5- Making the game more fun

Welcome back! In the previous article we built a basic Apple Catching game with movement, falling objects, collision, and simple scoring. Today we make it more engaging: add levels (increase difficulty), improve scoring (with high score potential), and include sound effects for feedback.

Key Concepts for This Stage

Project Update: Enhance Apple Catching Game

Goal: Turn the basic game into something replayable – levels speed up the fall, sounds play on catch, score is visible, and add simple game over.

Step-by-step instructions (build on your previous project):

1. Open your Apple Catching project.
2. Create new variables (for all sprites):
   • “Level” – set to 1 when green flag clicked
   • “Lives” – set to 3 when green flag clicked
   • Keep “Score” (already have it)
3. Display variables: From Variables category, check “Level”, “Score”, “Lives” to show on stage.
4. Improve Apple falling speed with level:
   • In the forever loop of Apple, change “move 5 steps” to “move (5 + (level * 3)) steps”
5. Level up based on score:
   • Add a new script to Apple or Basket: forever
     • if score > (level * 10) then
       • change level by 1
       • play sound “level up” or any fun sound (from Sounds tab → choose or upload)
       • say “Level Up!” for 2 seconds (optional visual feedback)
6. Add sounds:
   • On catch (inside if touching Basket): play sound “pop” or “collect” (from library)
   • On miss (when apple reaches bottom): play sound “low pitch” or “sad trombone” (optional)
7. Add lives and game over:
   • When apple reaches bottom without catch: change Lives by -1 + hide
   • Forever (in Apple or separate sprite): if Lives < 1 then
     • stop all
     • say “Game Over! Final Score: ” & score for 5 seconds (or broadcast “gameover”)
8. Test: Play → catch apples → see level increase, speed up, sounds play, lives decrease on miss → game stops at 0 lives.

Now your game has progression, feedback, and an ending!

Extra Ideas to Experiment

• High score: Use cloud variable (requires online account) or local “HighScore” – if score > HighScore then set HighScore to score
• Level visuals: Change backdrop or sprite costume on level up
• More sounds: Background music (loop a calm track) – play until game over
• Win condition: If level > 5 then “You Win!” message

“Adding levels, sounds, and lives turns a simple project into a real game. Test often and adjust numbers for fun balance.”

Great job! Your game is now much more complete and enjoyable.

In the next article we will connect Scratch to real robotics (simulation or simple Arduino), bridging digital to physical world.

→ Read Article 6: Connecting to Real Robots (Simulation or Arduino)