Making a Game in Scratch
by Miri Hartley
Introduction To Scratch
Scratch is a free program that helps users create games or animations. It is especially helpful as no complicated coding is needed to form something- all the instructions are down the sidebar and they only need to be combined to create something!
What can you actually make on Scratch?
Step One
Click on 'Paint New Sprite' on the toolbar beneath the screen, then use the screen that will pop up to draw a basic character for your game (called a Sprite).
Beware: Sometimes the 'Text' option when making a sprite doesn't work
Step Two
Click on 'Stage'<Edit. Use the tool that pops up to create a simple maze with only basic colours.
Step Three
Add instructions to make your Sprite move in various directions from the coloured sidebars.
Moving 'y' by -5 means that your character will move 5 little steps down. Moving 'x' by -5 means that your character will move 5 little steps to the left.
Remember: Generally when creating instructions, use the 'When (green flag) clicked' button to start them.
Extension: Add an 'if touching colour' (then click on your wall colour) change y/x by -10 function to your character
Tip One
Extension: Add traps to your maze
Firstly, add shapes around your maze of a certain colour. Then, go to your characters scripts. Add When (green flag) clicked< If touching colour (click on your traps colour)<Go to (enter your starting places' coordinates)
Add a Villain
Paint a new sprite. Then go to its scripts page and add When (green flag) clicked< Forever< Turn 359 degrees. Next, go to your Sprites scripts and add When (green flag) clicked< If < Go to (enter your starting place' coordinates)
Adding Instructions to your Game
Step One
Step Two
Step Three
Why not a scoring system?
Go to Variables< Make a Variable< 'Score' plus check the box 'For this sprite only'. Henceforth, you need to add scripts to your main sprite to make sure the score changes when it does something.
Extension: Create a finishing point by making an extra sprite and ading to your main one When (green flag) Clicked< If touching (insert sprite) Stop All Scripts.
Creating New Levels
Remember: Use the same colour system as before or the codes will be invalid
Make sure you have something that completes the level. For example, you may want to have your Sprite touch a colour or another Sprite.
(above) Add these codes to your Sprite and Stage
Remember: You may want to add the purple codes to hide your villain and any other Sprites you have
Tip Two
Is this where your game has got to?
Glide
Remember: The shorter the time, the faster your Sprite will travel
Sound is always a plus
Adding sounds is like when you first program your sprite to not walk through walls; it requires a script that makes an instant reaction if an event happens.
Even if you don't want to use Logic Pro to make your own soundtrack you can still insert sounds to amplify the experience for your players. Use scripts like the one featured below to make sounds.How to publish your game
Step One
Remember: Don't use your real name, and make a note of your details in your planner.