Module 1: From Idea to Game Plan, Platformer Movement and Gravity…

From Idea to Game Plan 20 min
Platformer Movement and Gravity 🔒 25 min
Collectibles and Clones 🔒 20 min

Module 2: Enemies with Simple AI, Levels…

Enemies with Simple AI 🔒 20 min
Levels 🔒 20 min
Scrolling Backgrounds 🔒 25 min

Module 3: Sound and Music Design, Playtesting and Balance…

Sound and Music Design 🔒 15 min
Playtesting and Balance 🔒 15 min
Project: Coin Dash 🔒 25 min

From Idea to Game Plan

Learn it

Real game studios start with a design document. Yours can be one page: the core loop (what the player does again and again), controls, win/lose rules, and a list of sprites.

Keep the first version small: a minimum playable game. Add extras later.

🧰 Tool: free Scratch online editor (no account needed to try; a parent can create one to save projects) or the free ScratchJr app for tablets.

Code examples

Design doc

Title: Coin Dash
Core loop: run, jump, collect coins, avoid spikes
Controls: ←/→ move, space jump
Win: collect 10 coins
Lose: touch a spike 3 times
Sprites: Player, Coin, Spike, Score display
Version 1: one screen, no music

Project: Your design doc

Pick a game type (platformer, maze, clicker).
Write a one-page design doc like the example.
Circle the parts for version 1 only.

Challenge: Sketch the first screen on paper with labels.

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