**Course Title:** Introduction to Programming with Scratch **Section Title:** Game Design Principles in Scratch **Topic:** Design and create a simple game with levels, scoring, and NPC interactions.(Lab topic) **Overview** In this lab topic, you'll apply the game design principles learned in the previous topics to create a simple game with levels, scoring, and NPC interactions. You'll design a game that showcases your creativity and understanding of key concepts in game design. **Objective** By the end of this lab topic, you'll be able to: 1. Design a simple game with multiple levels and scoring 2. Implement NPC interactions using sensing blocks and basic AI behavior 3. Use cloning and sprite management to create multiple instances of sprites 4. Balance difficulty and player engagement in your game **Game Concept** For this lab topic, you'll create a simple game called "Frogger's Adventure." The game objective is to help a frog character (the player) navigate through different levels, avoiding obstacles and collecting coins. The game will feature NPC interactions with enemies and friends that will aid or hinder the player's progress. **Step 1: Planning and Design** 1. Brainstorm and sketch your game idea on paper or using a digital tool like Scratch's built-in paint editor. 2. Consider the game mechanics, such as movement, scoring, and level progression. 3. Decide on the NPCs and their behaviors. **Step 2: Creating the Game Assets** 1. Design and create the game assets, including the player (frog) sprite, obstacles, coins, enemies, and friends. 2. Use the Scratch paint editor to create the game background and level art. **Step 3: Implementing the Game Mechanics** 1. Create a new project in Scratch and set up the game stage, including the background and initial game state. 2. Use Scratch blocks to implement the game mechanics, such as player movement, scoring, and level progression. 3. Use sensing blocks to detect player input, such as keyboard and mouse interactions. **Step 4: Adding NPC Interactions** 1. Create the NPC sprites and use cloning to create multiple instances. 2. Implement basic AI behavior for the enemies and friends using sensing blocks and conditional statements. 3. Use message broadcasting to coordinate actions between NPCs and the player. **Step 5: Balancing Difficulty and Player Engagement** 1. Playtest the game and adjust the difficulty level, enemy AI, and other game mechanics to achieve an engaging experience. 2. Use variables and operators to track player progress and adjust the game state accordingly. **Example Project** Here's an example project to get you started: [Frogger's Adventure (Example)](https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1234567890/) **Tips and Resources** * Use the Scratch wiki for reference: [Game Design](https://en.scratch-wiki.info/wiki/Game_Design) * Check out the Scratch forums for inspiration and feedback: [Scratch Forums](https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/) **Practical Takeaways** * Game design principles can be applied to simple games to create engaging experiences. * Cloning and sprite management can be used to create multiple instances of sprites. * NPCs can add depth to your game using basic AI behavior and sensing blocks. **What's Next?** In the next topic, "Storytelling with Scratch: Planning a beginning, middle, and end," you'll learn how to create a compelling story using Scratch's animation and interaction features. **Comments and Questions** After completing this lab topic, share your project in the comments below! Ask for help or get feedback from your peers. (Note: This is the end of the topic content. There are no discussion boards for this topic. The next topic, "Storytelling with Scratch: Planning a beginning, middle, and end," will be covered in a separate section.)