Introducing the Visitor Design Pattern through a Digital Serious RPG Game

Abstract

Learning design patterns empowers students to solve complex problems in a way that code is reusable and extensible with minimal maintenance. Due to the immersive and exciting environment, the RPG genre of games holds the potential for more meaningful learning. This article presents a serious RPG game that introduces the concepts of the Visitor design pattern. A class of 14 students tested the game, achieving statistically significant performance through a pre-test and post-test validation protocol. Moreover, the instructor noted that the students demonstrated a greater introductory mastery of the pattern compared to previous semesters. The students also evaluated the usability and experience of the game, pointing out gaps in the game's difficulty. The main contribution is that, given the lack of games for learning design patterns, the game presented in this article has demonstrated its utility as a pattern comprehension tool.