How To Make Scratch Coding Games in 2024| Easy Steps for Kids

Scratch is a visual programming language and online community created by the MIT Media Lab’s Lifelong Kindergarten Group. It is intended for beginners, particularly youngsters and young learners, to make coding and building interactive projects accessible. We will put a step-by-step guide on how to make scratch coding games.

Scratch allows users to build a wide range of projects, including games, animations, stories, and interactive art.

Scratch allows users to drag and drop code blocks instead of manually creating code, making it simple to comprehend and utilize. It is a block-based programming language in which users build programs by stacking different blocks together.

These scripts direct the behavior of characters or sprites, allowing them to interact and respond to user interaction.

Users can utilize the built-in editor to design characters, backdrops, and numerous game features when creating games in Scratch. They can then use scripts to specify how these elements behave in the game.

A user, for example, can construct a sprite of a player character and use blocks to have it move when specific keys are pushed, jump when the spacebar is pressed, collect goods, and interact with other game components.

Scratch provides a welcoming and engaging environment that stimulates users’ creativity and problem-solving abilities.

It is frequently used in schools and educational settings to expose students to programming ideas and assist them in understanding computational thinking.

Users can also share their ideas, cooperate, and be inspired by the work of others in the Scratch community.

Creating games using Scratch is both enjoyable and educational because it allows users to express their creativity while simultaneously learning the fundamentals of coding and game production.

This game tutorial is ideal for those who are new to Scratch. This tutorial will teach you how to create a game in Scratch in a few simple steps.

Why Scratch Coding for Games?

Scratch coding is a great way to learn the basics of coding and game development. It is a visual programming language, which means that users can create programs by dragging and dropping blocks of code.

This makes it easy to learn and use, even for beginners with no prior coding experience.

Here are some of the reasons why Scratch coding is a good choice for making games:

• It’s easy to learn and use. Scratch is designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of their age or experience level. The drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to create programs, even for beginners.
• It’s versatile. Scratch can be used to create a wide variety of games, from simple platformers to complex role-playing games. This makes it a great tool for exploring different game genres and mechanics.
• It’s fun and engaging. Making games with Scratch is a fun and rewarding experience. Users can be creative and express themselves through their games.
• It’s a great way to learn coding concepts. Scratch teaches users important coding concepts such as loops, conditionals, and variables. This knowledge can be used to learn more advanced programming languages and create more complex games.

Here are some additional benefits of using Scratch coding for games:

• It’s a collaborative environment. Scratch users can share their projects with others and remix them. This collaboration can help users learn from each other and create better games.
• It’s a community-driven platform. There is a large and active community of Scratch users who are always willing to help and support each other. This community can be a valuable resource for learning and troubleshooting.
• It’s free and open source. Scratch is a free and open-source software, which means that it can be used and modified by anyone. This makes it accessible to people all over the world.

Overall, Scratch coding is a great way to learn the basics of coding and game development. It is easy to learn and use, versatile, fun, and engaging. It is also a great way to learn coding concepts and collaborate with others.

Scratch Editor Components

Before developing a game, a user needs to be aware of and remember key aspects of the Scratch editor.

1. User interface

Scratch’s user interface is fully user-friendly and exceedingly simple for children to utilize. All of the coding blocks are accessible via a sliding menu on the left side. The coding area is available in the center, where the user may simply drag the blocks that he must have picked from the coding area. The stage area is present on the upper right side, where the user can run his code, and just below that is an area where the user can manage the sprites and backgrounds used in the game.

2. Code blocks

Scratch offers a lot of code blocks with distinct functionalities for different situations. Each block is a different hue, making it easier for users to distinguish between them. Motion blocks, Looks blocks, Sound blocks, Events blocks, Control blocks, Sensing blocks, Operators blocks, Variables blocks, and My Blocks are all present. “My Blocks” allows the user to design his or her own blocks.

3. Visual and block-based coding

Scratch uses the block-based coding idea. By combining and assembling several blocks, the user can design a full program or game, with each block responsible for particular program activities.

4. Sprites

In Scratch, sprites are similar to objects or in-game characters. Every new project in Scratch comes with some pre-loaded in-game characters, and if the user wants to add more characters as needed, he can do so from the sprite library, which contains a diverse range of characters and objects ranging from fiction characters to fantasy characters. It is also possible to create new sprites rather than using those in the library.

5. Games creation

Scratch enables children to create games in a fun and timely manner. Scratch allows children to construct both simple and complex games.

