Human Resource Machine

Human Resource Machine is a programming puzzle game about sorting numbers in a factory with a visual block-based language. Using only basic commands, you must take a list of numbers, perform a requested operation on them, and return the correct results. A lighthearted, satirical tone makes this a fun introduction to fundamental programming concepts.

You work as a low-level employee in a cartoonish, dystopian office building. Your job is to take boxes off one conveyor belt and deliver them to another conveyor belt. You also have a small workspace in the center of the room where you can place boxes temporarily. The boxes are labeled with numbers or letters. You must follow a set of instructions, such as removing all zeroes or sorting the numbers in descending order.

To do this, you must create a simple algorithm by placing command blocks in a list in the right order. When you press the Play button, your character will carry out the commands, picking up boxes, putting them down, throwing them away, and so on. The catch is that the available commands are very limited. For example, a level might give you an add command but not a multiply command, or an if the value is zero command but no other type of if statement. A frequently useful command is the jump command, which allows you to skip to another line of the algorithm and create loops.

The resulting algorithms resemble a low-level programming language: you take input, put it into memory (the working area in the middle of the room), perform operations on it, and deliver output. You must master key programming concepts like loops and conditional statements. It’s a good introduction to computer systems packaged as an entertaining satire poking fun at office politics.

This description was written by Gwen C. Katz.