Creators will be introduced to the Microsoft MakeCode Arcade platform by creating a simple game that involves a character collecting items that pop up on the screen! Campers will learn the basic concepts of block coding to create this game while also learning about basic pixel art to edit or create their own characters and backgrounds!

Creators will be designing a hide and seek game that will show the importance of sequencing and layering in their coding projects. Kids will learn how to destroy obstacles in order to reveal the hidden character they're trying to find! Additionally, our creators will learn the importance of playtesting by adjusting time limits and how many points they need to win in order to make a challenging but beatable game!

Creators will learn how to create a project very similar to the classic Space Invaders arcade game! Kids will learn how to fire projectiles from their character and how to adjust the speed of characters that automatically spawn from the top of their screen. Creators will also be adding lives for our character and learning how to set both winning and losing conditions within our game using both time and lives.

Our creators will take 1 of their 3 games they created and add extra effects or edit them to look and play the way they really wanted! Kids will learn how to add sound effects, screen effects, text prompts, and more advanced pixel art techniques. Once our creators have spiced up their game, we will run a Game Jam where kids will share their project and allow others to playtest it so they can show off their work and gain new inspiration from other games that were created!