SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - A new learning center is turning video game play into a career path for local children.

Code Ninjas in Springfield uses a “dojo” theme where kids ages 5 to 14 learn real programming languages by building their own games in Roblox and Minecraft. Instead of grades, students earn martial arts-style belts as they master new skills in problem-solving and logic.

“We teach them on these so they can get familiar with code and eventually start working with real code like Javascript, Lua, all those codes,” said Joshua, lead sensei at Code Ninjas. “We really want to prepare kids so they can excel and succeed.”

The center is now open for enrollment, offering everything from robotics challenges to electronics kits.