In addition to the previously listed components, every user must be aware of the following points in order to construct any game in Scratch. 

Point 1: Make a strategy for getting started. To create a game with Scratch, the user must first create a plan, and everything linked to the game must be completed according to the plan. The plan must cover the visual concept of the game, the main mechanism of the game, and how to bring all of the game’s components together.

Point 2: Concept for the game’s main character. Following the creation of a preliminary blueprint, the next critical step is to develop an idea for the game’s primary character. The user must first have an idea of how the main character of their game should look, and then build a sprite based on that notion.

Point 3: Idea about the backdrop of the game. After the creation of the main character of the game, the user must focus on creating or selecting the perfect backdrop for the game.

Point 4: Clarity regarding the game’s goal. The user should understand the game’s goal completely. Following the construction or selection of the game’s main character and backdrop, the user must begin coding in accordance with the game’s aim.

Point 5: Consider adding more features to the game. After deciding on the primary character, backdrop, and goal of the game, the user should have an idea of all the extra elements that can be included at the end.

If every user follows all five of the preceding procedures for building a game in Scratch, the final game will undoubtedly be the best and most engaging game.

Steps To Make Scratch Coding Games

Now, let’s look at how to make a simple Ball-Paddle game in Scratch.

• Step 1: To begin making a Ball-Paddle game, you must first add three sprites: a paddle, a ball, and a line. Make sure to remove the pre-installed cat sprite.

• Step 2: Go to the “Choose a Sprite” sprite icon in the bottom-right corner of the Scratch interface and select the first choice from the list.

• Step 3: The “Choose a Sprite” option, as illustrated below, opens the sprite library. Look for a paddle, a ball, and a line.

• Step 4: After searching for and selecting the three sprites, they will be placed to the coding area automatically, as shown below.

Code For Paddle

• Step 1: Now, begin the code by coding the paddle. While coding the paddle, make sure the box labeled “Paddle” is selected in the Sprite Pane. Drag the “when green flag clicked” block to the coding area from the “Events” block on the block palette.

• Step 2: Navigate to the “Control” block on the block palette, choose the “forever” block, and drag it to the coding area, where it will be placed under the “when green flag clicked” block.

• Step 3: Select two “if () then ()” blocks from the “Control” block in the block palette, drag to the coding area, and place them in the “forever” block. The two “if () then” blocks aid in program navigation by using the left and right arrow keys.

• Step 4: Go to the block palette’s “Sensing” block, select the “key () pressed?” block, drag to the coding area, and place it in the if condition of the first “if () then ()” block.

• Step 5: Select the “move () steps” block from the “Motion” block on the block palette, drag it to the coding area, and set it in the then condition of the first “if () then ()” block. The step count in the “move () steps” block is set to “10” by default, so leave it alone.

• Step 6: Select the “key () pressed?” block from the “Sensing” block on the block palette, drag it to the coding area, and set it in the if condition of the second “if () then ()” block.

• Step 7: Go to the block palette’s “Motion” block, select the “move () steps” block, drag to the coding area, and place it in the then condition of the second “if () then ()” block.

• Step 8: Enter “-10” as the step count in the “move () steps” block.

Code For Ball

• Step 1: While coding for the ball, make sure the box labeled “Ball” is selected in the Sprite Pane. Drag the “when green flag clicked” block to the coding area from the “Events” block on the block palette.

• Step 2: On the block palette, go to the “Motion” block, choose the “point in direction ()” block, drag to the coding area, and place it under the “when green flag clicked” block.

• Step 3: Enter “45” into the “point in direction ()” block.

• Step 4: Navigate to the “Control” block on the block palette, select the “forever” block, and drag it to the coding area, where it will be placed under the “point in direction ()” block.

• Step 5: Select the “move () steps” block from the “Motion” block on the block palette, drag to the coding area, and place it in the “forever” block, leaving the steps count at “10”.

• Step 6: Select the “if on edge, bounce” block from the “Motion” block on the block palette, drag to the coding area, and position it under the “move () steps” block inside the “forever” block.

• Step 7: Navigate to the “Control” block on the block palette, select the “if () then ()” block, drag to the coding area, and place it within the “forever” block under the “if on edge, bounce” block.

• Step 8: Go to the block palette’s “Sensing” block, select the “touching ()?” block, drag to the coding area, and place it in the if condition of the “if () then ()” block.

• Step 9: Select “Paddle” from the drop-down box in the “touching ()?” block. 

• Step 10: Go to the block palette’s “Motion” block, select the “point in direction ()” block, drag to the coding area, and place it in the then condition of the “if () then ()” block.

