Current Connector
Current Connector is an Electrical Engineering Inspired mini-game that introduces the concept of logic gates in the form of a simple circuit game. The following four gates are introduced: AND, OR, NOT, and XOR. This game gives players a basic understanding into problem solving using logical thinking skills. It utilises concepts directly from the ELECTENG101 first year engineering course.
A number of batteries are connected in a circuit on the playing field. The player objective is to complete the circuit by connecting appropriate logic gates into their correct positions. Once connected, the circuit will be complete and current will flow allowing the light bulb to illuminate.
Four basic logic gates are introduced in this game. Within the game, they are represented as colourful blocks.
The player is introduced to these gates through the opening tutorial, which they can revisit at any point, or they can simply right click on the gate for more information.
The output of an AND gate is only light if there are two light inputs as shown in the truth table below:
| Input A | Input B | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 |
The output of an OR gate is only light if there is at least one light input as shown in the truth table below:
| Input A | Input B | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 |
The output of a NOT gate is only light if the input is not light as shown in the truth table below:
| Input | Output |
|---|---|
| 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 0 |
The output of an XOR (exclusive-or) gate is only light if the inputs to this gate are different as shown in the truth table below:
| Input A | Input B | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 1 | 0 |
Batteries provide the power in the game. Light bulbs must be correctly connected to a battery source for the current to correctly flow from the battery to the light bulb.
The circuit wires are indicated by thin dark lines on the playing field. Once the circuit wires are connected correctly to a battery source, the colour of the wires will turn yellow indicating the current that is running through them.
Light bulbs indicate the correctness of a circuit. Once the light bulb has been correctly connected to a battery source through correct logic gates, the light bulb will turn yellow indicating current has reached it. The game level is then complete.
Logic gate dropzones are areas on the playing field where logic gates may be positioned. To move a logic gate to a logic gate dropzone, the player simply has to click and drag the logic gate. Once the logic gate is in the dropzone area it will automatically fit into place once the player releases their mouse button.
A timer exists on the bottom of the screen to encourage the player to think quickly to complete the level. The time the player completes the level in contributes to the overall score they receive for each level.
There is a restart button for the player to reset all components on a game level and start again.
Should the player decide to leave the game and return to the main lobby area, there is an exit button for this. After the player has exited the game, a small summary screen provides them further information and encouragement for electrical engineering.
A simple tutorial to introduce the concept of logic gates and the game mechanism is available at the beginning of the game.
The player is also able to access the tutorial at any point in the game - to either learn about the logic gates or the rules of the game. This allows the player to get help if they need it at any point in the game.
Throughout the game, players are also able to click the logic gates to view their purpose.
The Electricity and Magnetism paper in NCEA Level 3 is quite a polarising paper for a lot of students, this game allows for students to see Electrical in a new light as something that can be fun and enjoyable. New levels, as well as new gates, can easily be added, and there can be a much larger number of dropzones. With modifications, the game board can be increased, and such as the Civil Game the player can use what gates they choose and however many they want to complete the circuit, and the interactive circuit will change colour giving the player an indication of how it is going. This minigame aims to introduce the player to logic and give them a head start in engineering!