Student Instructions

Student Instructions

Platform Jumper

The game on the left is an example of a platform jumper. Press "Run" to play it. You can make the alien jump with the up arrow, and move it to the left and right with the arrow keys. You score by collecting stars, and if you score high enough, the background will change.

You already know how to use all the blocks you need to make a game just like this one, and you'll be making your own platform jumper in this lesson.

Student Instructions

Build a Platform Jumper

As you build your platform jumper, you'll be using the problem solving process.

Define

The problem is clearly defined for this game, because you already looked at a sample version. However, you might want to make some changes. Make sure any new features for your game are clearly defined.

Prepare

Before you start to code, you need to fill out a project guide. It will get you ready and make the coding a lot easier.

Try

You'll try out your plan when you start coding. Don't forget all of your resources, such as the documentation and Help and Tip tab, as you begin to code.

Reflect

After finishing your project, you'll want to reflect on whether your game turned out how you planned, and ways that you could improve your process for the next time.

Student Instructions

Background

The first thing that you will create for your game is the background. The sample game had two different backgrounds that were chosen according to the user's score. The first background has already been created for you. Look at the background1 function in the code below to see how it works. (Show me where)

In order for the background function to do something, you have to call it inside the draw loop. (Show me where)

There is also an empty function named background2. (Show me where) You will need to fill that function with new code to make a different background, then test the code by calling the function inside the draw loop.

Do this

• Read the code for background1.
• Fill the background2 function with new code for a second background.
• Test your background2 function by calling it inside the draw loop.

Hint: It's much easier to copy, paste, and make small changes to your code in text mode.

Student Instructions

Score Variable

Now that you've created your backgrounds, you'll need to choose when each background is drawn. For that, you'll need a score variable to hold information about your player's score.

You should always give your variables a starting value at the very beginning of the program. That way, they are available for any code that comes after.

Do This

• Create a score variable at the beginning of your game program. ( Show me the block )
• Set the score equal to 0.

Student Instructions

Choosing your Background

Now that you have your score variable, you can use it to choose the right background for your game. You can see an example of changing your background according to your score in Lesson 24 Level 10

Do This

• Inside the draw loop, use an if statement and your two background functions to draw your background according to your score level.
• Test your code by changing the start score to 100, then running to code to see whether the background changes.

Challenge: If you have a third background, you can click the plus sign at the bottom of the if block. Another space will appear for your third background function, as well as a place to check the score again.

Student Instructions

Make the Scoreboard

You'll also need a scoreboard so the player can keep track of the score. There's already a showScore function written, but it only shows the text "Score" and not the actual score. (Show me where) You can see an example of a working scoreboard in Lesson 24 Level 10.

Do This

• Read the code in the showScore function.
• Call the function inside the draw loop, right after you draw the backgrounds.
• Use the text block to display the score at the top of the screen.

Student Instructions

Create a Platform Sprite

Now that you have your background and your variables, it's time to create your sprites. Usually, it will be easiest to start with the sprites that are part of the environment, such as your platforms. The sample game had two platform sprites, but you'll make just one first, then test it before copying and pasting the code to make the second.

Do This

• Look at your worksheet and choose a platform sprite to create.
• In the "Create sprites" area at the top of your code, create your new sprite with the createSprite block, giving it the correct position and label (name). (Show me the block)
• Use the setAnimation and velocityY blocks to give your sprite the correct image and downward velocity.
• Test the sprite to make sure that it's moving in the correct way. You might need to adjust its velocity.

Hint: The sprite will go off the screen and not come back. You'll make it loop back around in the next level.

Student Instructions

Loop the Platform Sprite

Right now, your platform sprite moves down, but it doesn't loop back up to the top of the screen. You can look at Lesson 20 Level 6 to see an example of a sprite looping around a screen.

Do This

• Use the function block to create a loopPlatforms function at the bottom of your code.
• Use the if block inside the function to check whether the platform has gone off the bottom of screen and, if it has, move it back to the top of the screen.
• Call the function inside the draw loop, in the "update sprites" area.
• Run the code to test your sprite.

Hint: What will platform.y be when the sprite moves off the bottom of the screen? What should platform.y be when you put it back at the top of the screen?

Student Instructions

Make your Second Platform

Making a second platform will be easier than making the first, because you can copy and paste a lot of the code, then make a few small changes. This is a lot easier in text mode, so be sure to try it out if you haven't already.

You'll need to copy two parts of your code: the part at the beginning where you made the platform, and the part in your loopPlatforms function, where you looped the platform back to the top of the screen.

Do This

• Copy the code you used to create the first platform sprite (createSprite, setAnimation, and velocityY), and paste it directly beneath the original code.
• Change the names of the sprite in the new lines. For example, if you named your original sprite "platform", you could name this one "platform2".
• Change the starting position of your new platform sprite.
• Inside your loopPlatforms function, copy the if statement, then paste it directly underneath the original code, inside the function.
• Change the sprite name in the new lines of code.
• Run your code to test it.

