Scratch Coding Competition - CLOSED
What is Scratch?
Scratch is a free and easy way to learn computer programming. Developed by MIT, Scratch is used by people of all ages and abilities. It is now widely taught in schools and is a great introduction for young people to the world of coding.
You can code and make your own fun things like this game:
How do I use Scratch?
Not sure how to use Scratch or where to begin? Not a problem, its easy and free! Check out the resources below for our recommended online workshops, videos, plus example activities and practise spaces.
The Competition - Now Closed
Using the Scratch coding platform, create an original game, based on Bunjil Place or with a Bunjil Place theme.
Entries will be scored out of 100 points, as follows:
- Coding skill: The proficiency and complexity of the programming – 50 points
- Creativity: The design and look of the game, and the extras added – 20 points
- Playability: How well and efficiently the game plays – 20 points
- Wow factor: Judges’ discretion – 10 points
The only limit to what you can code and submit is your creativity! Entrants can compete in one of three age groups: 5-8 years, 9-12 years, 13-17 years.
Entries will be judged independently by Chad Toprak, the director of Freeplay, the world’s largest independent games festival.
View the winning games!
Get Started
Visit Scratch and watch their Getting Started video
Want more coding?
Loving Scratch and want to do more? Join our Library Code Club!
Chad Toprak
Chad Toprak is an experimental game designer, independent curator, and director of Freeplay, the world's longest-running independent games festival. Chad has strong connections to Melbourne's independent games scenes through his curatorial work with Hovergarden, Melbourne’s videogame curatorial duo, and the Contours exhibition, which highlights emerging contemporary Australian independent games. He was named in Develop Pacific’s inaugural 30 Under Thirty list for 2018 and is a recipient of the 2014 IGDA Scholars program and the 2020 Game Devs of Color scholarship. In the past, Chad has worked on award winning games such as Turnover, the four-player multi-gravity steal-the-ball-n-run frenzy; Cart-Load-O-Fun, a two-player collaborative physical game designed for trains and trams; Dualcyon, the experimental Leap Motion & VR puzzle game for two; and This Is Not A VR Game, an audio-only VR performance. Chad is a first generation Turkish-Australian Muslim immigrant.
Freeplay is the world’s longest-running independent games festival, located in Melbourne, Australia. Established in 2004, the festival embraces the fringes, spotlights grassroots artists and game makers, celebrates the artistry of independent games, and acts as a response to and critique of the status quo. For over 16 years, Freeplay has been exploring the vital margins of independent, alternative, and experimental games culture. The festival continues to champion artistic exploration and experimentation in games and play, and positions game making as arts practice.
Resources
Check out these extra guides and resources that can help you to create your Scratch game.
Getting to Know the Basics
Once you have created an account with Scratch, why not practise using some of the blocks? There are plenty of free online courses, workbooks and videos you can watch online. Here are some of our recommendations:
Video Tutorials:
Free Online Scratch Courses:
- Code Club Australia Scratch Modules
- Delft University of Technology, Scratch for Kids (8+) course
- Harvey Mudd College, Programming in Scratch course
- CreateCodeLoad Lesson: Build a Scavenger Hunt – Tutorials and Starter Files (open and click ‘remix’ button at the top right)
Free Online Workshops and Workbooks:
- Creative Computing Learner Workbook
- Super Scratch Programming Adventure
- Moonhack 2019 Scratch Project
- Scratch Basics Booklets:
- Official Scratch Educator Guides
Game Ideas
Ok! You now feel comfortable in Scratch but you need a game idea. Why not try some of these?
- Simple Maze Game
- Pong Game Instructions
- Catch Game Instructions
- Ghostbusters
- Food Catcher Game
- Basketball
Keywords (Glossary) and Action Types:
Script: A collection of code blocks that controls (programming logic) and influences the sprite.
Stage: The background area in the Scratch environment (IDE). The section showing the animation.
Sprite: A 2d image on a transparent background that can be controlled and or moved around the stage.
Code blocks: A graphical (picture) command used in the creation of a script.
Look blocks: These are code blocks that effect the sprite and or background appearance and displays text.
Loop: This is a collection of one or more code blocks that are repeatedly executed.
Sound blocks: They control the playback and volume of musical notes and Audio files.
Hat blocks: These are code blocks that create the event-driven scripts.
IDE: Integrated development environment. This means that you can code and execute within the same environment.
Costumes: Images that are used to represent a sprite on the stage. This can make the dragon breathe fire or changing the background within a game to show if you have won or lost. There are many uses for this code block.
Sensing blocks: These are code blocks that can be used to determine the distance from the sprite, whether they are touching another sprite and location of the mouse-pointer.
Feeling Confident?
Now you have the hang of it, why don't you enter our competition!
