Over the past year, I’ve embarked on a journey to create the coziest game possible using Scratch. My ultimate goal is to craft the most wholesome game ever. While I still have a long way to go, I decided to challenge myself further by adding an educational twist to the game. This idea seemed daunting, but I was eager to see if I could pull it off.
With the upcoming release of my first commercial game, DoDrop Dynasty, I had only a few days to develop this new project. Initially, I was unsure of what direction to take. I toyed with the idea of a river otter fishing game, but after a day of work, I realized it wasn’t the right fit. I wanted to create something fresh and unique, and then it hit me: a trivia or quiz game! Inspired by games like Pokémon Stadium, Paper Mario, and Big Brain Academy, I decided to create a game that challenges players with questions across various topics.
I began by programming the basic mechanics of a quiz game. The first question I coded was a simple one: “What color is an apple?” Although basic, it helped me set up the system where players could select answers and move on to the next question. I also added functionality to indicate whether an answer was correct or incorrect. With this foundation, I felt more confident in the game’s potential.
Next, I focused on enhancing the visual elements. I designed buttons to make them more appealing and started working on the game’s art. A trivia game needs a host, so I initially created a rabbit character. However, its intense eyes didn’t fit the cozy theme, so I switched to a mouse character, which turned out to be a perfect fit.
With the core mechanics in place, I added more questions to test the game thoroughly. I randomized the questions and answers to keep the game fresh with each playthrough. Sound effects were crucial, so I incorporated them for actions like clicking and answering. I also collaborated with my friend Bonso to create music for the game, adding a delightful auditory layer.
To enhance the user experience, I included large circle and X marks to clearly indicate right or wrong answers. I also developed cover art for the game, naming it “Professor Mouse’s Trivia Fever.” A ranking system was added at the end to show players their performance, along with animations like the mouse clapping for correct answers and smooth transitions at the game’s start.
This project resulted in one of the most polished games I’ve ever created in Scratch. I’m proud of the outcome and learned a lot from researching trivia questions. The questions turned out to be quite challenging, making the game both fun and educational.
For those interested in game development, I often get asked about the best engine for beginners. I recommend GameMaker, which holds a special place in my heart as it was the first engine I used. GameMaker offers a drag-and-drop programming language called GML Visual, perfect for beginners and those who prefer visual scripting. It also supports coding with its built-in language, GML.
GameMaker has been around for a long time, providing a wealth of tutorials and resources online. Many developers I’ve met started with GameMaker, and some of my favorite games were created using it. The community is supportive and inspiring, and I’m grateful for the role GameMaker has played in my development journey.
If you’re interested in exploring GameMaker, visit gamemaker.io to start creating your own games. For updates and more content, check out my website, where you can also find some fun photos of me with my play button!
Design a set of trivia questions that could be used in a cozy educational game. Focus on a specific topic or mix various subjects to challenge your peers. Share your questions with classmates and discuss the reasoning behind your choices.
Using Scratch, create a simple prototype of a trivia game. Implement basic game mechanics such as question selection, answer validation, and score tracking. Present your prototype to the class and gather feedback for improvements.
Explore the visual elements of game design by creating character and interface designs for your trivia game. Use tools like Adobe Illustrator or free alternatives like Inkscape. Share your designs and discuss how they contribute to the game’s cozy atmosphere.
Experiment with creating sound effects and background music for your game. Use software like Audacity or GarageBand to produce audio that enhances the gaming experience. Present your audio creations and explain how they fit into your game’s theme.
Explore GameMaker by following a beginner tutorial to create a simple game. Compare the experience with using Scratch and discuss the advantages and challenges of each platform. Share your thoughts on which platform you prefer and why.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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For the past year, I’ve been trying to make the coziest game possible using Scratch, with the hope that I can someday claim the title of creating the most wholesome game of all time. Though I still have a long way to go for that, I thought that today I could put myself to the test, but this time with a little spin on it. By a little spin, I mean the hardest challenge of all time: can I make a cozy game that’s educational? I don’t know why I thought this was going to be a good idea.
With the release of my first commercial game, DoDrop Dynasty, happening in a few months (by the way, you should totally wishlist it on Steam; it helps me out so much—thank you, I appreciate it!), I only have a few days to make this happen, so let’s get to work.
I’d be completely lying if I said I had any idea what I wanted to do for this challenge. At first, I was fixated on the idea of making a river otter fishing game, but after wasting an entire day on that, I realized I didn’t like the idea. I also made something else, but I’m not really sure what was supposed to be happening there. I really just wanted to create something new, something I had never made before. Then it hit me: I should do what people love the most, and that’s pop quizzes! Wait, that doesn’t sound right.
So that’s what we’re going to do: we’re going to make a game show or a trivia or quiz game—whatever you want to call it. I blame games like Pokémon Stadium, Paper Mario, and Big Brain Academy for making me love this genre so much. I mean, who doesn’t like answering difficult questions over a broad range of topics and time periods, right?
I started off this quest by having a cat ask what color an apple is. Okay, maybe that’s not a great question, but the point is I started programming the basic quizzing mechanics. After that, I made it so when you clicked on an answer, it would go to the next question, which was a blue square instead of text. I also temporarily made it so that the buttons would indicate if you got your answer right or wrong. Now you can answer difficult questions like, “What is the meaning of life?”
