Make a Mario game in Scratch
Creating a Mario-inspired game in Scratch can be a fun and engaging
project. Here’s a guide for your presentation to show how to code a simple
Mario game in Scratch. Use this structure to explain the process step-by-
step.
Slide 1: Title Slide
Title: "Building a Mario Game in Scratch"
Subtitle: "An Introduction to Game Design"
Add an image of Mario or Scratch’s cat sprite to keep it visually appealing.
Slide 2: What is Scratch?
Definition: Scratch is a block-based visual programming language
designed for beginners.
Why Scratch?
o Easy to use.
o Great for creating animations and games.
o Encourages creativity and problem-solving.
Slide 3: Game Overview
Objective: Mario navigates a level to collect coins and avoid
obstacles.
Features:
o Movement: Left, right, and jump.
o Enemies: Avoid them to survive.
o Coins: Collect them for points.
Slide 4: Sprites and Background
Characters: Mario
Enemies: Goombas.
Coins: Circular sprites.
Background: A Mario-style level background.
Slide 5: Coding Movement
Add controls for Mario:
o Use the when [key] pressed block.
o Add change x by [value] for left and right movement.
o Use change y by [value] with gravity for jumping.
Example Code Block:
when [right arrow] key pressed
change x by 10
when [left arrow] key pressed
change x by -10
Slide 6: Adding Gravity
Why gravity? So Mario falls back down after jumping.
Code Snippet: Use a loop to decrease y when Mario isn’t touching the
ground.
Example Code Block:
forever
if <not <touching [ground] ?>> then
change y by -2
end
Slide 7: Adding Obstacles
Enemy Behavior: Program enemies to move back and forth.
o Use the glide block or change position gradually.
Collision Detection: If Mario touches an enemy, he loses a life.
Example Code Block:
if <touching [enemy]> then
change [lives] by -1
end
Slide 8: Adding Coins and Points
Collecting Coins:
o Use if touching [coin] to hide the coin and increase score.
o Add a variable score to track points.
Example Code Block:
if <touching [coin]> then
change [score] by 10
hide
end
Slide 9: Adding Levels
How to Transition Levels:
o When Mario reaches the edge of the screen, switch to a new
background.
o Reset Mario’s position.
Example Code Block:
if <x position > 240> then
switch backdrop to [Level 2]
set x to -240
end
Slide 10: Testing and Debugging
Tips for Testing:
o Test each feature as you add it.
o Look for glitches, such as Mario falling through platforms.
Debugging Strategies:
o Check your code blocks.
o Add say blocks to check variable values.
Slide 11: Final Touches
Add sound effects (jump, coin collection, etc.).
Create a start screen and game-over screen.
Polish visuals to make the game more engaging.
Slide 12: Demo
Showcase the game in action!
Highlight how the features work together.
Slide 13: Conclusion
Key Takeaways:
o Learned Scratch basics.
o Built a functional Mario-style game.
Next Steps: More features like power-ups or timers can be added.
