Marathon

The Project

Project Description: Marathon Scratch Project Overview The Marathon Scratch Project is an engaging and interactive educational project designed to introduce students to programming and game development using Scratch, a visual programming language developed by MIT. This project aims to create a marathon-themed game where players can control a runner, avoid obstacles, and compete to achieve the best time. This project not only enhances students' coding skills but also fosters creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Objectives Introduce Basic Programming Concepts: Teach students fundamental programming concepts such as loops, conditionals, variables, and event handling. Develop Game Mechanics: Guide students in developing game mechanics including character movement, collision detection, and scoring. Enhance Creative Thinking: Encourage students to design and customize their marathon game with unique characters, backgrounds, and obstacles. Promote Problem-Solving Skills: Help students troubleshoot and debug their code to ensure smooth game functionality. Target Audience The project is intended for students aged 8-14 who have a basic understanding of Scratch. It is suitable for classroom settings, coding clubs, or individual learning. Project Components Game Concept: A marathon runner controlled by the player must navigate through a race track filled with various obstacles. The goal is to reach the finish line in the shortest time possible without hitting obstacles. Sprites and Backgrounds: Runner Sprite: The main character controlled by the player. Obstacle Sprites: Various objects like cones, barriers, and puddles that the runner must avoid. Backgrounds: Different race track scenes to enhance the visual appeal. Game Mechanics: Movement Controls: Use arrow keys or WASD keys to move the runner up, down, left, and right. Collision Detection: Code to detect when the runner hits an obstacle, which can slow down the runner or end the game. Scoring System: A timer to track how quickly the player completes the marathon. Sound Effects: Add sounds for running, jumping, and hitting obstacles to make the game more immersive. User Interface: Start Screen: Introduction screen with game instructions and a start button. Game Over Screen: Display the player's time and a restart button when the game ends. Score Display: Show the current time during gameplay. Step-by-Step Implementation Setup the Stage: Create a marathon track background and set up the initial stage. Create and Animate the Runner: Design the runner sprite, add costumes for running animation, and code the movement controls. Add Obstacles: Create various obstacle sprites, position them on the track, and implement collision detection. Implement Timer and Score System: Add a timer that starts when the game begins and stops when the runner reaches the finish line. Design UI Elements: Develop start and game over screens, and incorporate them into the game flow. Testing and Debugging: Test the game thoroughly to identify and fix bugs. Ensure the game runs smoothly and is enjoyable to play. Enhancements and Customizations: Encourage students to add their own features, such as power-ups, different levels, or multiplayer modes. Learning Outcomes By completing the Marathon Scratch Project, students will: Gain hands-on experience with Scratch programming. Understand basic game development concepts. Improve logical thinking and problem-solving skills. Learn to design and implement interactive projects. Develop a sense of achievement and confidence in their coding abilities.

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Team Comments

Engaging Theme The marathon theme is universally appealing and relatable, providing a fun and energetic context for students to learn coding. Running a marathon is a concept that many people understand, making it easier for students to grasp the game's objectives and mechanics.

1. Designing Smooth Character Movement Challenge: Ensuring that the marathon runner moves smoothly and responsively based on user inputs was initially difficult. Students often encountered issues with jittery or unresponsive controls. Solution: We tackled this by breaking down the movement logic in

1. Enhanced Graphics and Animations Improvements: With more time, we would focus on enhancing the visual appeal of the game. This includes creating more detailed and dynamic backgrounds, smoother character animations, and more diverse obstacle designs. Addition: Incorporate animated backgrounds that