Program 1: Scratch

While Codelab problems are due just before midnight,

programming assignments are due at NOON at the day indicated on the schedule page. 

Description

Scratch is a fun environment where you can take an idea for an interactive work of art or a game and you can implement it pretty easily. Consider the examples shown below. 

( If you have Java installed on your machine, then you should be able to run these examples from within your browser. Alternatively download the project using the link to the upper right of the project display window on the Scratch site.)

A marble racer game (as shown in class), where you can use the arrow keys to move a marble around a race track.

http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/dalereed/1255282

A square jumping game:

http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/Sunrise-Moon/1240221

Or you could draw something, depending on the input from the program, such as in "Son of String Art":

http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/Paddle2See/89023

And if you are taking no other classes this semester, you could even make a "Sonic the Hedgehog" type game:

http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/kcdscratch/1202796 

For this one to run well you really need to download it and shouldn't attempt to play it from within your browser. (I really don't expect anything at all close to this one!)

While this last example above is definitely overkill, what I do want you to do is to think of some interactive game, animation, or piece of art that you build using Scratch. It could involve music, a simulation, or tell a story. Take some time to familiarize yourself with some simple Scratch examples and tutorials first before jumping in to working on your project. In the end, you need to implement your creation in Scratch where you:

• 1. Use at least 3 sprites (Think of a sprite as an object on the screen that can be separately manipulated.)

  2. Require user interaction using either the mouse or arrow keys to accomplish some task

  3. Use loops, decision statements and variables as part of your program.

Be creative, have fun, and surprise us! Get some ideas by viewing projects turned in by previous semester students.  Note that projects run more slowly in a browser.  Download projects and run them locally in Scratch for the full experience.

You Need to Know:

How to run Scratch, how to install it (if working at home/dorm), how to create and manipulate sprites in Scratch, where to look for help, how to upload your creation on the Scratch web site.

Notes

• 1. I encourage you to start by playing with Scratch. Go ahead and mess around with it and explore things. Make sure you know how to start it on the lab machines. Visit the Scratch Site which allows you to run Scratch within your browser.

  2. Take a look at some of the Scratch tutorials. One starting point is the Scratch Support page, that includes a nice Getting Started Guide (pdf) and a Reference Guide (pdf). Another good one is David Malan's Scratch for Budding Computer Scientists.

1. If you haven't already seen a live demo of creating the Marble Racer program then see this YouTube video tutorial, with sections described below (by minutes).  Note that this looks a bit different because it was created using the previous version of Scratch (that did not run in the browser).  Note that your assignment is NOT to create the marble racer.  This is just one example of an interactive program.

   1.  0:00 -   3:35   Description of components of the Scratch window

   2.  3:36 -   6:35   Painting the background green, creating track, creating the ball and finish line sprites

   3.  6:36 - 16:00   Basic up and down ball movement using arrow keys

   4. 16:01- 20:20   Left & Right movement, Slow down when hitting grass, stop at finish line & display message, Timer