Games that help you understand abstractions

Disclaimer: In this article, I use references to real computer games so that you can take my recommendation and check whether these games can benefit you. Let me clarify that I do not advertise them for money, so I will not provide download links, assuming that the name of the game is enough to find it on the Internet.

In parallel with my current work in IT, I am looking at what else is interesting in the field of technology and where I can potentially develop my skills. Breakthrough areas that are currently attracting attention are data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. These are all complex domains, and to really learn any of this you will have to immerse yourself in them for several years.

I come from the position that anyone can study and understand anything, provided they have enough time to do so. But since we do not have endless time, we would like to find a training format in which, ideally, we can not only study a subject area, but also understand in time whether I like this area and whether it is worth spending my time resources on it.

For me, the problem with learning complex complex domains is often the inability to apply them here and now. See their action in reality, calculate, calculate, create, formulate something with their help. Actually, the reason to write this article was another article about entering Machine Learning from scratch, listing the necessary theoretical foundations and even links to resources for training. I was very interested in all this and honestly sat down to watch the first video about vectors according to the plan from the article. In general, this is interesting for general erudition, but I caught myself thinking that I have to force myself. Why is this happening? After all, I am interested in this topic, or rather, not exactly this topic, but its direct relationship to the topic of machine learning. It occurred to me that this approach is similar to studying at university: I need to learn a lot of theory before I can tackle real problems. At the same time, I don’t have a full understanding that I will really enjoy solving ML problems.

How then can you continue to study complex things and not lose track? Perhaps, it would be more comfortable for me to immerse myself in the field through the gradual solution of applied problems from simple to complex. And so that the desire to solve a specific problem motivates me to study linear algebra, and not the abstract understanding that “it is necessary, Fedya, it is necessary.” That is, for example, first let them play algorithm games, then offer to program the robot to take steps, then train a simple neural network, and so on. And for each task, indicate what knowledge will be needed. I would like to use this training format, but is there such a thing?

Games became such a format for me, not all in a row, of course, but usually logical ones, the result of which is the solution of a certain problem.

Below I will talk about computer games that helped me turn on the idle gears in my head and gave me the opportunity to understand the basics of abstract subject areas without first diving deeply into theory. To complete these games, you don't need any prior knowledge other than the ability to maintain concentration for a long time and a love of solving puzzles.

Human Resource Machine

What stimulates understanding: low level programming, how a processor works

The very first game that showed me that programming can be a fun activity and it is not as prohibitively difficult as it might seem at first glance. This game gave an understanding of how logical operations turn into commands, and commands into solving applied problems. The nice thing is that I was able to solve real problems, even without deep knowledge of mathematics or programming. This gave me confidence in my abilities, and the understanding that it is possible to participate in solving global problems even without a classical specialized education.

7 Billion People

What stimulates understanding: distributed computing, performance

Continuation from the creator of the first game. And here I felt like my brain was moving apart and I was trying to keep several branches of events in my head at once. This game helped me in my current work as a systems analyst to improve my memory by holding in my head several scenarios for the development of events, their intersections and influences on each other.

while True: learn()

What stimulates understanding: neural networks, machine learning

This game just prompted me to write this article. The creators were able to combine what I had been looking for for so long – gameplay with educational resources. Each game task is based on real scientific events, to the description of which they provide a link. Many thanks to them for this, because I realized that ML is not yet interesting enough for me to invest my time in it.

Opus Magnum

What stimulates understanding: algorithms, optimization, automation

If sometimes you think: “maybe I should give up on going to the factory,” then this game gives you that opportunity. This game will be useful if you manage a combined set of tools: processes, people, variables in the code. They can be composed however you like and turned into a chaotic but working legacy. Or you can look for especially “beautiful”, effective and optimal solutions.

Wargroove

What stimulates understanding: chess, strategy, planning

I never understood chess and had no motivation to learn how to play it. This game gave me a thrill of excitement – how to plan my actions without knowing what exactly lies ahead. It’s especially nice, of course, when my small decisions lead to a big winning strategy. This game showed me that an aggressive chaotic strategy usually leads to defeat, and at some point it became boring to think for a long time, so I shouldn’t become a general or top manager.

Baba Is You

What stimulates understanding: logic, logical thinking, nonlinear thinking

Here you need to constantly remember “who you are” and “who they are,” because the laws of the surrounding world depend on this. This game made me understand and feel what context is and how it affects the surrounding environment and myself. How important it is to see the connections and patterns that define me as “me” and me as “part”. Helped me understand how states of conformism and negativism can coexist in the head at the same time and that this is normal.

Afterword

Of course, these are all games, and real problems are often associated with uninteresting, boring, and sometimes unpleasant, from the point of view of the brain, actions to solve them. However, we all once began to explore this world with games, so why not start exploring complex subject areas with them.

I still have problems quickly understanding mathematical operations and expressions. I really have to think really hard before I can formulate a solution to a problem in my head through some kind of mathematical operation. Recommend something gaming to get my math gears going.

I also want to improve my skill in publicly expressing thoughts. I always have something to say, but my brain perceives it as danger. Therefore, in experimental mode, I started a channel with open comments and all kinds of emoticons. Agree, giving someone a poop for a post is very rare now, so come, let’s develop each other https://t.me/ksandemidova