Coding games in Scratch A step-by-step visual guide to building your own computer games

With so much focus on kids and coding, it was high time for a detailed, interesting, comprehensible instruction guide targeted at middle-grade gamers in the making (and, hey, adults, too no shame). The first two chapters provide a basic introduction to gaming on the whole and the Scratch platform. After that, it's eight chapters of step-by-step coding of different types of games, including treasure hunts, mazes, jumping platforms, and races. Starting with a screenshot of the end result, each chapter is written with clear instructions and plenty of images that make coding just about foolproof, and at no point in time does the reader feel patronized. In fact, the instructions tell you not just the how-tos but also the whys, and every chapter ends with a Hacks and Tweaks section for more advanced work. Readers will walk away with a solid grasp of Scratch and the building blocks to bigger things. A great purchase for patron use, or even for curious library staff wanting to dip their toes into coding.--Linsenmeyer, Erin Copyright 2016 Booklist

A comprehensive guide to creating games in Scratch, a beginner-oriented programming language that uses visual blocks instead of raw code. Woodcock begins by contextualizing computer games (explaining their elements, genres, and how computers think) and introducing Scratch (explaining its building blocks and how to acquire it and providing a rundown of what each part of the Scratch control window means). After this introduction, the book quickly has readers programming interactive games with animated characters, enemies, and scoring systems galore. Each of the eight games given (including mazes, jumping games, music patterns, races, and more) starts with a screenshot of the finished game that explains the roles of the characters and players' objectives. Clear text and screenshotsof both code blocks and game visualsthen walk readers through each increasingly complicated programming step. While sometimes pages are information-dense, the steps' numbering is easy to follow. Frequently, readers create their own images instead of using preprogrammed ones. What's especially nice about the instructions is that they aren't framed as "do this, then this"they fully explain why (right down to meanings of number variables) and provide fixes for anticipated bugs. Each game chapter ends with a "Hacks and tweaks" section suggesting further customizations, sometimes building off previous chapters' code. A "What Next?" chapter directs readers toward potential futures as programmers, be it hobbyist or professional. An absolutely wonderful introduction to programming games. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 7 up) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.