G34-4 Game Controls (Makey Makey)

In today’s digital age, where technology is an integral part of our lives, it’s important to equip children with essential coding skills from an early age. SkoolOfCode, an online coding platform for kids, offers a range of engaging courses tailored to different age groups. One such course is Game Controls (Makey Makey), where students like Piu get to explore the world of coding and robotics. Piu’s recent project involved creating her own joystick using a disposable glass and kitchen foil and integrating it with a Scratch game. Let’s dive into the details of how Piu brought her joystick to life and combined it with coding skills to create an exciting gaming experience.

Introduction to Makey Makey and Joystick Creation:

Makey Makey is a versatile invention kit that allows users to turn everyday objects into interactive input devices. With this innovative tool, Piu was able to create a joystick using simple materials like a disposable glass and kitchen foil. By connecting the Makey Makey to the glass and foil, she could capture movements and translate them into computer inputs.

Materials and Setup:

To create her DIY joystick, Piu gathered a few materials that are commonly found around the house. These included a Makey Makey kit, a disposable glass, aluminum foil, and alligator clips. She carefully attached the foil to the glass, ensuring proper contact points for capturing movement. By connecting the alligator clips to the foil and the Makey Makey board, Piu established a functional circuit.

Interface with Scratch:

Piu’s next step was to integrate her homemade joystick with Scratch, a beginner-friendly block coding for kids platform. Scratch provided her with the tools necessary to develop interactive games using block-based programming. Piu used Scratch’s built-in features to customize her game and make it responsive to the movements of the joystick.

Capturing Joystick Movements:

With the physical setup complete, Piu focused on programming the interactions between the joystick and her game. She utilized Scratch’s event blocks to detect and respond to joystick movements. By assigning specific actions to different directions of movement, Piu was able to control the game character’s motion using her DIY joystick.

Testing and Refinement:

Piu thoroughly tested her game with the DIY joystick to ensure its functionality and responsiveness. She iterated on her code, fine-tuning the sensitivity of the joystick and refining the game mechanics. Through this process, Piu gained valuable insights into the debugging and problem-solving aspects of coding.

Piu’s journey of creating a DIY joystick using a disposable glass and kitchen foil demonstrates the exciting possibilities that coding and creativity can offer to young minds. By combining her skills in Makey Makey and Scratch, she was able to develop a fully functional joystick and integrate it seamlessly into a game of her own design. SkoolOfCode offers coding courses for kids that provide a supportive environment for young learners to explore such projects and unlock their potential in programming and robotics.

If your child is interested in coding, game development, and robotics, SkoolOfCode offers online coding classes for kids that are engaging, interactive, and educational. These classes not only teach coding concepts but also encourage hands-on projects like Piu’s joystick creation. Take the first step in your child’s coding journey by booking a trial class with SkoolOfCode today.