With this barely functioning quiz system, I started to get a little confident. I thought I should start polishing these buttons to make them look a little fancier. They do look good, though! With that, we have the core fundamentals of the game. It’s time to work in some art. You can’t have a trivia game or a game show without some kind of host. I started off by making a rabbit character but immediately regretted it after seeing its intense eyes. So, I decided to make a mouse character instead. It took a little while for him to reach his final design, but here he is in all his glory—a mouse with a little pointy stick.
After that, I mocked up a little scene with a question, the answers, and a checkered background, because of course. I spent an embarrassingly long time trying to get this background to move, and you know what? It was worth it! At this point, I was starting to get a little worried because the Scratch cat was acting a bit insecure, asking questions that contradicted what I was trying to ask the player. So, I felt it was time to ask the mouse character instead. I also animated the mouse’s hand to make it look like it’s instructing you, even though it’s a quiz—just go with it!
After that, I replaced the buttons and added circle and X marks at the bottom to indicate when you got something right or wrong, so you can keep track of your score. Now, you might say, “Hey, this looks like a pretty complete game,” and that, my friend, is the wrong answer because we’re going into my favorite segment: polishing!
I started off by adding a couple more questions so I could properly test this. After that, I randomized the questions and the answers at the bottom so it felt fresh every time you played. The game was also lacking sound effects, so I took the time to add sound effects for clicking, answering, and getting things wrong. Sound is everything for games! I also reached out to my buddy Bonso to make some music for the game, and that really was just the icing on the cake. If you want to hear the full song, make sure to check out his YouTube channel—there will be a link in the description.
After this, I made big circle and X marks for when you get something right or wrong because I felt it needed a little more indication when you did something good. Then, I worked on the cover art, which I’m calling this game “Professor Mouse’s Trivia Fever.” The last thing I added was a ranking system at the end so you can see how well you performed. I also added a ton of questions and some more details, like the mouse clapping when you’re successful and a little transition when the game starts.
Overall, this is probably the most polished game I’ve made in Scratch or even ever for a YouTube video. I’m weirdly proud of this game, and I learned a ton from all the trivia questions I ended up looking up. By the way, these questions are surprisingly hard—I have no idea why I made them so challenging! Honestly, my only regret is that I didn’t add more questions because this game is just super fun to play, and I really enjoy it.
Speaking of hard questions, people ask me all the time what engine is great for beginners, and luckily, I have the answer: GameMaker. It’s no secret that GameMaker holds a special place in my heart because it was the first engine I ever used. It has this really cool drag-and-drop programming language called GML Visual, which taught me how to program as a kid. If you’re a beginner or you like visual scripting, it’s a great way to make commercial games without needing to be a genius. If you prefer coding, you can also use GameMaker’s built-in language, GML.
Another thing is that GameMaker has been around for a long time, so there are tons of easy-to-follow tutorials and resources available online. I can’t tell you how many developers I’ve met throughout the years from the GameMaker community, not to mention how many of my favorite games were actually made with it—like obscure titles and modern classics. It’s a really great community, and it always makes me smile when I think about the good memories I’ve had with it. Honestly, I wouldn’t be here today in my game development journey if it wasn’t for GameMaker, and for that, I’ll always be grateful.
If you want to check it out for yourself, go to gamemaker.io and start making games today. And as always, for the latest and greatest news, make sure to check out my website. If you want to see some awkward photos of me holding my play button, you can find those there too!
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This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while removing any informal language or unnecessary filler phrases.
Scratch – A visual programming language and online community targeted primarily at children and beginners to create interactive stories, games, and animations. – Many university students use Scratch to learn the basics of programming logic before moving on to more complex languages.
Game – A structured form of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool, often involving coding and software development. – In the computer science course, students were tasked with developing a simple game using Python to understand the fundamentals of game design.
Programming – The process of designing and building an executable computer software to accomplish a specific computing task. – Programming assignments in university often require students to write code in languages like Java or C++ to solve complex problems.
Mechanics – The rules and systems that govern the functioning of a game or software application, often implemented through code. – Understanding the mechanics of a game engine is crucial for developers to create engaging and functional games.
Trivia – A type of game or application that involves answering questions on various topics, often used to test knowledge or provide entertainment. – The students developed a trivia app as their final project, which included questions on computer science history.
Questions – In the context of coding and development, these are queries or problems posed to test knowledge, understanding, or problem-solving skills. – During the coding interview, the candidate was asked several technical questions to assess their programming abilities.
Development – The process of creating, designing, and programming software applications or systems. – Software development is a key focus in computer science programs, where students learn to build applications from scratch.
Engine – A software framework used for the creation and development of games, applications, or other software, providing essential functionalities. – Unity is a popular game engine used by university students to develop 3D games and simulations.
Coding – The act of writing instructions for a computer to perform specific tasks, using a programming language. – Coding is an essential skill for computer science students, enabling them to create software and solve computational problems.
Resources – Tools, libraries, documentation, and other materials available to assist in the process of coding and software development. – Online resources such as GitHub and Stack Overflow are invaluable for students learning to code and develop software.
