[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][custom_headline type=”center” level=”h1″ looks_like=”h2″ accent=”true” style=”margin-top: 0;”]Frequently Asked Questions[/custom_headline][gap size=”30px”][columnize]
Children of today are the computer coders of tomorrow.
At the moment, the world of coding is dominated by mathematicians, scientists and engineers (in a male dominated industry). But it shouldn’t be this way. Coding is very creative – it’s not just about geeks.
We need to encourage diversity and creativity in coding to ensure that in the future our computer programs appeal to as much of the population as possible.
When you see children playing with Bits & Bytes it’s an amazing experience. It appeals equally to both boys and girls and its flexibility encourages creativity. Bits & Bytes is a tool that helps prepare children for the world of coding regardless if they are 4 or 11.
[blockquote cite=” Ian Livingstone (CBE, Founder – Games Workshop)” type=”center”]”Coding is creative, poets make the best coders. Code is empowering. Get them coding and you won’t hear a squeak out of them”[/blockquote]With any new game we understand people might have questions or things they are unsure about. If you have a question then please ask us here or we might have already answered it below.[/columnize][gap size=”-80px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row no_margin=”true” padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px” border=”none”][vc_column width=”1/2″][feature_headline type=”center” level=”h2″ looks_like=”h4″ icon=”question”]Playing the Game[/feature_headline][accordion id=”faq-1″][accordion_item parent_id=”faq-1″ title=”What happens if a player is blocked in by walls and they cannot reach Ram?”]In the case where a player has tried all possible routes to reach Ram but every route is blocked by a Wall then the player (on their turn) can nominate to remove any Wall. Once the Wall has been removed the player can then have their normal turn.[/accordion_item][accordion_item title=”Can a player leave the Grid (i.e. they are on the far left side of the Grid and then turn left and try to move forward)?” parent_id=”faq-1″]No. A player cannot leave the Grid (where the Grid is defined by the starting layout of cards – the default starting Grid is 8 cards x 8 cards).[/accordion_item][accordion_item parent_id=”faq-1″ title=”Once a player has used their Instruction card what happens? Can they only play a card once?”]No. In the standard game a player receives one of each Instruction card (i.e. Move Forward, Turn Right, Turn Left, Turn Around). On their turn they show the other players the Instruction card they want to play and then move their Programme as per the Instruction card.
The player keeps their Instruction cards (does not hand them over, only shows the Instruction they want to play to the other players).
When playing the Advanced Rules on a players turn they receive all the Instruction cards and must lay out all the cards necessary for their Programme to safety reach Ram (home). A card can only be played once. If they succeed they have won the game, if they do not reach Ram safely then it is the next players turn with all the Instruction cards (and this continues for all players until somebody reaches Ram).
Please note: a player cannot turn and move on the same turn. This is two moves.[/accordion_item][accordion_item parent_id=”faq-1″ title=”When I set up the game I have Grid cards left over?”]This is correct. The default Grid size is 8 cards x 8 cards = 56 cards, but we have included 60 Grid cards in the game. The additional cards are used to adjust the difficulty level (for example: players could remove the 2 CPU cards, or a Player could remove 2 Wall cards and replace them with Blank cards, etc).
Before starting the game the players must agree on the degree of difficulty and remove 4 Grid cards. The default game would require the players to remove 2 Wall cards and 2 Blank cards.[/accordion_item][accordion_item parent_id=”faq-1″ title=”How do I use the FUNCTION gem card?”]The player should play these on their turn, either on its own on in conjunction with an Instruction card. A player can only use the FUNCTION card once (on one turn).
The use of the FUNCTION card is limited only by the players imagination – so if a player can play the card in such a way that allows them to reach Ram then great, however they can’t simply say “DO move me UNTIL i reach ram” or something similar as their FUNCTION needs to use individual steps (commands/instructions). There are only three valid methods of playing the FUNCTION card and they need to be phrased correctly.
The first two methods are:
- IF… THEN… For example, the player could say IF there is a wall in front of me THEN remove the wall
- DO… UNTIL… For example, the player could say DO move me forward UNTIL i reveal a wall
- If the Programme reveals a WALL or a BUG the Programme is returned to where they were on the Grid before they played the FUNCTION card
- If the Programme reveals the CPU the normal rules of encountering CPU are played (i.e. the game is RESET)
- If a FUNCTION card is revealed then the player can remove it from the board and use it later