Brain Game

Introduction
In this project you’ll learn how to create a times table quiz, in which you have to
get as many answers correct as you can in 30 seconds.

Step 1: Creating questions

Let’s start by creating random questions for the player to answer.

Activity Checklist
Start a new Scratch project, and delete the cat sprite so that your project
is empty. You can find the online Scratch editor at jumpto.cc/scratch-
new.

Choose a character and a backdrop for your game. You can choose any
you like! Here’s an example:

1
This content is for non-commercial use only and we reserve the right at any time to withdraw permission for use. © 2012-2016 Raspberry Pi Foundation. UK
Registered Charity 1129409
 Create 2 new variables called number 1 and number 2 . These variables
will store the 2 numbers that will be multiplied together.

Add code to your character, to set both of these variables to a random

number between 2 and 12.

when
clicked

number 1 pick random 2 to

set ▼ to 12

number 2 pick random 2 to

set ▼ to 12

You can then ask the player for the answer, and let them know if they
were right or wrong.

2
This content is for non-commercial use only and we reserve the right at any time to withdraw permission for use. © 2012-2016 Raspberry Pi Foundation. UK
Registered Charity 1129409
 when
clicked

number 1 pick random 2 to

set ▼ to 12

number 2 pick random 2 to

set ▼ to 12

ask join number 1 join x number 2 and

wait

answer =

if number 1 * then

number 2

say yes! :) for 2 sec

s

else

say nope : for 2 sec

(
s

Test your project fully, by answering one question correctly and one with
the wrong answer.

Add a forever loop around this code, so that the player is asked lots of
questions.

Create a countdown timer on the stage, using a variable called time .

The ‘Ghostbusters’ project has instructions for making a timer (in step 5)
if you need help!

Test your project again - you should be able to continue asking

questions until the time runs out.

Save your project

Challenge: Changing costumes

Can you change your character’s costumes, so that they

3
This content is for non-commercial use only and we reserve the right at any time to withdraw permission for use. © 2012-2016 Raspberry Pi Foundation. UK
Registered Charity 1129409
 respond to the player’s answer?

Challenge: Adding a score

Can you add a score to your game? You can add a point for
every correct answer. If you’re feeling mean, you could even
reset the player’s score to 0 if they get a question wrong!

Save your project

Step 2: Multiple games

Let’s add a ‘play’ button to your game, so that you can play lots of times.

Activity Checklist
Create a new ‘Play’ button sprite, which your player will click to start a
new game. You can draw it yourself, or edit a sprite from the Scratch
library.

4
This content is for non-commercial use only and we reserve the right at any time to withdraw permission for use. © 2012-2016 Raspberry Pi Foundation. UK
Registered Charity 1129409
 Add this code to your new button.

when this sprite clicke

d
when
clicked hide

show broadcast start ▼

This code shows the play button when your project is started. When the
button is clicked, it is hidden and then broadcasts a message that will
start the game.

You’ll need to edit your character’s code, so that the game starts when
they receive the start message, and not when the flag is clicked.

Replace the when flag clicked code with when I receive start .

Click the green flag and then click your new play button to test it. You
should see that the game doesn’t start until the button is clicked.

Did you notice that the timer starts when the green flag is clicked, and
not when the game starts?

5
This content is for non-commercial use only and we reserve the right at any time to withdraw permission for use. © 2012-2016 Raspberry Pi Foundation. UK
Registered Charity 1129409
 Can you fix this problem?

Click on the stage, and replace the stop all block with an end message.

You can now add code to your button, to show it again at the end of
each game.

when I receive
end ▼

show

You’ll also need to stop your character asking questions at the end of
each game:

when I receive
end ▼

other scripts in sprite

stop ▼

Test your play button by playing a couple of games. You should notice

6
This content is for non-commercial use only and we reserve the right at any time to withdraw permission for use. © 2012-2016 Raspberry Pi Foundation. UK
Registered Charity 1129409
 that the play button shows after each game. To make testing easier, you
can shorten each game, so that it only lasts a few seconds.

set time ▼ to 10

You can even change how the button looks when the mouse hovers
over it.

when
clicked

show

forever

if touching mouse-pointer ▼ ? then

set fisheye ▼ effect to 30

else

set fisheye ▼ effect to 0

Save your project

Challenge: Start screen

Can you add another backdrop to your stage, which will
become your game’s start screen? You can use the when I
receive start and when I receive end blocks to switch between

7
This content is for non-commercial use only and we reserve the right at any time to withdraw permission for use. © 2012-2016 Raspberry Pi Foundation. UK
Registered Charity 1129409
 backdrops.

