🏆 Phase 4 · Advanced Projects
🟣 Advanced
MODULE 15
Design Your Own Game
Your progress in Phase 475%
🎯 What you'll do: Use a game design framework to plan your own original game, sketch the idea, list the Scratch skills you'll need, and build a working prototype. This is what real game designers do!
Section 1
Pick Your Game Genre
Every great game starts with a genre — the type of game it is. You've built examples of most of these already! Pick one that excites you most.
🏃
Runner / Dodger
Move left/right/up/down to avoid obstacles. Score increases over time.
Easy to build
🦘
Platformer
Jump between platforms, collect items, reach the goal. Uses gravity.
Medium
🎯
Clicker / Popper
Click targets before they disappear. Uses clones and click events.
Easy to build
🚀
Shooter
Fire at enemies using bullets (clones). Avoid enemy attacks.
Advanced
🧩
Puzzle / Quiz
Ask questions, solve puzzles, move pieces to correct positions.
Medium
🎨
Story / Animation
Characters, dialogue, branching story. Player makes choices.
Creative
Section 2
Your Game Design Document (GDD)
Real game studios write a Game Design Document before coding anything. It answers 6 key questions. Fill these in for YOUR game idea!
🎮 GAME DESIGN FRAMEWORK — Fill This In!
QUESTION 1
What is your game called?
Example: "Dragon Egg Rescue", "Space Taco", "The Last Ninja"
QUESTION 2
What does the player DO?
Example: "Dodge falling rocks and collect gems to fill the gem jar"
QUESTION 3
How does the player WIN?
Example: "Collect 20 gems before time runs out" or "Reach the exit door"
QUESTION 4
How does the player LOSE?
Example: "Run out of lives (3 lives). Get hit 3 times by enemies"
QUESTION 5
What sprites are needed?
Example: Hero character, Enemy (3 types), Gem, Exit door, Heart (lives)
QUESTION 6
Which Scratch skills will you use?
Example: Clones (gems), Variables (score, lives), Colour detection (walls), Loops
Section 3
The 5-Step Build Plan
GAME DEVELOPMENT WORKFLOW — Every game is built this way
STEP 1
🎨 Art First
Draw all sprites and backdrops. Don't code yet!
STEP 2
🕹️ Player Control
Make player move. Nothing else. Test it works.
STEP 3
⚡ Core Mechanic
Add the main loop (shooting, collecting, dodging).
STEP 4
📊 Score + Lives
Add variables. Win/lose conditions.
STEP 5
✨ Polish
Sound, effects, menus, start screen.
💡
Start smaller than you think
Every game designer makes this mistake: they plan too big and run out of time. Start with the SMALLEST version that's still fun. Get the core mechanic working first — 1 enemy, 1 weapon, 1 level. You can always add more once it works!
🌟
The "One Sentence" test
If you can describe your game in one sentence, it's well-designed. "Catch falling fruit before it hits the ground to feed the hungry rabbit." That's a complete game! Simple idea, clear goal, clear mechanic.
🧩 Knowledge Check — Lesson 15
5 questions on game design!
1. What is a Game Design Document (GDD)?
2. In the 5-Step Build Plan, what should you do FIRST?
3. Why should you start with a SMALLER version of your game idea?
4. What are the two most important questions in a game design?
5. What is the "One Sentence Test" for a game idea?
Design Challenge — Lesson 15
Your original game · Creative Design
Challenge: Build Your Game!
Using the GDD framework from Section 2, design AND build your original game. It doesn't need to be huge — just complete and playable!
Your game MUST have:
1. A clear win condition (how do you win?)
2. A clear lose condition (lives, timer, or health)
3. At least one variable (score, timer, or health)
4. At least 2 different sprites
5. A start screen (backdrop before game begins)
Bonus: Add a high score using a variable that persists between rounds!
Using the GDD framework from Section 2, design AND build your original game. It doesn't need to be huge — just complete and playable!
Your game MUST have:
1. A clear win condition (how do you win?)
2. A clear lose condition (lives, timer, or health)
3. At least one variable (score, timer, or health)
4. At least 2 different sprites
5. A start screen (backdrop before game begins)
Bonus: Add a high score using a variable that persists between rounds!
Module 15 of 16Phase 4 — Advanced Projects