Challenge: You can make your platforms appear at random x positions when they loop back to the top of the screen.

Student Instructions

Create an Item

Next, you need to add the items that fall from the top of the screen. These move just like the platforms, but faster. In order to make the game more interesting, the items start at a random location above the screen. For the sample game, the item's x position is a random number between 50 and 350, and the y position is a random number between -30 and -60.

Do This

• Use the createSprite block to make an item sprite in the "create sprites" section of your code.
• Use the randomNumber block inside your createSprite block to start the item at a random x and y position.
• Use setAnimation and velocityY to give your sprite the correct image and make it fall from the top of the screen.
• Run the code to test your sprite.

Student Instructions

Loop your Item

Now that your item is falling, you can add code to loop it back to the top. This is similar to what you did for the platform sprite, but the item sprite will loop back to a random x and y location when it goes to the top of the screen.

Do This

• Create a loopItems function that uses an if block to check whether the item sprite is off the bottom of the screen, then sends the item back to a random x and y position, just as it did when you first created the sprite.
• Call the function inside the draw loop.
• Run the code to test your sprite.

Student Instructions

Make your Second Item

Next, you'll copy and paste the code for your first item to create a second item. Remember that this is a lot easier in text mode, so be sure to try it out if you haven't already.

You'll need to copy two parts of your code: the part at the beginning where you made the item, and the part in your loopItem function, where you looped the item back to the top of the screen.

Do This

• Copy the code you used to create the first item sprite (createSprite, setAnimation, and velocityY), and paste it directly beneath the original code.
• Change the names of the sprite in the new lines. For example, if you named your original sprite "star", you could name this one "star2".
• Inside your loopItems function, copy the if statement, then paste it directly underneath the original code, inside the function.
• Change the sprite name in the new lines of code.
• Run your code to test it.

Student Instructions

Create your Player

Now you can create your player sprite. Just like the item sprites, the player sprite will fall from the top of the screen. Unlike the items, your player sprite will get faster as it falls, just like real falling objects. This is what allows it to jump up, and fall back down.

Do This

• Use the createSprite block to make a player sprite with the label and starting position that you put on your worksheet.
• Use setAnimation to give it the correct image.
• Create a playerFall function that makes the sprite fall from the top of the screen. The code inside the function should use velocityY in a counter pattern, just as when you made the falling rock in Lesson 21 Level 4.
• Call the playerFall function inside the draw loop.
• Run the code to test your sprite.

Student Instructions

User Controls

Next, you should add user controls so that you can move your player around. Your player needs to move to the left when the left arrow key is pressed, to the right when the right arrow key is pressed, and jump when the space bar is pressed.

Do This

• Create a new controlPlayer function in the "functions" area of your code.
• Inside the controlPlayer function, use the if, keyDown, and sprite.x blocks to make your player move to the left and right according to the arrow keys. Look at Lesson 15 Level 7 for examples.
• Inside the controlPlayer function, use the if, keyDown, and velocityY blocks to make your player jump when the up arrow is pressed. Look at Lesson 20 Level 5 for examples.
• Call the controlPlayer function inside the draw loop.
• Run the game and test your code.

Student Instructions

Player Interactions

The last part of making your game is programming the player interactions with the other sprites. First, your player needs to land on the platforms.

Do This

• Create a playerLands function and add it to the "functions" area of your code.
• Inside the function, use the collide block so that your player can land on both the platforms.
• Call the function inside the draw loop.
• Run the code to test your function.

Student Instructions

Collect Items

Last, you'll want your player to collect the items falling from the top of the screen.

Do This

• Create a collectItems function and add it to the "functions" area of your code.
• Use the if and isTouching blocks to change the x and y position of the items when the player touches them. You can look at the loopItem function for clues in how to reset the item position.
• Inside your if statement, add a counter pattern that will increase the score every time the player touches an item. Look at Lesson 24 Puzzle 10 for an example.
• Call the function inside the draw loop, in the "update sprites" area of your code.
• Run the code to test your function.

Student Instructions

Review Your Game

Look over your project guide, and play your game a few times to make sure you have completed everything.

• Does the player sprite move the way it should?
• Do all of your interactions work?
• Are the platforms moving correctly?
• Does the scoreboard work?

Student Instructions

Plane Jumper

Here's another example of a platform jumper, but it has a few more features. You can use it to get ideas to improve your own game. For example, there is a coin sprite that gives the player an extra life.

Choose one or more of the following changes and add them to your game. Choose new animations for your player, platform, and items. Make it impossible for your player to go off the left or right of the screen. Add a different type of item for the player to collect or avoid. Add a variable that keeps track of how many lives the player has, and end the game if the player runs out.

Student Instructions

Bunny Jumper

Here's another example of a jumper. In this one, the items get faster when they fall, and bounce off the platforms.

Choose one or more of the following changes and add them to your game. Make your player's animation change direction when the player changes direction. Add another background and make it appear when the score gets even higher. * Make your items interact with the platforms in some way.