How to create a virtual pet game in Scratch

Scratch can help you create an incredibly cute virtual pet game. Below is a detailed guide on how to make a virtual pet game using Scratch .

Have you ever wanted a virtual pet to play with and care for? With Scratch , you can absolutely create one! A virtual pet is an image or character that can interact with you, respond to various actions, and even tell you when it's hungry, happy, or tired. After watching this tutorial, you'll be able to easily create a virtual pet using block programming.

1. Create a new project and add a backdrop.

As with any other Scratch project, the first step is to create a new project. Open Scratch and click Create to create a new project. Delete the default cat image and then choose a suitable background by clicking the Choose a Backdrop button in the bottom right corner (green in the image above). This example chooses a mountain.

2. Add a pet

To add a pet, click the green " Choose a Sprite" button . You can choose any pet you like, but try to choose one that's animated (it will move when you hover your mouse over it). This example chooses a rabbit.

3. Download audio

This project will use two different sounds – one when the pet talks and one when the pet eats . To load sounds into the project, click Sounds in the upper right corner. Then, click Choose a Sound . You can also set the filter to Animals . Find the sound you want the pet to make when talking, and then click on it to load into the project. Repeat this process to find the sound when the pet eats. For example, choose chatter – murmuring as the talking sound and chomp – chewing as the eating sound.

4. Make your pet talk.

The first step in the programming sequence is to make the pet talk when clicked. Look at the code above; the first code block will trigger the code below when the pet image is clicked, and the second code block will play the selected sound. Combined, these code blocks will make the rabbit talk when clicked.

5. Add food sources.

Of course, pets need to eat. To add this functionality, add a second sprite. Click the Choose a Sprite button as before and select your pet's food source. This example selects Apple . Move the food to the appropriate location in your project.

6. Food source programming

Click on the food source in the sprite window to select it. Then, add the code snippet shown in the image above. The ` when this sprite clicked` block will trigger the code below when the food is clicked, and the `broadcast` block will send a message that other blocks can receive. Remember to click on the default loaded `message1` message and change it to ` food` by clicking `new message` .

7. Feed your pet.

Now, let's add the pet animation. Go back to the pet animation section by clicking on the pet in the sprites tab . Then, add the code shown in the image above. Below is the function of each code block:

1. When I receive (food!): The food source is programmed to emit the message ' food ' when clicked. You can have your pet listen to this message, and then it will perform the action in the code below. In other words, when the food source is clicked, our pet will perform the action in the following code.
2. Glide (1) secs to x: (x) y: (y): The positioning of objects (sprites) on the Scratch canvas is controlled by an invisible grid, and you can position them around the grid by assigning them x and y values. The x value controls the position from left to right, and the y value controls the position from top to bottom. This code wants the pet to move to a position where the x and y values ​​match the food's position. Find these values ​​by clicking on your food, then add them to this 'glide' block. This block will make the pet glide for 1 second toward the target position.
3. Play sound (sound) until done: This block of code will play the target sound - remember to change "chomp" to the eating sound you've chosen for your pet!
4. Wait (1) seconds: This block of commands will ask the pet to wait for food for 1 second to have enough time to eat.
5. Glide (1) secs to x: (x) y: (y): The pet glides to a new location. These x and y values ​​are up to you, but choose a reasonable place for your pet to rest, such as on a rock or on a chair. To make this easier, click and drag your pet to the target location, record the x and y values, then add those values ​​to this block.

8. Add some animation.

At this stage, your pet will move to the food and eat when you click on it, but there is currently no animation. You can create the animation as follows: .

1. Go to (front) layer: This helps pets move up onto the food to eat it directly.
2. Switch costume to (costume b): Changes the pet's "outfit" while they are gliding, making them look like they are moving.
3. Switch costume to (costume a): While the pet is eating, they can return to their previous costume or animation frame.
4. Switch costume to (costume b): Change costume.
5. Point in direction: (-90): Changes the direction of the pet's movement. Depending on whether your pet starts on the left or right side of the food, you may need to use this block of code at the top of the code. You may also need to change the direction from -90 to 90.
6. Switch costume to (costume a): Returns the pet to its resting state and puts on its original costume.
7. Point in direction: (90): Adjust the pet's direction back to normal once it has returned to its resting place.

9. Create a Hunger variable.

The next part of the project is to add the hunger element by creating a variable named Hunger. Click variables > make a variable > name the new variable hunger.

10. Increase Hunger's value

This block of code changes the pet's hunger level over time.

1. When green flag clicked: The code starts running when the green flag is clicked.
2. Forever: The code inside this loop will run indefinitely.
3. Wait (5) seconds: Hunger is upgraded every 5 seconds.
4. Change (hunger) by (5): This block increases hunger by 5 each time it is activated.

11. Allow your pet to let you know when it's hungry.

1. When green flag is clicked: Code to run when the green flag is clicked
2. Forever: This code will run indefinitely as long as the green flag is clicked.
3. Wait (5) seconds: Check for hunger every 5 seconds so the pet doesn't talk continuously.
4. If <(hunger) > (25)>: The code inside this loop will run when hunger reaches 25 or more.
5. Say (I'm hungry!) for (2) seconds: Whenever this block is activated, the pet will tell you it's hungry.

12. Reset hunger pangs after eating.

This is the final step, add set (hunger) to (0) to your current code as shown above.