Learning while playing is a very popular teaching mechanism, and it can be applied to all kinds of situations, including defusing bombs (?). Bomb Squad Academy is a title that debuted a few days ago on Steam, presenting us with several challenges in which we must absorb basic electronics concepts so that the device doesn't blow us to pieces... virtually, of course.
The web is full of resources for learning electronics, but let's be honest: sometimes we need help. The process is not always intuitive, and many people prefer to start at a more basic level than what certain people or books can convey. That's where video games have the ability to shine. In the past we explored their potential for learning code but today it's the turn of Bomb Squad Academy. As its name suggests, the main goal is to solve each of the puzzles in the form of bombs, and at the same time, improve our electronics knowledge.
The first phase of the game is quite simple, with batteries, switches, and traces that carry electrical power to the bomb. Then we move on to wires, logic gates, capacitors, XOR gates, pulse generation, and a combination of all these elements. If we add the detail that there is a countdown, the key is not only knowing what you're doing, but doing it fast. Any mistake can immediately detonate the bomb, or block the possibility of defusing it. The game doesn't allow you to reconnect cut wires, so it's not a good idea to get carried away by enthusiasm.
Bomb Squad Academy went through Steam Greenlight, debuted on that service on March 27, and its reception is quite good, with the occasional criticism about its length (you should finish it in two hours). In the future, its developer plans to release an editor for players to share challenges online, a random circuit generator, and new components. Its price is seven dollars.
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