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The Code It! Challenge

Design & Code a Video Game

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Design & Code a Game

Get Started

You have complete freedom make any sort of game you can imagine using MakeCode Arcade. You can design everything from an adventure game where you rescue lost animals to a classic jumping platformer where you avoid flying sharks. The options are limitless. Whatever game you make, you just need to need include gaming elements.

Learn how by using our…

  • Tutorials (below)
  • Weekly Workshops (See schedule below)
  • Virtual Drop-in Hour (Thursdays from 4:30-5:30)

Game Element Tutorials

We have a tutorial for each gaming element on our Code It! Challenge Playlist. Learn how to animate your character, design a custom level, and how to code a jumping mechanic.

Character Design

  • Develop a story for your game
  • Add a character from the gallery
  • Edit a gallery character
  • Design a character
  • Animate a character
  • Create a custom NPC
  • Create a custom Projectile

Level Design

  • Edit the background color and image
  • Add a sound effect
  • Compose background music
  • Add an obstacle
  • Add text splash screen
  • Change the color palette
  • Design a game level
  • Create a custom tile
  • Animate an obstacle
  • Design an start/intro screen
  • Add an extra level
  • Add a room

Game Engine

  • Add a life system
  • Add a scoring system
  • Add a game timer
  • Use win/lose conditions
  • Add button controls
  • Add projectiles
  • Add a projectile to a NPC
  • Add a Status Bar
  • Create a jumping mechanic
  • Create a double jump mechanic
  • Floating Gravity
  • Spawn NPCs
  • Add Random Events
  • NPC Automatic Movement

Workshops

Schedule

Workshops will take place on Wednesday’s from 4:30-5:30pm. Specialty workshops will also be offered on half-days and non-school attendance days. To sign up for workshops, please complete registration.

Date

February 5th (half-day)

February 12th

February 19th

February 26th

March 5th (half-day)

March 12th

March 19th

April 2nd

Topic

Game Plan & Characters

Design Start/Intro Screen

Animate an Obstacle

Create a Custom Tilemap

Add Button Controls

Jumping Mechanics

Engine Design

Last Chance

Drop-in Hours

Schedule

Join one of our virtual Drop-in Hours to ask any question about the challenge or using MakeCode. Our experts will be there to help you.

We will email all registered participants a link to the virtual Drop-in Hour at least 30 minutes before the start of each session.

All Participants

Thursday, February 13th, 4:30 – 5:30PM

Thursday, February 20th, 4:30-5:30

Thursday, February 27th, 4:30-5:30

Thursday, March 6th, 4:30-5:30

Thursday, March 13th, 4:30-5:30

Thursday, March 20th, 4:30-5:30

Thursday, March 27th, 4:30-5:30

Thursday, April 3rd, 4:30-5:30

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