Creating a Platformer Game on Scratch

Do you have a passion for gaming and always wanted to create your own platformer game? Do you want to challenge yourself and learn how to code? If the answer is yes, then Scratch is the perfect platform for you! Making a platformer game on Scratch can be a fun and rewarding experience, even if you’ve never coded before.

Scratch is a block-based visual programming language that allows users to create games and animations easily. It’s an educational tool that can help you learn the basics of coding in a simple and fun way. Whether you want to create a simple or complex platformer game, Scratch provides all the tools and resources you need. So, let’s dive right in and explore how to make a platformer game using Scratch!

Getting Started with Scratch

If you’re a beginner in game design, you might have heard of Scratch, a block-based programming language with a simple drag-and-drop interface that makes coding easy and fun. With Scratch, you can unleash your creativity and create your own platformer game from scratch.

In this section, we will walk you through the steps to get started with Scratch and how you can create a simple platformer game. We’ll start with the basics and gradually move to more advanced topics.

Introduction to Scratch

Scratch is a visual programming language designed for kids, but it has since been adopted by adults as well. It’s available for free online, and you can create anything from simple animations to complex games with it. Scratch has a drag-and-drop interface and consists of blocks that you can snap together to create programs.

The Scratch Window

When you open Scratch, you’ll see the Scratch window. This window is where you’ll create your game. You’ll see the main workspace, which is where you’ll drag your blocks to create your code. You’ll also see the sprite and backdrop areas, which allows you to add characters and backgrounds to your game.

The Basics of Scratch

Before you start building your game, it’s important to understand how Scratch works. Scratch has three main elements: sprites, scripts, and backgrounds. Sprites are the characters or objects in your game. Scripts are the code blocks that control the behavior of the sprites. Backgrounds are the scenery behind the sprites.

Creating Sprites in Scratch

To create a sprite, click on the “Choose a Sprite” button. You’ll see a grid of pre-made sprites, or you can create your own by drawing or importing an image.

The Scratch Blocks

Scratch has several blocks that you can use to create your game. These blocks are organized into categories, such as motion, events, sensing, and more. Each block is color-coded and has a unique shape, making it easy to identify.

Programming Sprite Movements

To program sprite movements, you’ll need to use the motion blocks. These blocks allow you to move, turn, glide, and more. You can also control the speed and direction of your sprites.

Creating Levels in Scratch

To create levels in Scratch, you’ll need to use backdrops. Backdrops are the scenery behind your sprites. You can create multiple backdrops and use the “switch backdrop” block to change between them.

Adding Sound Effects

Scratch allows you to add sound effects to your game. You can use pre-made sounds or create your own using the sound recorder. You can also control the volume and play sound effects at specific times.

Publishing Your Game

Once you’ve completed your game, you’ll want to share it with others. Scratch allows you to publish your game online, where others can play it and give you feedback. To publish your game, click on the “Share” button and follow the instructions.

Creating the Player Character

The player character is the most important element of any platformer game. It is what the player will control throughout the game, and it needs to be responsive, engaging, and fun to play with. In Scratch, creating the player character is a relatively simple process. Here is how to do it:

Step 1: Create a Sprite

In the Scratch editor, click on the “New Sprite” button on the bottom left of the screen. This will bring up a dialog box where you can choose from a variety of pre-made characters or create your own from scratch. Choose a character that you like or create your own.

Step 2: Add a Costume

Once you have created your sprite, you need to add a costume. A costume is simply an image of your sprite that will be displayed on the screen. To add a costume, click on the “Costumes” tab in the sprite editor and then click on the “Choose a Sprite” button. This will bring up a dialog box where you can choose an image from your computer or create one from scratch.

Step 3: Add Movement Controls

To make your character move, you need to add movement controls. You can do this by using Scratch’s “When Key Pressed” block. This block will tell Scratch to execute certain actions when a certain key is pressed. For example, you can use the “When Key Pressed” block to make your character move left when the left arrow key is pressed.

Step 4: Add Animations

To make your character more engaging, you can add different animations for different movements. For example, you can add an animation of your character jumping when it jumps, or an animation of it running when it runs. To do this, simply add different costumes and use the “Switch Costume” block to switch between them.

Step 5: Add Physics

To make your character interact with the environment in a realistic way, you can add some basic physics. Scratch has some built-in physics blocks that you can use to give your character gravity, friction, and other physical properties.

Step 6: Add Abilities

To make your character more interesting and engaging, you can add abilities. For example, you can give your character the ability to double jump, or the ability to shoot projectiles. To do this, simply add new blocks to your code and use them to trigger the abilities.

Step 7: Add Sound Effects

To make your character more immersive, you can add sound effects. For example, you can add a sound effect when your character jumps or lands. To do this, simply use Scratch’s “Play Sound” block and choose a sound from the library.

Step 8: Test and Refine

Once you have created your player character, you need to test it and refine it. Playtest your game and see how your character responds to different scenarios. Make adjustments as needed until it feels responsive, engaging, and fun to play with.

Step 9: Save Your Work

Don’t forget to save your work! This will ensure that you can come back to it later and continue working on it.

Step 10: Share Your Work

Finally, share your work with others! Once you have finished creating your player character, you can publish your game on the Scratch website and share it with your friends and family. This is a great way to get feedback and improve your game even further.

Creating the Gameplay Mechanics

Once you have designed your player and environment, it’s time to put together the gameplay mechanics. Before getting started, decide which control scheme you will implement, and what the player objectives are. In this section, we’ll look at adding movement, collisions, scoring, and a win or lose condition to your game.

Adding Movement

Movement is one of the most important aspects of a platformer game, because it is the primary way the player interacts with the game. To add movement to your player, start by creating a script that applies a certain amount of motion to the player when the arrow keys are pressed. You can also add gravity, so that the player falls when they move off of a solid ground. Keep in mind that movement should be fluid and responsive, and the player should be able to jump on and off of platforms easily.

Implementing Collisions

Collisions are an essential component of any platformer game. They ensure the player interacts with the environment and can’t move through obstacles. To add collisions to your game, create scripts that detect when the player collides with platforms and other objects in the game. This will prevent the player from moving through them, and can also trigger other events (such as scoring or loss of life).

Scoring

Scoring is one way to keep players engaged in your game. It adds a sense of progression and accomplishment, and encourages them to keep playing. To add scoring to your game, start by creating a variable that increases every time the player collects an item (such as coins or power-ups), or reaches a certain point in the game. You can display the score on the screen at all times, so the player can keep track of how well they’re doing.

Win or Lose Condition

Finally, it’s important to add a win or lose condition to your game. This gives the player a sense of completion and closure, and motivates them to try again if they lose. To add a win or lose condition, create scripts that detect when the player reaches the end of the level, or loses all of their lives. You can then trigger a victory or defeat screen that lets the player know how they did.

Putting it all Together

Once you have implemented all of these gameplay mechanics, it’s time to test your game and refine it. Make sure movement is fluid and responsive, collisions work as intended, scoring adds a sense of progression, and the win or lose conditions provide closure to the game. Playtest your game multiple times, and make adjustments as needed. Don’t be afraid to solicit feedback from others and incorporate their suggestions into your game. With time, practice, and creativity, you can create a fun and engaging platformer game on scratch.

Now that you’ve learned how to create gameplay mechanics in Scratch, move onto the next section to add some art and style to your game.

That’s All Folks!

And that’s a wrap on how to make a platformer game on scratch! I hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as I enjoyed writing it and that it helped you create a fantastic game. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave them in the comments below. And be sure to visit our site again for more exciting and informative articles on game design and development. Thanks for reading, and happy creating!