Game Design Starter Kit (Piskel + Scratch)

By Arav — for Build Play Learn Labs

This kit gives you ready-to-use assets and exact Scratch scripts for a Griffpatch-style platformer with gem abilities and 4 worlds. It’s designed for classrooms, workshops, and self-paced learning.

📂 Folder Map

• sprites/character/ — 4 costumes: idle, walk1, walk2, jump
  
  

• sprites/gems/ — speed, jump, climb, swim, flight gem icons
  
  

• tiles/ — 16×16 tiles (grass, ground, ladder, water, platform, cloud)
  
  

• backgrounds/ — thumbnails for 4 worlds
  
  

• levels/ — CSV grids for sample layouts
  
  

🛠️ Scratch Project Setup

Variables (for all sprites):

vx, vy, onGround, hasSpeed, hasJump, hasClimb, hasSwim, hasFlight, gravity (-0.5), moveSpeed (2), jumpPower (8)

Character Sprite:

Import costumes → idle, walk1, walk2, jump

Stage:

Add backdrop (or use backgrounds).

Tiles:

Sprites for Solid, Ladder, Water, Cloud/Platform. Duplicate or spawn via CSV.

🎮 Movement & Physics

Scripts for:

• Initialization (gravity, movement, jump power)
  
  

• Controls (left/right, jump, climb, swim, flight)
  
  

• Gravity + collision (Solid tiles)
  
  

• Animation (idle, walk, jump)
  
  

(In Scratch: replace ?: with if...then blocks.)

💎 Gem Collection

Each Gem sprite detects player → broadcasts event → updates abilities:

• Speed → run faster
  
  

• Jump → jump higher
  
  

• Climb → ladder use
  
  

• Swim → water mechanics
  
  

• Flight → glide with [space]
  
  

🌍 World Sequence

• World 1 (Grassland): Solid tiles + Speed gem
  
  

• World 2 (Cave/Mountain): Ladder tiles + Climb gem
  
  

• World 3 (Ocean): Water tiles + Swim gem
  
  

• World 4 (Sky/Space): Clouds + Flight gem
  
  

(Students can design on graph paper → build in Scratch.)

✅ Classroom Checklist

• Create all variables
  
  

• Import character costumes
  
  

• Build Level 1 with Solid tiles + Speed/Jump gems
  
  

• Build Cave with ladders + Climb gem
  
  

• Build Ocean with water + Swim gem
  
  

• Build Sky with clouds + Flight gem
  
  

• Add win flag + story text
  
  

🚀 Extensions

Add challenge + creativity with:

• Timer & coins
  
  

• Checkpoints
  
  

• Enemies + hazards
  
  

• Lava, dialog boxes
  
  

• World map
  
  

✨ Closing

This kit helps students learn game physics, coding logic, and level design while building their creativity. Perfect for classrooms, after-school programs, and makerspaces.

🎮 TurboWarp: Make Your Name Game Even Better!

https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/27205657/ (try it out)- mission explore TW!

👋 Welcome

Today, we will learn how to use TurboWarp.
TurboWarp makes your Scratch games:

• 🏃 Faster
  
  

• 🖥 Fullscreen
  
  

• 🌐 Playable on the web
  
  

We’ll practice by remixing your 'Name Game' or an old project! Share first before you copy the link!

Game Design infowhwha

🛠 Step 1: Open TurboWarp

1. Go to turbowarp.org
   
   

2. Copy your Scratch project link (your Name Game).
   
   

3. Paste it into TurboWarp.
   
   

4. Press Enter → your game will load.
   
   

👉 Try pressing Fullscreen to play without distractions!

Side  Mission: Explore the new blocks and play a few games, 10 mins at the beginning and end as a brain break 

🎨 Step 2: Remix Your Name Game

Pick at least one change to make:

• 🎨 Change the colors of your letters
  
  

• 🔊 Add a fun sound effect
  
  

• 🏃 Make letters move faster or slower
  
  

• 🌆 Add a background
  
  

👣 Step 3: Explore More

Choose two extra changes on your own!
💡 Think about: What makes my game more fun or surprising?

🌟 Step 4: Share & Celebrate

• Show your remix to a partner
  
  

• We’ll share 2–3 games on the big screen
  
  

• Say one thing you liked about TurboWarp
  
  

🏆 Next Level

Next time we’ll learn how to turn your game into a website using TurboWarp’s Packager.

🔑 Tips

• Work step by step
  
  

• Icons help: 🎨 = colors, 🔊 = sound, 🏃 = speed
  
  

• Ask for help when you get stuck
  
  

• Celebrate every project!
  
  

Extra Activities: 

10-Minute Class Flow

1. Demo (1 min): show “Name Chase.”
   
   

2. Build (4–6 min): students create a text sprite with their name and add the core blocks.
   
   

3. Play (2 min): pair-play or “gallery walk.”
   
   

4. Share (1 min): 1–2 students show what they changed (speed, sounds, colors).
   
   

Tips for smooth running

• Templates: keep a blank starter with the Score and Timer variables already made.
  
  

• Turbowarp: run finished warm-ups in TurboWarp for smoother performance/fullscreen.
  
  

• Accessibility: let students choose font/contrast; for early readers, also display the target letter big on screen.
  
  

• Fast finishers: add power-ups (change size, speed boosts) or a 30-sec countdown.