Access the Hero Mode Arcade here and the Open Source Wiki here!
Draw an 8-bit version of your hero from your Struggle Story (that's you!) using Make8bitart.com. Once you have finished your 8-bit avatar, click on "import/save." Under "export art to png," click on "selection." Use the cursor to select the entire image of your avatar. Next, save your avatar to your computer and then upload it to our shared Hero Mode Project Folder on Google Drive.
Research 4 platform video games on Scratch using this document as your note catcher. Analyze what makes these games engaging, original and fun. Then identify and describe the story elements within the games: the hook, rising action, climax, falling action. Start with these four games, pick two more of your own choosing and share them with the class on our wiki.
Create two different initial design ideas for your video game. Choose your favorite idea. Then create final designs for each of the four levels of your game in full color on this document. Use arrows to indicate movement, and provide a written description for each level so that your ideas are fully understandable to the reader. Take a look at these student examples of past final designs for inspiration!)
(Final designs must be in full color. Straight lines are straight, circles are circles!)
Hook
Rising Action (Struggle)
Climax (Resilience)
Falling Action (Lesson Learned)
Watch this screencast to find out how to join Scratch and create your first two games using the tutorials they have on their website. When choosing a tutorial to follow, make sure to pick games that are similar to the one you want to create. These tutorials will be your first introduction to coding on Scratch!
Once you have created two games using the tutorials, you are ready to . . .
Here is my game: Surf City. Take a look at it for inspiration! Use whatever code you need. I made using code from Platformer Contest by chipm0nk.
As you program, here are a few additional resources:
Use Beepbox, an 8-bit music generator, to compose your old school background music.
Drop a photo into 64-bit Yourself and give your video game that 1990s Nintendo cool. =======================>
Now that you have finished programming your platform game, go back and revisit your Struggle Story. After gamifying it, what changes do you wish to make? What parts of the story need to be re-worked to make it more interesting or engaging for your reader? Use Level Eight as an opportunity to edit and revise!
Make a website (like this one or this one) for your game on Google Sites. Be sure to include:
A photo of the programmer--that's you!
Your Scratch video game
A description of your game
All four of your full-color game designs
The text to your Struggle Story
Your answers to our Essential Questions for the project:
What does it mean to be human?
Where do we come from, and what does that tell us about who we are?
What is the value of struggle?
Does struggle add to life?
Show your game off at the Hero Mode Arcade on May 26!