Game On
Science Olympiad 2016/17
General Overview:
Students will design and build an original computer game
incorporating a theme provided to them by the event
supervisor using the program scratch.
Scratch: https://scratch.mit.edu
Event Parameters:
No outside internet access of the scratch program is allowed.
No external resources or computer programs of any kind
No preconstructed:
Games
Game Assets (function blocks, sprites etc…)
Files
Materials students may bring:
Students need to have the following items when they arrive
for competition.
Headset(s) - testing/recording audio
Microphone - recording audio
Pencil or Pen (a must!)
Wristbands / Student ID’s (required)
Materials provided for students:
A computer capable of running scratch 1.4 or 2.0
IMPORTANT: Students need to be familiar with BOTH!
Last year: Computer lab with Linux boxes running Scratch 1.4
Per 2.B.i … Tournaments Directors are encouraged to provide computer
specifications to the teams as early as possible
A broad theme to build their computer game around
Scratch Paper
Scratch 1.4
Left to right layout/workflow
Does not have some functions
available in 2.0 but does have
the same abilities.
Scratch 2.0 Offline Editor
Different work flow
Has some functions not available
in 1.4
There is an online and offline
version of the editor. I would
suggest downloading the offline
version.
Competition:
1. Students will be assigned a broad theme and will allow
their game to incorporate some scientific principles.
2. Students will have a time frame of approximately 50 min
to complete this task.
3. When teams are finished they will turn in their project file
via a designated method.
a. Last year: Batch process collected programs and wiped computers after
each run.
Scoring Rubric
Game Mechanics: 50 Total
Game Play: 50 Total
Introduction (4)
Implementation of theme (10)
Help/Instruction (6)
Graphics (12)
User Controlled Sprites (6)
Autonomous Sprites (6)
Sound (8)
Play Balance (12)
Collision Management (6)
Overall Game (8)
Scorekeeping (6)
De-Briefing (6)
Documentation (4)
Code Organization (6)
Preparing for competition
Do Practice:
With the same time limit as the event (50 min)
Rate/review their work within the confines of the rubric
Have students rate their work first and see how yours and their
evaluations compare
Students need to know how they are being scored.
Work on preparing several specific scientific concepts that
Preparing for competition
Do NOT Practice:
Silly games, games with no end, etc…
Do not practice on only one version of scratch
Do not use online resources of any type
Remember your students have to create everything in their games on
the day of competition.
Hints for Success:
(Simple) Systems Development Life Cycle: SDLC
1. Requirements/Analysis (What do I need to do)
2. Design (What do I need to accomplish my task)
3. Implementation (Start building here)
4. Testing (Check and correct your work)
5. Deployment (Finished product)
Resources
1. Youtube…. Many good tutorials out there for this program
2. Books
a. Coding in Scratch: Games Workbook
b. Coding Games in Scratch
3. Scratch Website Forums
Questions and Contact Info
Aaron Teel
Cell: 316-218-2497
Email: [email protected]