Game Arcade
Beginner
60 mins
Teacher/Student led
140 points
What you need:
Chromebook/Laptop/PC or iPad/Tablet

Introducing MakeCode Arcade

This lesson introduces students to MakeCode Arcade, a fun and easy-to-use tool for creating arcade games. Students will learn how to use the code editor, create a new project, design and control a sprite, and add effects. The lesson encourages exploration and creativity in game design.
Learning Goals Learning Outcomes Teacher Notes

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    1 - What is MakeCode Arcade?

    MakeCode Arcade is a fun and easy-to-use tool that lets us create our own arcade games. It's like a digital playground where we can build and play games right in our web browser.

    With MakeCode, we can use colourful blocks to build our games, just like Scratch.

    If you have a small handheld gaming computer like the BrainPad or GameGo, you can even put the games you make onto it and play them anywhere!


    2 - The Code Editor

    Imagine the MakeCode Arcade code editor as a magical toolbox. It's a lot like the Microbit and Scratch editors you might have used before. Here's what it has:

    1. A simulator, which is like a mini TV screen where you can watch your code come to life and play the games you create.
    2. A toolbox, which is like a chest full of different code blocks. These blocks are sorted into groups so you can easily find what you need.
    3. A code area, which is like your construction site. This is where you build your code.

    3 - Create a new Arcade project

    Let's create our first project!

    Go to the Arcade MakeCode website and create a new project. You can call your project anything you want!

    arcade.makecode.com


    4 - Create a sprite

    Let's create a sprite for our game. Add the following code:

    let mySprite = sprites.create(img`
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        `, SpriteKind.Player)
    
    

    5 - Design your character

    Now let's design our character!

    Click on the grey box in the code block, this will open up the Sprite Editor.

    Use the tools to paint your own character and when you're done click on the green Done button at the bottom right of the screen. You will then see your sprite in the simulator!



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