Step by Step Activities
Build the 'Break Out!' Game
In a dragon's cave at the top of Mount Logo is a treasure chest. But a wall is blocking the way. Use a mace and ball to break down the wall and thus gain access to the cave.
This step by step game is easy to make. If you would like to download a finished version to run in Dragon Pathways, before attempting to build your own version, click here.
The two files you need for this activity will download as one Zip file (1.95MB). Save both files to this location on your hard drive: My Documents\Dragon Pathways\My Work. If you then run Dragon Pathways and choose to 'Open an Activity', you will see Break Out in your choices window like this:
First decide what your screen will look like.
Dragon Pathways has a large collection of backgrounds to choose from.
Load the Choose a background dialog box from the Page Manager Menu and select the file you require. For this example use Cave Entrance 2 from the Cave folder.
Click on the thumbs up icon and the new background will open on screen.
Use the New Object tool to add all the Objects you need for the game on screen.
You want bricks for the wall (just add one for now), two flying birds, a mace, a ball, a treasure chest and a counter which will show when the game is over.
When the ball hits a brick you want the brick to explode and disappear.
Set its rules as shown (clicking to the right of a rule to edit the choices):
These instructions mean:
Set a suitable sound effect for when the brick explodes.
You can also use the Paint box to make the shape/brick another colour.
Of course you need a wall of bricks, not just one brick. For this example you need a wall of 20 bricks.
Use the Magic Wand to copy the brick and build a wall.
The mace is controlled by the mouse.
You can set up the mace as follows:
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These instructions mean:
- I'm controlled horizontally by the mouse
- When I am touching an object (the ball)
- I bounce the object (the ball).
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The birds squawk when they are hit by the ball.
Set the rules for the birds as follows:
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These instructions mean:
- When I am touching an object (the ball)
- I make a sound
- I head away from the object (the ball)
NB: When you add the stone for making a sound, you will be allowed to browse for a suitable sound effect.
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You have already set the bricks to send out a red message when they are hit. The Counter will pick up this message, count the bricks left, and play a sound when the game is complete.
Here are the rules for the counter:
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These instructions mean:
- I change my score to 20
- When I receive a red message, I subtract 1 from the score
- When the score is equal to 0, I play a sound
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Use the I Change Shape tool to alter the speed of the ball:
It's a good time now to try running the game to see how it's going.
You may notice that the ball often goes to the bottom of the screen. The game needs a collector for the ball - to return the ball to the mace.
Add a big line (blue) to the bottom of the screen. You will find this object in the Shapes folder.
Set the rules of the line to the following:
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These instructions mean:
- I bounce an object (the ball)
- I send a purple message
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Copy the big line using the Magic Wand so that the bottom of the screen has a blue barrier across it.
The Ball is set up with the following rules:
The first line of instructions means:
- When I receive a purple message
- I hide myself
- I change my speed to (choose whichever speed you want)
- I track an object (the mace)
- I change my direction to (set to 0 degrees)
- I show myself
- I wait 1 second (you can change the time as desired)
- I change my speed to (choose whichever speed you want)
Since you have two flying birds in the game, you will need to set up rules for how the ball reacts with each one. In both cases the rules, will, however, be the same:
- When I am touching an object (the bird)
- I turn away from the object (the bird)
Now, when the ball hits the big line, it returns to the mace to be hit again. When the ball comes in contact with one of the flying birds, it will deflect it.
Well done!
Try the game out. You might like to adjust the speeds for the birds and the ball - or make other improvements!
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