• Step 11: Navigate to the block palette’s “Operators” block, choose the “() – ()” block, drag it to the coding area, and place it in the value part of the “point in direction ()” block.

• Step 12: Enter “180” as the first number in the “() – ()” block.

• Step 13: Go to the block palette’s “Motion” block, select the “direction” block, drag it to the coding area, and place it in the second value part of the “() – ()” block.

• Step 14: Without a win/loss condition, a game is meaningless. So, with this game, we’ll make it so that if the paddle misses the ball and the ball hits the bottom of the stage, the game will end.

Go to the “Control” block on the block palette, choose another “if () then ()” block, drag to the coding area, and position it within the “forever” block under the first “if () then ()” block.

• Step 15: Go to the block palette’s “Sensing” block, select the “touching ()?” block, drag to the coding area, and place it in the if condition of the second “if () then ()” block.

• Step 16: Set the value of the “touching ()?” block to “Line” from the drop-down option. 

• Step 17: Go to the block palette’s “Control” block, select the “stop (all)” block, drag to the coding area, and place it in the then condition of the second “if () then ()” block.

• Step 18: After adding the loss condition, one issue will arise: when a player enters the game, they will all be in the losing situation by default. To solve this issue, we must establish the starting position of all in the ball’s code.

Drag the all to the top-center of the stage area, go to the “Motion” block on the block palette, choose the “go to x: () y: () ” block, drag to the coding area, and position it beneath the top “when green flag clicked” block and above the “point in direction ()” block.

Making Variables

Variables are the heart of any code, and we will utilize them in this game to keep and display the scores.

• Step 1: On the block palette, navigate to the “Variables” block and select the “Make a Variable” option.

• Step 2: When you select the “Make a Variable” option, the following screen appears.

• Step 3: Now, name the variable “Score” and press the “OK” button in the bottom-left corner. Make sure the “For all sprites” option is selected.

• Step 4: As illustrated below, the score variable will now be displayed on the stage area.

• Step 5: Create another variable called “Speed” by repeating the previous procedures.

• Step 6: Select the “set () to 0” block from the “Variables” block on the block palette, drag to the coding area, and place it under the “point in direction ()” block and above the “forever” block in the ball’s code.

• Step 7: In the “set ( ) to 0” block, set the value as “Score” from the drop-down menu.

• Step 8: From the “Variables” block on the block palette, select the “change ( ) by 1” block, drag to the coding area, and place it under the “point in direction ( )” block in the then condition of the first “if ( ) then ( )” block inside the “forever” block in the ball’s code.

• Step 9: In the “change ( ) by 1” block, set the value as “Score” from the drop-down menu.

• Step 10: From the “Variables” block on the block palette, choose the “set ( ) to 0” block, drag to the coding area, and place it under the “set (score) to 0” block and above the “forever” block in the ball’s code.

• Step 11: Set the value to “Speed” from the drop-down menu and adjust the number from 0 to 5 in the “set () to 0” block. 

• Step 12: Select the “change () by 1” block from the “Variables” block on the block palette, drag to the coding area, and place it under the “change (score) by 1” block in the then condition of the first “if () then ()” block inside the “forever” block in the ball’s code.

• Step 13: Set the value to “Speed” from the drop-down selection in the “change () by 1” block. 

• Step 14: After following all the aforementioned processes, your game is finally ready. Simply go around and enjoy the game.

As you gain experience with Scratch, you can experiment with more sophisticated ideas like custom blocks, broadcasting messages between sprites, and creative variable use.

Remember that game development is a creative process that may include experimentation, iteration, and learning from your failures.

When you’re stuck or looking for inspiration, the Scratch community and internet resources, such as tutorials and forums, can be extremely useful.

This will also be useful for scratch games for beginners.

Conclusion

You have seen how to make scratch coding games, what is left is to follow the step-by-step guide.

Creating a game with Scratch may appear scary and difficult, especially for a newcomer who is unfamiliar with all of the capabilities and functions of the Scratch editor’s parts.

However, by being constant in your learning process and with experience, you may design a plethora of entertaining games. C

Check out our collection of the most popular Scratch Games for Kids, as well as step-by-step tutorials on creating those games.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Reference

https://www.create-learn.us/blog/how-to-create-a-game-on-scratch/

https://www.codeyoung.com/blog/how-to-make-a-game-on-scratch

https://www.geekedu.org/blogs/how-to-make-a-game-on-scratch-beginners-guide

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