Control of video games with Micro:bit and Scratch
45-60 min
Ages 8-13
What Will You Learn?
You will learn basic programming with Micro:bit creating a control that connects to scratch and your video games; Then you will know a basic concept to create a Makey Robot with cardboard that will function as your customizable control.
Construct Your Makey Robot
The first part of our project is to create the basis of our control, for this we have two options that depend on your materials.
Step 1
You can print the 3D design of Mickey Robot, which is in the materials, but in case you do not have a 3D printer you can build your own Makey Robot in cardboard, following the following steps.
Step 2
Draw two Makey silhouettes on the cardboard, use the templates found in the materials, then cut out the silhouette. Also cut a strip two cm thick.
Step 3
Take the glue gun and place glue on the contour of one of Makey’s faces then begin to put this strip on the end until you finish covering the entire contour. Lastly, place the other face of Makey.
Step 4
Now take your markers and pencil and mark the characteristic Makey lines, as well as the details you want, it’s time to get creative.
Step 5
In the middle part of our control, place the microbit and mark it and then cut it with the help of the cutter. Place the power supply inside and connect your Micro: bit and then place it in the center with the help of double-sided tape.
Step 6
You are done! now take your computer and start programming.
Open Scratch
Step 7
Login to Scratch or create an account.
Step 8
Enter the first link in the list of materials, follow the steps on the page to download and install Scratch Link.
Step 9
Enter the second link, you will see the Rocket Maker project, click on the blue “See Inside” button.
Start the Code
There are three sections, the one on the right we see our game and the assets, in the middle section is the work area together with our code and in the last part we have the menu of the blocks that we can use.
Step 10
Click the button on the left at the bottom, then select the Micro: Bit extension, and connect your board. Now we will see a section with the Micro: Bit blocks.
Step 11
Select the block number 8 that says “Inclined towards” and place it in the place of
“Right Arrow Key Pressed”. Now change “Any direction” to “Right”.
Now repeat this with the left, Select from the micro: bit menu the block “Tilted towards” and put it in the place of “Left Arrow Key Pressed”. Select “Left.”
Step 12
Go to the menu, to “Operators” of green color, select the block number nine “__ and __” and put it in the place of the block “up arrow key pressed”.
Go back to the menu in the micro: bit part and place block number 2 in the first space of the previous block and repeat it with the other space changing “A” to “B”.
Step 13
We duplicate the code block from the previous step and put it in the block that says “up arrow key pressed”
Ready, you finished the game. Hit the green flag and start the game!
Further Resources
Watch the Video
What's Next?
Add Animations and Drawings
You can experiment by adding animations or drawings on the micro bit screen, every time something happens within your video game for example when your points go up or you lose a life, you can learn more about this in the video below.
Take it Further?
You can take this further by creating your own video game in Scratch, for this we recommend the Rocket Maker series, where we show step by step how to create one: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ7VIOD6VJAmwZ_OmIBcst9XTeDDpvlEy
Likewise, if you want to create a game with a different style, see the Explore Mars series, to learn more about space and create a video game with the Rover: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ7VIOD6VJAnmbQ4ADnkN4pa1hymB0Eej
About MoonMakers
MoonMakers — led by Camila and Diego Luna — are a community of creators passionate about knowledge. A Makerspace, an open space with different digital manufacturing machines. And a YouTube channel where we promote science, technology and the maker movement.
MoonMakers have collaborated with companies such as: Sesame Street, Make Community and in Mexico with Educational Television and Fundación Televisa, creating educational content.
We have given workshops throughout the Mexican Republic with: Talent Land, Secretary of Education in Jalisco, Conacyt, Centro Cultural España.
- Micro: bit V2.
- Micro usb cable.
- A computer, with internet access.
- Micro: Bit and Scratch: https://scratch.mit.edu/microbit
- Roket Maker on Scratch: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/408768747
- Makey Robot Template: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MCkYdgrl7ALaWp2L-JK3VhZDcKfZxo4q/view?usp=sharing
- Pencil and markers.
- Paperboard.
- Microbit battery base
- Pair of scissors.
- Cuter
- Glue gun.
- Rule
- Double-sided tape
- Optional 3D printer.
- 3D Model: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4925441 .
