{"id":894,"date":"2026-02-13T09:13:36","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T01:13:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edu.circuspi.com\/?p=894"},"modified":"2026-03-09T15:56:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T07:56:20","slug":"8-designing-game-win-and-loss-conditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edu.circuspi.com\/index.php\/gamebit-en\/8-designing-game-win-and-loss-conditions\/","title":{"rendered":"8. Designing Game Win and Loss Conditions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We are going to add conditions to determine victory or defeat, transforming the simple “Orange Dinosaur eats Burger” interaction into an exciting mini-game. For example, we can add a “Scoring Mechanism<\/strong>” where eating a burger adds a point, and the eaten burger “Randomly<\/strong>” respawns elsewhere. Or, we could add “bad food” that gives the dinosaur a stomach ache. As long as you have an idea, you can add it to your game to make it richer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since this continues from the previous unit, you need to have “Two Sprites<\/strong>” prepared: one controlled by the player, and another to be eaten or destroyed. If you have been following this tutorial series step-by-step, you are already prepared!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

8.1 Learning to Calculate Scores<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, open your project from the previous unit. You should have two sprites, and when they overlap, the non-player sprite is destroyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Taking the characters in the image as an example, our idea is: when the Burger is “destroyed<\/strong>“, we “gain points<\/strong>“. In MakeCode Arcade, a group of blocks is dedicated to handling this information: the “Info<\/strong>” category in the Block Toolbox<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The “Info<\/strong>” category contains blocks like “Score<\/strong>“, “Life<\/strong>“, and “Countdown<\/strong>“, which we will use in order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we drag score-related blocks into the Workspace<\/strong> and assemble the code correctly, a score area will appear in the top-right corner of the Game Simulator<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now, let’s drag the “set score to ( 0 )<\/strong>” block and place it inside the “on start<\/strong>” block (it can be placed anywhere inside). Placing it in “on start<\/strong>” ensures the score resets to zero when the game restarts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Next, we need a block to help us adjust the score. Also found in “Info<\/strong>,” drag out the “change score by ( 1 )<\/strong>” block.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The “1” in “change score by ( 1 )<\/strong>” means adding 1 to the current score. If you enter a negative number, it will subtract from the score, as shown below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We can add this block to the “code that runs after the burger is eaten<\/strong>.” This way, when the Orange Dinosaur overlaps with the Burger, besides destroying the Burger, we also gain 1 point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once finished, run it in the Game Simulator<\/strong> and pay attention to whether the score increases!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

8.2 Understanding Random Generation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since the “Burger”<\/strong> is gone after being eaten, we need it to reappear. The method is simple: just create another burger. Besides setting its position, remember to set its “Kind<\/strong>” correctly so it meets the “Overlap Conditions<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, you will notice the burger always appears in a fixed spot. In a normal game, it should be “Randomly Generated<\/strong>” in different places. We can find the convenient block “pick random ( 0 ) to ( 10 )<\/strong>” within the “Math<\/strong>” category in the Block Toolbox<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We can fill in two numbers, and it will randomly generate a new number between them. Quick thinkers might already know what to use this for!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

That’s right! We can use it to “Generate Coordinates<\/strong>.” Place this block into the x<\/strong> and y<\/strong> coordinate fields respectively. Fill in the ranges: 0~160<\/strong> for the x-coordinate and 0~120<\/strong> for the y-coordinate (based on screen pixel size).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After finishing, run it in the Game Simulator<\/strong>. Test it a few times, and you might notice that sometimes the burger disappears or gets stuck, as shown below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This is because we didn’t restrict it to appear strictly within<\/em> the visible screen area. We can use the “set [mySprite] stay in screen <ON><\/strong>” block found in the “Sprites<\/strong>” category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Place this block after<\/strong> the “create sprite” block. This adds a restriction immediately when the burger is created, so it won’t go out of bounds when randomly positioning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember to select the correct Variable Name<\/strong> (the target) at the beginning of the block.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Test it in the Game Simulator<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We have completed the scoring and random spawning functions, but the game feels a bit empty. Let’s add some sound! Specifically, when the burger is eaten. Add the “Music<\/strong>” block we learned earlier to the destruction event. You can find a suitable sound effect or design one yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While you’re at it, add some background music to enrich the game presentation. Remember to set the “looping<\/strong>” option to “true<\/strong>” for continuous playback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Adding a Challenge: The Countdown<\/strong> Gaining points endlessly without a result isn’t a game. Let’s add an element of excitement: a “Countdown Timer<\/strong>.” We will set a rule: if the score doesn’t meet the target when time runs out, the player loses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drag out the “start countdown ( 10 ) seconds<\/strong>” block from the “Info<\/strong>” category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Place this block at the very bottom of the “on start<\/strong>” block. This means the countdown begins just as the game starts. Feel free to set the duration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Then, we need to determine the result when the timer ends. Drag out the “on countdown end<\/strong>” block from “Info<\/strong>” and place it in the Workspace<\/strong> (empty area).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Next, we need to judge if our score meets the target. Drag out the “if… then… else<\/strong>” block from “Logic<\/strong>” and place it inside “on countdown end<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Drag out the “score<\/strong>” block (the oval shape) from “Info<\/strong>.” This block stores our current score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To compare the score, we need a “Comparison<\/strong>” block. Drag out the “< ( 0 ) = ( 0 ) ><\/strong>” block from “Logic<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Combine these three blocks. In the dropdown menu of the comparison block, select “><\/strong>” (greater than).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Choose your own target score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the most critical block: select “game over <LOSE><\/strong>” from the “Game<\/strong>” category. The option at the end determines whether the game is won or lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Add the different “Results<\/strong>” (Win\/Lose) into the condition slots sequentially. Now, an exciting and fun game is complete!!\ud83c\udf89\ud83c\udf89\ud83c\udf89<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We are going to add conditions to determine victory or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":438,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,23],"tags":[],"table_tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-894","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gamebit-en","8":"category-freeinfo-en","9":"czr-hentry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edu.circuspi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/894","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edu.circuspi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edu.circuspi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu.circuspi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu.circuspi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=894"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/edu.circuspi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/894\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1224,"href":"https:\/\/edu.circuspi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/894\/revisions\/1224"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu.circuspi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edu.circuspi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu.circuspi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu.circuspi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=894"},{"taxonomy":"table_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu.circuspi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/table_tags?post=894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}