New: You Can Make Your OWN Arcade Games to Play on Xbox this Holiday Season!
(Did I mention it’s 100% free?)
Creating games with Microsoft MakeCode Arcade is a lot of fun…but it’s even better when you get to experience your finished game on a serious console!
Introducing, MakeCode Arcade for Xbox!
Based on the thrilling Arcade Kiosk platform, it’s now easier than ever to develop your own game using MakeCode Arcade, then upload it to your Xbox to play with controllers!
What is MakeCode Arcade?
For those of you who are not familiar, MakeCode Arcade is an educational coding platform created by Microsoft, the parent company of Xbox and Minecraft. Historically, MakeCode targeted the middle school age range (particularly with its retro-style Arcade platform) but now, thanks to brand-new Junior activities and VSCode EDU, there’s truly something for everyone.
Previously, if someone wanted to make a game for the Xbox, they’d need to get a team together, take months or years to develop a game using an old-school text-based language like C or C++, then test and beta test before submitting to the Xbox store. Months later, if your game cut the mustard, the offering might finally be ready for download. The overall process could take anywhere from 1–5 years and cost upwards of $200 million dollars…not something I have hanging around in my couch cushions!
Using Microsoft MakeCode Arcade, kids (or even adults) could be playing their own games in under an HOUR!
How to Code Your Game
Making an Xbox game with Microsoft MakeCode Arcade can be as simple, or as difficult as you want it to be.
Simple
Earlier this season, MakeCode introduced some new “Junior” tutorials, relying on less text and fewer blocks to make magic happen.
This tutorial, called Turkey Day Junior, allows you to create a game where a turkey must run through a factory to release its friends — using fewer than 10 blocks!
Taking less than 20 minutes for an adult, 15 minutes for a middle schooler, and 45 minutes for an elementary schooler, this game will get you up and running fast!
Pros: Quick, simple, hard to mess-up
Cons: Not a lot of room for customization
Easy
If you want a little more freedom and are willing to work on your masterpiece for 45 minutes to an hour, you can try one of the MakeCode Skillmaps. These tutorial sets help you walk through step-by-step to create a game that’s unmistakably yours.
Burstin’ Balloons lets you create a Mario Party style mini-game where two mice compete to be the first to burst a balloon. Using two controllers on one console allows players to compete against one another for the title of “Fastest Fingers in the West.”
Don’t like mice? Change the characters to puppies, kittens, or aliens! Get creative. It’s your game!
Pros: Easy to follow, customizable
Cons: Final game has limited playback value
Intermediate
Looking for a game that can be hours of fun for the whole family? Try Arrow Battle!
This multiplayer tutorial will have you testing your agility against up to three other players as you try to be the fastest to click the same arrow as what you see on the screen. This game might seem simple, but looks can be deceiving!
Pros: Relatively short tutorial, very replayable
Cons: Multiplayer blocks are a bit more complicated
Advanced
If solo games are more your thing, how about making a platformer that takes Super Mario Bros to the next level? Jungle Jump shows you how to create your own sidescrolling platformer, complete with boxes to stack, pits to avoid, and treasure to locate.
Not only will this tutorial help you create a game that rivals any old-school arcade classic, you’ll have all the tools you need to include animation and sound effects, maximizing creativity.
Pros: Super fun tutorial, extremely satisfying game
Cons: Multi-level tutorial structure can take 2–3 hours to complete
Wizard
Do you already love to code? Try flipping to Arcade’s text-based interface and building a game in JavaScript or Python.
Inside the project editor, you’ll have access to everything MakeCode Arcade has to offer: including art, animation, music, and even extension blocks.
Pull your favorite retro-style games out of the recesses of your mind, and get to coding! Don’t forget that you can share whatever you create with family and friends.
https://arcade.makecode.com/#editor
Pros: Ultimate flexibility
Cons: Previous coding knowledge required
More
Want to create your own game and need more Arcade tips and tricks to get started? Search through Kiki’s Corner for all of the information you’ll need to get ideas from your brain to your console.
How to Get Your Game on Xbox
Now that you’ve got your game, you probably want to know how you’re going to get it onto the Xbox!
Don’t worry, this is the easy part.
First, you’ll need to download the FREE MakeCode Arcade Kiosk app from the Xbox store.
When you open that, you’ll see the new MakeCode Kiosk interface, allowing you to add several games to your Arcade experience. (Read more about adding Kiosk games here.)
Once you have your kiosk in “Add Game” mode, you can grab your 6-digit code, and enter it into the share screen on your computer, then click Submit.
That’s it! Now your game will be loaded onto the Xbox virtual kiosk and you’ll be ready to play!
Need a more complete walk-through? Check out this YouTube video for details:
I hope you have a great time making your own Xbox games this holiday season! And until next time…happy coding.