You can also show and hide your character, and even show
and hide your timer by using these blocks:

show variable time ▼

hide variable time ▼

Save your project

Step 3: Adding graphics

Instead of your character just saying yes! :) or nope :( to the player, let’s add
some graphics that will let the player know how they are doing.

Create a new sprite called ‘Result’, containing both a ‘tick’ and a ‘cross’
costume.

8
This content is for non-commercial use only and we reserve the right at any time to withdraw permission for use. © 2012-2016 Raspberry Pi Foundation. UK
Registered Charity 1129409
 Change your character’s code, so that instead of telling the player how
they did, it broadcasts correct and wrong messages instead.

You can now use these messages to show the ‘tick’ or ‘cross’ costume.
Add this code to your new ‘Result’ sprite:

9
This content is for non-commercial use only and we reserve the right at any time to withdraw permission for use. © 2012-2016 Raspberry Pi Foundation. UK
Registered Charity 1129409
 Test out your game again. You should see a tick whenever you get a
question correct, and a cross whenever you get one wrong!

Have you noticed that the code for when I receive correct and when I receive
wrong is nearly identical? Let’s create a function to make it easier for you
to make changes to your code.

On your ‘Result’ sprite, click More Blocks , and then ‘Make a Block’.
Create a new function called animate .

10
This content is for non-commercial use only and we reserve the right at any time to withdraw permission for use. © 2012-2016 Raspberry Pi Foundation. UK
Registered Charity 1129409
 You can then add the animation code into your new animation function,
and then just use the function twice:

Now, if you want to show the tick and the cross for a longer or shorter
time, you only need to make one change to your code. Try it!

Instead of just showing and hiding the tick and the cross, you could
change your animation function, so that the graphics fade in.

11
This content is for non-commercial use only and we reserve the right at any time to withdraw permission for use. © 2012-2016 Raspberry Pi Foundation. UK
Registered Charity 1129409
 define animate

set ghost ▼ effect to 100

show

repeat 25

change ghost ▼ effect by -4

hide

Save your project

Challenge: Improved animation

Can you improve the animation of your graphics? You could
code the tick and cross so that they fade out as well as fade
in. Or, you could use other cool effects:

Save your project

12
This content is for non-commercial use only and we reserve the right at any time to withdraw permission for use. © 2012-2016 Raspberry Pi Foundation. UK
Registered Charity 1129409
 Challenge: Sound and music
Can you add sound effects and music to your game? For
example:

Playing a sound when the player gets an answer right or

wrong;
Adding a ticking sound to your countdown timer;
Playing a sound when the time is up;

play drum 10 ▼ for 0.1 beat

s

You could also constantly play music on a loop (if you’re

not sure how to do this, step 4 of the ‘Rock Band’ project
will help you).

Save your project

Challenge: Race to 10 points

Can you change your game, so that instead of answering as
many questions as they can in 30 seconds, the player has to
see how quickly they can get 10 questions correct?

To do this, you’ll only need to change your timer code. Can

you see what needs to be changed?

13
This content is for non-commercial use only and we reserve the right at any time to withdraw permission for use. © 2012-2016 Raspberry Pi Foundation. UK
Registered Charity 1129409
 when I receive
start ▼

set time ▼ to 30

time =
repeat until
0

wait 1 secs

change time ▼ by -1

broadcast end ▼

Save your project

Challenge: Instruction screen

Can you add an instructions screen to your game, telling your
player how to play the game? You’ll need an ‘Instructions’
button, and another stage background.

You may also need a ‘Back’ button to take you to the main
menu.

broadcast main menu ▼

14
This content is for non-commercial use only and we reserve the right at any time to withdraw permission for use. © 2012-2016 Raspberry Pi Foundation. UK
Registered Charity 1129409
 Save your project

15
This content is for non-commercial use only and we reserve the right at any time to withdraw permission for use. © 2012-2016 Raspberry Pi Foundation. UK
Registered Charity 1129409