

In the Battlesnake games, students’ snakes attempt to outlast or vanquish opposing snakes. The virtual contestants are autonomous and their actions driven by artificial intelligence.

“It is so wonderful to get this ray of hope and beautiful community-building!” Port Townsend Library Director Melody Eisner wrote.

Local community organizer Danny Milholland echoed this sentiment, posting, “Sweet opportunity for local youth!”

The six-week program will culminate in a tournament on Thursday, April 23. Beyond that, organizers might offer a competition on a larger stage in Victoria, British Columbia, where Battlesnake originated.

For more information, visit porttownsend.ai/battlesnake online.