How To Make Ping Pong In Scratch

Last modified: October 9, 2023

Introduction:

Ping pong, also known as table tennis, is a popular sport enjoyed by people of all ages. It requires quick reflexes, precision, and agility. If you’re a fan of ping pong and want to bring the excitement of the game to Scratch, a visual programming language, you’re in luck! In this post, we will guide you through the process of creating your own ping pong game in Scratch. Get ready to have fun while enhancing your programming skills!

Creating the Ping Pong Game:

1. Setting up the Stage:
Start by creating a new project in Scratch. By default, Scratch provides you with a cat sprite. You can keep it or delete it to create your own custom game elements. Next, make sure you have a background suitable for a ping pong game. You can select one from the Scratch library or create your own.

2. Creating the Ball Sprite:
To create the ball sprite, click on the “Choose a Sprite from Library” button or draw your own. The ball sprite should be circular or oval-shaped, as it represents the ping pong ball. Ensure that the ball sprite is visible on the stage.

3. Adding Movement to the Ball:
To make the ball move, we need to add some code to the ball sprite. Click on the ball sprite, and go to the “Code” tab. Start by adding the following code under the “When Green Flag Clicked” event:
“`
go to x: 0 y: 0
glide 1 secs to x: 0 y: 0
“`
This will position the ball at the center of the stage. Next, we need to add the code to make the ball move. Insert the following code under the “Forever” block:
“`
change x by 5
change y by 5
“`
In this code, the ball will move 5 steps in both the x and y directions. Feel free to adjust the value based on your preferences.

4. Creating the Paddles:
To make the game interactive, we need to add paddles for the players. You can use the same sprite for both paddles or create separate sprites for each player. Make sure to position the paddles at opposite ends of the stage.

5. Controlling the Paddles:
To control the paddles, go to the paddle sprite’s code tab and add the following code:
“`
when green flag clicked
forever
if then
change y by 10
end
if then
change y by -10
end
end
“`
This code allows the players to control their respective paddles using the up and down arrow keys. The paddles will move up or down by 10 steps each time a key is pressed.

6. Adding Collision Detection:
To make the game more engaging, we need to add collision detection between the ball and the paddles. Go to the ball sprite’s code tab and add the following code:
“`
when green flag clicked
forever
if then
set x velocity to (-1) * (x velocity)
end
end
“`
This code checks if the ball is touching a paddle. If it is, the x velocity of the ball is reversed, causing it to bounce off the paddle.

7. Keeping Score:
To keep track of the score, create two variables: “Player 1 Score” and “Player 2 Score.” You can do this by clicking on the “Data” category and selecting “Make a Variable.” Place the score variables on the stage where they are visible.

Next, add the following code to the ball sprite’s code tab:
“`
when green flag clicked
set [Player 1 Score v] to [0]
set [Player 2 Score v] to [0]

forever
if then
change [Player 2 Score v] by [1]
go to x: 0 y: 0
glide 1 secs to x: 0 y: 0
end
if 240> then
change [Player 1 Score v] by [1]
go to x: 0 y: 0
glide 1 secs to x: 0 y: 0
end
end
“`
This code checks if the ball goes beyond the paddles on either side of the stage. If it does, the respective player’s score is incremented by 1, and the ball returns to the center of the stage.

Conclusion:

Congratulations! You have successfully created a ping pong game in Scratch. By following the steps outlined in this post, you have learned how to set up the stage, create game sprites, add movement, control paddles, detect collisions, and keep score. Feel free to experiment and add your own creative touches to make the game even more exciting. Have fun playing and coding!

Additional Ping-Pong Resources: