Implementation of Data Structures in an Educational Detective Game: Catch U Bro
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24114/cess.v11i2.75195Keywords:
Data Structures, Detective Game, Algorithms, Educational GameAbstract
Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) are essential topics in computer science education, but many students experience difficulties in understanding abstract concepts through conventional learning methods. This study presents Catch U Bro, an educational detective game designed to introduce DSA concepts through interactive gameplay. In the game, players investigate suspects using multiple information brokers that represent different data structures, including stacks, queues, and hash maps. Each broker applies a different data retrieval mechanism, requiring players to interact with the data according to the implemented structure. The system was developed as a desktop-based game using the Godot engine with randomized suspect data and clue generation to create varied gameplay experiences. The implementation demonstrates how DSA concepts can be integrated into detective-style game mechanics to provide a more engaging and practical learning medium. Functional black-box testing confirmed that all broker mechanisms and the investigation workflow operated as intended, indicating that the proposed integration is technically feasible as a learning medium. Empirical evaluation of its effect on students' conceptual understanding is identified as a direction for future work.
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