About Jungle Jump Platformer
A page for Educators & Parents
Jungle Jump introduces a number of MakeCode Arcade game design elements.
In this set of activities, students will create their very own platformer game with MakeCode Arcade. This map is intended for students who are new to MakeCode with little or no previous coding experience. Through step-by-step instructions, students will bring a monkey friend to life in a world filled with dangerous obstacles and collectible baubles.
Designed for students between the ages of 11 & 15, this experience contains a total of 8 tutorials (approximating 68+ minutes of instruction) spread over 2 sessions. At the end of this learning path, students receive a certificate of completion.
| Minutes* | Game Type | Key Concepts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | 38 | ||
| Jungle Jump | 10 | Intro | movement, acceleration, user input, gravity |
| Game Over | 8 | Platformer | events, game score |
| Leaps and Bounds | 10 | Platformer | user input, creation |
| Blown Away | 10 | Platformer | user input, projectiles, animation, events, destruction |
| Session 2 | 30+ | ||
| Watch Out! | 10 | Platformer | events, destruction, life bar |
| Animations | 12 | Platformer | events, animation |
| Extra Levels | 8 | Platformer | events, animation |
| Make it Your Own | N/A | Platformer | art design, game modification, level design |
* Minutes are approximate, based on time to follow instructions as written. Times do not include time spent on designing elements or re-aquainting with previously-written code. Providing extra time for creativity and debugging is encouraged.
Objectives
After completing Jungle Jump Platformer, students will have gained exposure to multiple arcade platformer game concepts using MakeCode Arcade.
Specifically, they will experience the following topics:
Computer Science Concepts
- Events
- User Input
Game Design Concepts
- Movement
- Acceleration
- Gravity
- Creation
- Projectiles
- Animation
- Destruction
- Life Bar
- Levels
- Text Display
- Art Design
- Game Modification
- Level Design
Projects
As students progress through these projects, they will progressively build their game. They will witness the monkey’s evolution from a simple creature that can only move around to an animated jump and run master who can create its own platforms, blow up obstacles, and collect baubles across multiple worlds.
1. Jungle Jump
| Activity | Jungle Jump (10 min) |
|---|---|
 |
Set up your monkey’s side-to-side and jump movements. |
| Blocks used | [mySprite = sprites.create(img`.`, SpriteKind.Player)][controller.moveSprite(mySprite, 0, 0)][let mySprite: Sprite=null; mySprite.ay = 0][scene.cameraFollowSprite(mySprite)][controller.up.onEvent()][let mySprite: Sprite=null; sprites.gravity_jump(mySprite)] |
| Solution option | Jungle Jump Project |
2. Game Over
| Activity | Game Over (8 min) |
|---|---|
 |
Add winning, losing, and point-collecting functionality to your game. |
| Blocks used | [scene.onOverlapTile()][game.over(true)][info.changeScoreBy()] |
| Solution option | Game Over Project |
3. Leaps and Bounds
| Activity | Leaps and Bounds (10 min) |
|---|---|
 |
Make obstacles easier by spawning platforms under your monkey. |
| Blocks used | [controller.A.onEvent()][tiles.setWallAt(tiles.locationInDirection(tiles.locationOfSprite(mySprite), CollisionDirection.Bottom), true)][tiles.setTileAt(tiles.locationInDirection(tiles.locationOfSprite(mySprite), CollisionDirection.Bottom), assets.tile`bounce`)] |
| Solution option | Leaps and Bounds Project |
4. Blown Away
| Activity | Blown Away (10 min) |
|---|---|
 |
Use dynamite to clear platforms. |
| Blocks used | [controller.B.onEvent()][let mySprite: Sprite=null; projectile = sprites.createProjectileFromSprite(img`.`, mySprite, 0, 0)][let projectile: Sprite=null; projectile.setFlag(SpriteFlag.GhostThroughWalls, true)][animation.runImageAnimation()][scene.onOverlapTile()][let tiles: Sprite=null; tiles.setWallAt(location, false)][let tiles: Sprite=null; tiles.setTileAt(location, assets.tile`transparency16`)] |
| Solution option | Blown Away Project |
5. Watch Out!
| Activity | Watch Out! (10 min) |
|---|---|
 |
Make your dynamite more dangerous and destructive. |
| Blocks used | [sprites.onOverlap()][let otherSprite: Sprite=null; otherSprite.destroy()][info.changeLifeBy(-1)][scene.onOverlapTile()] |
| Solution option | Watch Out! Project |
6. Animations
| Activity | Animations (12 min) |
|---|---|
 |
Animate your monkey! |
| Blocks used | [controller.left.onEvent()][animation.runImageAnimation()] |
| Solution option | Animations Project |
7. Extra Levels
| Activity | Extra Levels (8 min) |
|---|---|
 |
Add another level to your game. |
| Blocks used | [scene.onOverlapTile()][scene.setBackgroundImage(img`.`)][tiles.setTilemap()][animation.runMovementAnimation()][let mySprite: Sprite=null; mySprite.say("Level 2!", 500)] |
| Solution option | Extra Levels Project |
8. Make it Your Own
| Activity | Make it Your Own |
|---|---|
 |
Change your images and tilemaps to make a game of your own! |
| Blocks used | None |
| Solution option | N/A |
Game Mod Ideas
As students work on Make it Your Own, we encourage them to plan out how they want to modify this game to best suit their interests. Consider the following questions:
- What kind of world would I want to explore? Redesign the scene with your chosen environment!
- What is an animal or creature that would fit in to this world? Replace the monkey with your chosen creature!
- What kinds of obstacles would challenge my character? How can I creatively build them in?
- When I explore this world, what supplies do I need? Replace the baubles with these supplies!