Coding Games in Scratch: A Step-by-Step Visual Guide to Building Your Own Computer Games

by Jon Woodcock

Did you know that Bill Gates, cofounder of Microsoft, wrote his first computer program-a tic-tac-toe game-at age 13? Coding Games in Scratch shows how kids can start coding their own games, too, using Scratch, a popular free programming language.

With Coding Games in Scratch, kids can build single and multiplayer platform games, create puzzles and memory games, race through mazes, add animation, and more. Essential coding concepts are explained using eight build-along game projects that guide young coders step-by-step, using visual samples, easy-to-follow instructions, and fun pixel art.

Written for children ages 8-12 with little to no coding experience, Coding Games in Scratch teaches important strategies for solving problems, designing projects, and communicating ideas, all while creating games to play with their friends.

Supporting STEM education initiatives, computer coding teaches kids how to think creatively, work collaboratively, and reason systematically, and is quickly becoming a necessary and sought-after skill. DK's computer coding books are full of fun exercises with step-by-step guidance, making them the perfect introductory tools for building vital skills in computer programming.

Author Bio:

Dr. Jon Woodcock has a degree in Physics from the University of Oxford and a PhD in Computational Astrophysics from the University of London. He started coding at the age of eight and has programmed all kinds of computers from single-chip microcontrollers to world-class supercomputers. His many projects include giant space simulations, research in high-tech companies, and intelligent robots made from junk. Jon has a passion for science and technology education, giving talks on space and running computer programming clubs in schools. He has worked on numerous science and technology books as a contributor and consultant, including DK's How Cool Stuff Works and Help Your Kids with Computer Coding.

Reviews:

"An absolutely wonderful introduction to programming games." - Kirkus Reviews

"...clear instructions and plenty of images that make coding just about foolproof." - Booklist

Genres: Coding, Nonfiction, Childrens, Reference, Programming, Computer Science, Computers

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2015

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had my 10 year old son this to read because he wants to program and design his own games. While he wants to design more complicated designs, he was able to easily follow along with the book and design images all by himself without any assistance from me.
I feel there is a huge hole in the market for boys in the 8-14 age and I'm excited to find a book that my son was excited to read. This is going to be a great reference book for him. I would love for the author to continue writing for additional programs because it was so easy for my son to follow along.

[America Grelinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to a preview copy, I just finished this book last week . It took me awhile to finish the book because I was not just reading it, but following each page step by step. I had to create a game in order to fairly review this book. And it is time--I wanted to let you know it is ah-mazing. I am technologically challenged and I created a game in Scratch similar to Pong, but WAY better! The step by step instructions, with carefully placed illustrations were phenomenal. My ten year old son is a huge gamer and now I can give this to him and know he is learning on the computer and challenging his brain instead of rotting it. A perfect gift for the computer gamer in your life--young and old--who aspires to create his own games.

[Keefe Sencen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kool. Nonfhikshun now! Luv that me now noes howe tu kode!!!! I soo smert! Weady tu twy pydon now! Yey!!!

[Devon Flaherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since my son is already obsessed with computers, we thought we should begin his education in programming, etc. Last year he did some fiddling with Scratch, a program which introduces kids to programming by having them use coding blocks to make games. He liked it. This book, however, he ended up hating. (You win some, you lose some, with kids.) The only reason? Some of the lessons took forever. But, considering that it takes a long time to code a more complex game, I’m not sure this could be avoided. The book was bright and cheery, informative to a point, and did just what it said it was going to: walk your child through something like ten different game creations. To continue past this book, however, you may want the Scratch coding cards as a reference to make your own games. We’ll be graduating to a slightly older series, next year.

[Abdullah Köksal · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's an excellent book to start coding in scratch. It has lots of funny games in it. And when you are coding, you are learning too. But if you want to learn coding, you have to read the writing. I finished the book myself, and now I feel like I can do lot more than that. But the hardest part about coding is(if you want to code things on your own)to find an idea that nobody has come up with. For example there are millions of the same game in scratch, from this book.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written to be used in conjunction with web-based scratch
Over my head in unfamiliar waters
Step by step instructions to help young coders develop conceptual understanding
Not the target age group I’m currently working with

[Luis Moreno · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really nice way to introduce scratch, specifically games, step buy step. Illustrations are perfect and there different levels of complexity. Around 10 different games from which you can modify to create several more.

[Coleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun guide I picked up my Library's used book shop. Currently teaching myself Scratch since I will be helping with some future Scratch workshops. As a former HS teacher and programmer I always like to have an extra inspiration in my backpack.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had great examples, clearly explained ideas, and was easy to follow. Every time I offered a Scratch coding program in the library, I simply had us all follow this book and see how far we could get in an hour. Easy peasy!

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find my daughter picking this book up often and using it with Scratch. It's a great book to add to a young coder's library.

[Rena · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 11 yr old son loves programming. He really enjoyed this book.

[earlgray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coding + gravity. 😍 yes. “You can’t jump without gravity”

[❁Lilyserena❁ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love scratch

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like gaming? Have you thought about designing and coding your own game? I'd heard about the coding language of Scratch but I couldn't wrap my head around how it could be made into a library program. This book is my key to understanding specifically how Scratch can be used. And Scratch is free from MIT! Look for my Scratch programs this coming fall.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Coding Games in Scratch is a beautifully presented, friendly, and very easy to use book designed to introduce kids to coding through creating their own games. The language used is Scratch and is easily available; kids also learn about basics behind game creation such as atmosphere and characters.

The book breaks down as follows: 1: Computer Games (What makes a good game, Atmosphere, Types of games, How coding works); 2: Getting Started (Introducing scratch, Getting scratch, Scratch tour); 3: Star Hunter; 4: Cheese Chase; 5: Circle Wars; 6: Jumpy Monkey; 7: Doom on the Broom; 8: Dog's Dinner; 9: Glacier Race; 10: Tropical Tunes; 11: What Next? (Remixing and beyond, Better scratch, The next level, Jobs making games, Have fun!); Glossary & Index.

The games cover a wide variety of types - from platform jumping to racing, adventure to puzzles. There's even an Angry Birds type of game to build. Each game chapter includes an introduction, background, aim of the game, graphics of how it will look and play, game controls, coding step by steps (with colorful graphics), and plenty of encouragement. steps include sounds, atmospheric additions, movements, quirks, tweaking and personalization, etc. Coding basics such as "if then" and random number generation make the concepts usable beyond Scratch. Indeed, each game brings out an important coding concept.

I'm not a coder and chose this for my 12 year old. It's suitable for all ages, though - even as young as a precocious 7 or 8 year old who can read (or with a parent's help). Setting up scratch and how to use it is fully given in the beginning instructions so there is little to trip up anyone looking to use the book.

I was highly impressed with Coding Games in Scratch and recommend it. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son is four and can't read so I read the book aloud and we do the projects together. Very fun for everyone. So far we are only at chapter 6, but the games have worked perfectly. It is nice to be able to decide how difficult it is to win a game and change the sounds. The book is so cute and colorful if you are like us you'll want to make all the games. Fantastic book and program for kids.

[Great Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learn to code with Scratch, building games step-by-step including racing, maze, memory games and more. From basic to advanced skills in coding, this resource includes many visuals, with additional projects and tips for the uber learner. Reviewer 23

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good intro into how to code a game on Scratch. The book starts off by going over the different terms used in the program and then goes step-by-step on how to make your own games.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a godsend right now as I'm teaching a library program about coding with Scratch. Clear instructions to make fun, basic games.