Scratch

Heres a few project ideas for your son in different difficulties.

Easy
{Involves basic programming such as using pen tool}

Name bouncer-Has the letters of a name and bounces when clicked and make a line

Drawing tool- Make a drawing tool that allows you to draw in several colours

mouse avoider game- Make a maze for the mouse cursor and make it to the finish without the cursor touching any boundaries 

Medium
{focuses on sprite interaction more and uses some variables and preferable keeps score}

basket catching game-make random objects drop in random places with a random speeds and moves downward to a basket that is used to catch the objects also keeps score.

sprite adventure game- make a sprite that is controlled using a keyboard and make him go on an adventure and the game must have: enemies,ways to lose, and an objective

interactive drawing game- make a drawing game and have sprites that can move react with colours that are drawn by the user.

Hard
{involves more complicated programming with many sprites and many variables}

Platform game- similar to super mario this game must have: gravity which may or may not include acceleration, but must have gravity, platforms that a sprite can stand on, deathtraps,enemies,different rooms, and an objective

Shooter game-make a sprite that can shoot objects at enemies to score points. Whatever the bullet sprite is it must return to the player after being shot so that the player can shoot multiple times, this preferable has a script to increase difficulty. This can be integrated with a platform game

Role Playing Game- Probably the most complex of all in this game a player must defeat monsters using a battle system that involves at least: Attack Points, defense Points, Health Points, Magic Points, and preferably gold or money, experience and levels and any other things that can go into the formula of taking damage. This can or can not be turn based and game play involves the player adventuring and attacking monsters and the monsters take damage based on the battle formula that has attack points defense points ect.

If you are confused about any of the following projects feel free  to tell me and I'll try to help.

Last edited by archmage (2007-06-24 19:15:47)

I also suggest turning his passion for games into possibilities for explorations.

For example, you could show him how to download and open the code of one of his favourite scratch games. Then ask him if he thinks the game could be improved, and if he's so inclined, help him with that improvement (although I advise him that he first try a few small changes). He could also try and learn how a certain game was coded. By doing he would learn a lot on programming tricks for scratch, and possibly give him ideas for a future project (for the perfect game as your son envisages!).
Have fun!

P.S. - I don't have kids, so  take this advice as you wish 

Last edited by HoboPrimate (2007-06-25 03:21:30)

He'll need either Scratch or java.  Perhaps the easiest way to make a CD of a scratch game is to set up the files like a web page (for which instructions have been posted), but put the project.html (or project.php) file, Scratch.jar, and projects.sb files onto a CD-ROM instead of a web server.  Opening the project.html file with a browser would be like running one of the projects on the MIT web site.

Never underestimate the power of Googling.  I sort of found an answer to my question:
http://computerprogramming.suite101.com/article.cfm/computerprogramming101.

It would be nice to have something more kid-friendly, if anyone has a suggestion.

Karen

I've posted the programming concepts in a new thread-- and am very interested in all of your suggestions:
http://scratch.mit.edu/forums/viewtopic.php?pid=3493

Great Ideas. I made and documented a simple game for my son (and the school computer club) in the hope that they will take the game and substitute their own characters. The game is called Fish! and has full documentation to help a trainer help a novice to build from scratch.

http://scratch.mit.edu/forums/viewtopic.php?id=2709

Stamati Crook
http://www.redware.com/scratch

Spence wrote:

I see a few people who may be more experienced than me but how do you get a scratch project on a CD. I have a friend that doesn't have the Scratch program and I made a project for him. How do I make it so he can view the project without downloading Scratch?

You can download JSO's excellent program DiscScratchR. ^^

since he's nine years old. try doing something he enjoys like mabey pokemon, spongebob, disney game or video. scratch on!