I’m not sure, but I think it might be more fun to make video games than to play them. Scratch, a programming language designed for kids (but fun for everyone) is helping me figure it out. Created by the Lifelong Kindergarten group (part of MIT Media Lab) in collaboration with/supported by a bunch of other folks, Scratch is a downloadable program that makes it easy to design and share interactive games, stories, artwork, and whatever else kids can figure out.
Choose a character and a background, then start putting together scripts that will control what your character does, says, and looks like. Script components fit together like Legos and can be dragged and dropped in or out of your script as you figure out how to make your little “sprites” do what you want them to do. The program is really intuitive, but there is also lots of (helpful!) help available.
I hoped to have a little game all put together to show everyone, but I quickly realized I could spend hours and hours putting it together–not because it is difficult to use, but because there are so many options for what characters look like, say, and do. Download Scratch for yourself (or for your resident wunderkind) and check it out–I’m sure you’ll start seeing possibilities for teaching, learning, and fun.
Email This Post to a Friend
It is confirmed, my 11-year old niece is obsessed with Scratch and has already clocked many many hours playing with it. Thanks, Kate!
This looks amazing. I never heard of it before, so thanks for mentioning it!
my friend told me about it
I signed up for a Scratch account last month and I just got this invitation via email. I thought some others might be interested in this:
Dear friends of Scratch,
Because of your interest in Scratch, we thought you would like to
know about the Scratch@MIT conference that we are hosting next summer.
The conference will provide an opportunity for educators,
researchers, developers, and other members of the worldwide Scratch
community to gather together to share experiences and discuss future
possibilities for Scratch.
The conference will take place on the MIT campus on July 24-26, 2008.
Everyone is invited to submit proposals for presentations, panel
discussions, and workshops (deadline: February 15, 2008).
For more information, see http://scratch.mit.edu/conference
Best wishes for a Happy New Year — and we hope to see you at MIT
next July!
– MIT Scratch Team –
its my frst time to make a game
this website rocks!
very useful information
O my gosh! this is so cool i am making my own game
i think this website is cool and i hope to make my own video game.
I would like a derby county game with all the players on it
huh ill guese ill have fun doing this
allright i am up for the challenge ill try it
allright ill get ready
i want to paly games thet kids made
Scratch isn’t actually that good if you plan on making a really good game, instead, use game maker. Game Maker 7.0 @ yoyogames.com can make almost any game imaginable, if you looking for something more advanced, thats the way to go.
it is cool, it is for 9 or older.
I absolutely ADORE Scratch v1.2.1. I’ve created an arsenal of uniquely fast paced, marvelous games. My Identification name on the scratch website is Kingdaro. Browse for my identification when you get the opportunity. You can also benefit from my sophisticated vocabulary. And I’m only 12 years old!
Seriously you should.
CAN YOU HELP ME MAKE A GAME
i still dont know how to make a game PLEASE TELL ME!!!
this website stinks
hi i would like to make a game
Lol… that’d be cool. If you have ANY questions at all email me at daro2boy@yahoo.com whenever you get the chance. I’ve only been scratching for less than a month, but I know a lot. Maybe you should start out with a simple game where an object moves around the screen.
EMAIL ME!!
this is awsome
um Kindarow u seem like ur going crazy for this website..whats with that?? it must be cuz ur twelve but watever…who created this site??!! its AMAZING
i want to make my own online game but how please leave a message on this thingy and tel a short way
There should be a video tutorial on how to use it. But I’ll just give a short explanation:
When you open up scratch, there should be a cat in a white box, and a bunch of scripting blocks to the left. What you gotta do is make thing’s move/animate! Just add a control block to the top, look in other categories and add more blocks, and see what you can do. Add your own sprites! It’ll make it interesting! Or if you don’t draw much you can upload them from the scratch folder. Or get a suprise sprite. Then to upload it, you just click “Upload” in the nav. bar and then type in user, pass, title, and desc. Tags are optional.
I hoped that helped!
i have tried a number of game making programmes like quest pro and fps creator and yoyo games and none have worked for me or been a bit confusing but i think thi will help me a lot thank u and i shall try scratch and tak about my own experiance once i have tried it out
how do u use this i can not make my own game
it looks good ill try it
can i make a video game
cool
scrath is awesome
hey this the best
cool site
I inspire your work.
scratch is so cool! ive been using it at school and made a really cool game! im also gonna download it at home so i can use it more…
hello im going to do a game.
I will do a good game.If not I try a again.
it will be a fun a good way to play video games
im going to make a level
cool it is almost like a smaller version of the game making sofware: realm crafter
this place rules!
hi i have made a game on scratch before at school
I don’t know how to do the soft-ware thing
It’s the best game ever!
this is the best website ever! you can make the coolest games here!