Hello everyone! Today, we’re going to learn how to create a fun Pong game using Scratch. In this game, you’ll control a paddle to keep an object from falling off the screen. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to design your own game and even add different levels. Let’s get started!
First, we need to pick the object that will bounce around in your game. Click the “Choose a Sprite” button and select something you like, such as a ball or a star. Next, choose a backdrop by clicking “Choose a Backdrop” to set the scene for your game.
To make your object move, go to the motion category and drag out the “move 10 steps” block. To keep it moving continuously, place this block inside a forever loop from the control category. To make sure the object doesn’t get stuck on the walls, add the “if on edge bounce” block.
To have the object bounce in different directions, use the “point in direction” block. You can set it to any angle, like 45 degrees, to make it bounce around the screen. Add a “when green flag clicked” block to start the movement when you’re ready to play.
Now, let’s add a paddle. Choose a sprite with a flat top, or use the paddle sprite provided in Scratch. To make the paddle follow your mouse, use the “set X” block from the motion category and connect it to the “mouse X” block from the sensing category. Place this inside a forever loop so the paddle moves with your mouse.
Next, we need to make the object bounce off the paddle. Use an “if” block to check if the object is touching the paddle. If it is, have the object turn 180 degrees and move a few steps away from the paddle. Remember to place this inside a forever loop to keep checking for collisions.
To end the game if the object falls off the screen, add a line sprite at the bottom. Use an “if” block to check if the object touches this line, and use the “stop all” block to end the game.
To make your game more exciting, you can add multiple levels. Create a variable called “score” to keep track of points. Increase the score each time the player hits the ball and reset it when the game starts. Use a block to wait until the score reaches a certain number (like five) before switching to a new backdrop for the next level.
And that’s how you can create a Pong game in Scratch! There are many cool features you can add, like sound effects or different challenges. Have fun experimenting and creating your own unique game. I’m excited to see what you come up with. Happy coding!
Choose a unique sprite to use as the ball in your Pong game. You can draw your own or select one from the Scratch library. Think about how the sprite’s shape and size might affect the gameplay. Once you’ve chosen, explain why you picked that particular sprite.
Use Scratch’s backdrop editor to create a custom background for your game. Consider themes or colors that match your sprite. Share your design with a classmate and discuss how it enhances the game’s atmosphere.
Try changing the speed and direction of the ball by adjusting the “move” and “point in direction” blocks. Test different angles and speeds to see how they affect the game’s difficulty. Record your observations and decide on the best settings for your game.
Create a variable to keep track of the score. Add code to increase the score each time the ball hits the paddle. Display the score on the screen and think about how you might reward players for reaching certain scores, like advancing to a new level.
Design a “Game Over” screen that appears when the ball touches the bottom line. Use Scratch’s text and drawing tools to create a message for the player. Consider adding a button to restart the game and test it to ensure it works correctly.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, with unnecessary details and informal language removed for clarity:
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Hello everyone, it’s Zoë from the Scratch team. Today, I will show you how to create a Pong game in Scratch. In this game, you will control a paddle to prevent an object from falling off the screen. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll be able to design your own game and add multiple levels.
Let’s get started by choosing the object that will bounce around in your game. Click the “Choose a Sprite” button and select any object you like, such as a ball or a star. Next, select a backdrop by clicking “Choose a Backdrop” and pick a setting for your game.
To make the object move, go to the motion category and drag out the “move 10 steps” block. To create continuous movement, place this block inside a forever loop from the control category. To prevent the object from getting stuck on the walls, add the “if on edge bounce” block.
To make the object bounce in different directions, use the “point in direction” block. You can set the direction to any angle, such as 45 degrees, to have it bounce around the screen. Add a “when green flag clicked” block to start the movement.
Now, let’s add a paddle. Choose a sprite that has a flat top, or use the paddle sprite provided. To make the paddle follow the mouse, use the “set X” block from the motion category and connect it to the “mouse X” block from the sensing category. Place this inside a forever loop to ensure the paddle moves with the mouse.
Next, we need to make the object bounce off the paddle. Use an “if” block to check if the object is touching the paddle. If it is, have the object turn 180 degrees and move a few steps away from the paddle. Remember to place this inside a forever loop to continuously check for collisions.
To end the game if the object falls off the screen, add a line sprite at the bottom. Use an “if” block to check if the object touches this line, and use the “stop all” block to end the game.
To add multiple levels, create a variable called “score” to keep track of points. Increase the score each time the player hits the ball and reset it when the game starts. Use a block to wait until the score reaches a certain number (e.g., five) before switching to a new backdrop for the next level.
That’s how you can create a Pong game in Scratch. There are many additional features you can add, and the code for this project is available in the description below. I’m excited to see the games you create. See you next time!
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This version maintains the instructional content while removing informal language and extraneous details.
Pong – A simple computer game where players use paddles to hit a ball back and forth. – We played a fun game of Pong on the computer during our coding class.
Game – An interactive activity on a computer where players follow rules to achieve a goal. – I created my own game using Scratch, and my friends loved playing it.
Scratch – A visual programming language that lets you create games and animations by snapping blocks together. – We used Scratch to make a cool animation of a cat chasing a mouse.
Sprite – A character or object in a computer game that can be controlled or animated. – I designed a sprite that looks like a superhero for my video game project.
Paddle – A flat object in a game used to hit the ball, often controlled by the player. – I moved the paddle quickly to stop the ball from going past me in the game.
Move – To change the position of a character or object in a game. – I used the arrow keys to move my character across the screen.
Object – An item or element in a computer program that can be manipulated or interacted with. – In our coding project, we added an object that changes color when clicked.
Score – The number of points a player earns in a game. – My score increased every time I collected a coin in the game.
Levels – Different stages or parts of a game that increase in difficulty. – I was excited to reach the final levels of the game because they were the most challenging.
Coding – The process of writing instructions for a computer to follow, often to create games or apps. – We spent the afternoon coding a new game that we could play on our tablets.
