Creating Cooperative Games with MakeCode Arcade
The bulk of my childhood memories of the Arcade either revolve around solo games or games where I’m battling a friend to see who comes out victorious. These days, cooperative play has become more common, allowing players to work together toward a common goal.
This post will talk about ways to harness Microsoft MakeCode Arcade to create cooperative games, leaning into collaboration and group strategy.
Getting Started with the Basics
Before jumping into cooperative game design, you’ll need to know the basics of coding with MakeCode Arcade. On this platform, you can choose to use blocks, JavaScript, or Python…but my posts generally focus on the blocks option.
If you’re a beginner, start by exploring simple game mechanics like setting up sprites, detecting collisions, and debugging games. MakeCode Arcade offers a bunch of tutorials on their homepage that can help you get your bearings before you start crafting a collaborative masterpiece.
Conceptualizing Your Game
The first step in creating any game is coming up with a concept. What kind of world do you want your players to explore? Will they be solving puzzles, battling enemies, or navigating mazes? A clear vision will guide the design process and help keep the project on track. Try sketching an idea and think about the roles each player will have. For example, one player might be responsible for collecting items while the other provides cover against enemies.
Designing for Teamwork
The essence of a good cooperative game lies in requiring players to work together. This can be achieved by designing game mechanics that promote interdependence. For instance, you might create puzzles that can only be solved when players combine their unique abilities or challenges that require players to split up and tackle different tasks simultaneously.
This can be done easily by adding the Multiplayer extension for MakeCode Arcade.
Implementing Cooperative Elements
With MakeCode Arcade, implementing these elements can involve some creative coding. Try setting up a condition where players must be in proximity to each other to perform certain actions. For example, you might require both players to be near a door to open it, symbolizing the need for teamwork.
Additionally, consider the communication aspect of cooperative games. While MakeCode Arcade doesn’t support real-time online messaging, games can have predetermined menus that allow users to pass information about what they have seen or what they are about to do.
Testing and Iteration
Game development is an iterative process. It requires testing and tweaking to bring great ideas to life. Sometimes this can be difficult when games rely on multiple players for success. Fortunately, there are a couple of methods you can rely on when checking gameplay.
- Use two sets of keyboard keys to play as two people — Arcade allows you to use the WASD+Space+Enter keys for player one and IJKL+U+O for player two. Testing games with this method may require a little ambidexterity.
2. Pre-program additional players in predictable or random ways — When I’m trying to test multiplayer gameplay or record screenshots when no one is around, I’ll generally turn players two, three, and four into bots. By programming them, I can tell them to act on items in either a predictable or random way, depending on the needs of the game. Players can be pre-programmed to move, collide with objects, or trigger flags on command. This can be very useful for checking multiple scenarios.
While you’re testing, try to determine which aspects of your game are most enjoyable. Where do players get stuck? Iterative testing allows you to refine your games, enhancing cooperative elements and ensuring gameplay is fun and engaging.
Wrapping-Up
Creating cooperative games with MakeCode Arcade is not just about coding; it’s about envisioning and executing a project that requires players to think, act, and succeed together. It’s a perfect blend of technology and teamwork, providing a rich learning experience that mirrors real-world collaboration.
