Unlocking Creativity and Logic: A Glimpse into Our Game Making Journey

Hello, ATLAS School Community!

In the bustling corridors of ATLAS School, a group of eager junior high students is not just playing games; they're creating them. Our game-making class using the Scratch engine is more than a pastime; it's a journey into the intricate world of programming, logic, and creativity. Today, we're excited to share a snapshot of this adventure, highlighting the progress of our students and the advanced concepts they are mastering.

Classroom Snapshot: More Than Just Coding

Students deeply engaged in bringing their game ideas to life

Students learning about how to make a grid system for the game world.

Our classroom is a hub of activity, with every student intently piecing together their own worlds in their games. While Scratch makes the process accessible, the ideas and ambition these young minds bring to the table are nothing short of inspiring. From defining the rules of their game worlds to animating their characters, every class is a testament to their creativity and dedication.

Project Progress: Building an Overhead RPG

A sneak peek into a student's RPG game in Scratch

Current Game State

One of the standout projects our students are working on is an overhead RPG. This isn't just any game; it's a complex system that introduces our students to concepts like saving and loading scenes, encoding scenes, and defining tile sizes. Take a look at this screenshot from one of our student's projects. Notice the attention to detail and the thought-out layout – it's not just a game; it's a labor of love and learning.

Feature Focus: Making a Rendering System to Save on Power

In our most recent classes, we dived into one of the more advanced topics in game development – creating a rendering system. This concept might sound complex, and it is, but it's also incredibly important. A well-designed rendering system ensures that games run smoothly, look great, and don't drain your device's battery.

So, how do we teach such an intricate concept using Scratch? It starts with understanding the basics of how games are rendered and the importance of optimizing game performance. Our students learn to manage their game's resources efficiently, ensuring that only the necessary parts of the game are processed and rendered at any given time. It's not just about making the game work; it's about making it work well.

Looking Ahead

As we continue our journey in game making, the enthusiasm and talent of our students make every class a unique experience. Their ability to grasp complex concepts and apply them in their projects is a testament to their potential and the power of interactive learning.

We can't wait to share more updates with you, including the completion of the RPG project and the new concepts we'll explore. Stay tuned for more stories from our classroom, where coding meets creativity!


We hope this post gives you a glimpse into the exciting world of game making at ATLAS School. If you're as excited about these projects as we are, stay connected for more updates, and consider joining us on this creative journey!

Until next time, keep coding and creating!

-Zachary Jones