Student Instructions

Student Instructions

Create your own game

Now that you have all the skills you need, it's time to make your own game!

With a partner, brainstorm some different ideas for your game. You can think about the games you've already seen, or look at some more sample games to give you ideas.

Once you have settled on a type of game with your partner, fill out the Project Guide with the backgrounds, variables, sprites, and functions that you will need to make the game. You'll spend the next few levels creating your game.

Student Instructions

Create your Variables

First, you'll need to create all of your variables and put them in the variables area of your code. Show me the block Show me the area in the code

Don't forget, each variable needs a label (name) and a starting value. You can change the value of the variable later in your code.

Student Instructions

Create your Backgrounds

Next, you'll create all of the background functions that you need for your game. Some games only have one background, and others have more than one that's chosen according to user score or another aspect of gameplay. You'll need to create a function for each separate background in your game. You'll write the code to choose the correct background in the next level.

• Show me the block to create a new function
• Show me the area in the code to put my function

After you create your functions, test them by calling them inside the draw loop, one background per test.

• Show me the block to call my function

Student Instructions

Display Boards

Now that your backgrounds are working, you can add your display boards. Most games have a score board, but you might also want to display information about player level or lives remaining. Look at Lesson 17 Level 7, Sublevel 2 for an example of how to make a scoreboard.

For each display board: Create a function to display the information Call the function in the draw loop

Be sure to test your boards by changing the starting value of your variables and making sure the board also changes when you run the code.

Student Instructions

Choose your Backgrounds

Now that you have the backgrounds that you need, you'll write the code to choose the correct background. You've seen this done in Lesson 24 Level 10.

After you've written the code, test it by changing the starting value of your variables and making sure the correct background shows up.

Student Instructions

Create your Animations

Next you will create your animations in the animation tab. Don't forget to make multiple animations if you want your sprite to change appearance according to how it's moving.

Student Instructions

Create your Sprites

Next you will create your sprites and give them starting properties in the "Create Sprites" area of your code. For each sprite your should:

• Create the sprite in the correct place on the screen
• Set its animation (or color and size)
• Set its velocity and rotation speed, if needed
• Set its collider and bounciness, if needed

After you create each sprite, test it before making the next one. If your sprite starts off screen, first place it on the screen to test it, them move it back off screen once you know that it looks right.

If your sprite's position will need to be reset later in your game, it's a good idea to make a function that sets the position of this sprite that you can use again later.

Student Instructions

Sprite Movement Functions

Now you'll make the functions that make the sprite move in different ways as the game is played. Some examples of functions that you've written are loopPlatforms in Lesson 26 Puzzle 9 and playerFall in Lesson 26 Puzzle 14.

For each movement: Create a function that will make the sprite move in that way Call the function inside the draw loop

Student Instructions

User Controls

Next, you'll want to make sure your user controls are working. Create a function that makes your sprites respond to user controls as defined in your project guide. You can use the function in in Lesson 26 Puzzle 13 as an example.

Student Instructions

Sprite Interactions

The last step is to create the functions that make your sprites interact in the right ways. You'll need a function for each type of sprite interaction. You can use the collectItems in Lesson 26 Puzzle 17 and displaceEnemies in Lesson 25 Puzzle 12 as examples.

For each interaction: Create a function in the functions area of your code Call the function inside the draw loop

After you make each function, run the code to test it before making another.

Student Instructions

Review Your Game

Look over the rubric and your project guide to make sure your game has everything it needs.

• Have you included comments in your code?
• Do you use functions to organize your code and make it easier to read?
• Do the functions and variables have meaningful names?
• Are you using conditionals and sprite interactions to make the game more interesting?

Student Instructions