Chibi-Matoran wrote:

Cool! I can try to teach you some techniques.

First of all, how are you organizing your code? Even though many Scratchers opt for multiple forever loops:

when green flag clicked
forever
...
end
when green flag clicked
forever
...
end

a much better approach exists.

when green flag clicked
forever
broadcast [tick v] and wait
end

Instead of having multiple forever loops that run at the same time, the entire game runs on one forever loop. This loop sends a “tick” or “update” event that tells sprites to update their values and appearances. Sprite behavior is coded as frame-by-frame actions that are triggered by “tick.”

I'm guessing that your “wolf life simulator” will have NPCs. Novice Scratchers tend to use multiple sprites, but this method is inefficient. You can use the “clone” feature to dynamically create copies of sprites during runtime, a useful feature when similar sprites appear onscreen simultaneously. Even though clones may be deleted, an even more advanced approach would be to “pool” them, which is less intensive. You would create all the clones at the beginning of the project. Clones are either active or inactive; instead of creating a clone, make an inactive one active, and instead of deleting a clone, make an active one inactive.

Sorry, I can't offer more tips about your game from the given information, but I hope I provided some valuable insight.

Chibi-Matoran wrote:

Chibi-Matoran wrote:

Cool! I can try to teach you some techniques.

First of all, how are you organizing your code? Even though many Scratchers opt for multiple forever loops:

when green flag clicked
forever
...
end
when green flag clicked
forever
...
end

a much better approach exists.

when green flag clicked
forever
broadcast [tick v] and wait
end

Instead of having multiple forever loops that run at the same time, the entire game runs on one forever loop. This loop sends a “tick” or “update” event that tells sprites to update their values and appearances. Sprite behavior is coded as frame-by-frame actions that are triggered by “tick.”

I'm guessing that your “wolf life simulator” will have NPCs. Novice Scratchers tend to use multiple sprites, but this method is inefficient. You can use the “clone” feature to dynamically create copies of sprites during runtime, a useful feature when similar sprites appear onscreen simultaneously. Even though clones may be deleted, an even more advanced approach would be to “pool” them, which is less intensive. You would create all the clones at the beginning of the project. Clones are either active or inactive; instead of creating a clone, make an inactive one active, and instead of deleting a clone, make an active one inactive.

Sorry, I can't offer more tips about your game from the given information, but I hope I provided some valuable insight.

Yeah, it's perfect. I'll be sure to use those. You watch out, I'll message you when the game is made, and you can see the NPC pool.

Many of the big “Founding Scratch Artists” (popular scratchers with older accounts who brought the concept of art/animating to scratch) were Warrior Cat fans (such as @-MaskedStar- or @kaotheroogoncreator ), or just liked to draw cats in general ( @-SkyStar- ), which both attracted outsider warrior fans to Scratch, and introduced Scratchers to the Warrior cat fandom.


Lets not forget that Canines/wolves dominate most other art sites! What makes them so popular?

Cool! If you're confused about what I told you or need more information, you may read these resources:
https://wiki.scratch.mit.edu/wiki/Game_Loop
http://gameprogrammingpatterns.com/game-loop.html (Examples written in C++, but hopefully readable by anybody)
https://unity3d.com/learn/tutorials/topics/scripting/object-pooling (Written in C#, but has some helpful and understandable diagrams)
http://gameprogrammingpatterns.com/object-pool.html (This article talks memory management details that Scratch programmers don't need to be worried about)

Remember, the game loop is about updating the sprites once per frame.
This code:

when [tick v] key pressed
repeat (10)
change x by (2)
end

would NOT be good for the technique because translating the sprite 10 times costs multiple frames. Do not make a sprite undergo any animations in one “tick” broadcast; each frame of the animation is done under separate ticks.

Chibi-Matoran wrote:

Cool! If you're confused about what I told you or need more information, you may read these resources:
https://wiki.scratch.mit.edu/wiki/Game_Loop
http://gameprogrammingpatterns.com/game-loop.html (Examples written in C++, but hopefully readable by anybody)
https://unity3d.com/learn/tutorials/topics/scripting/object-pooling (Written in C#, but has some helpful and understandable diagrams)
http://gameprogrammingpatterns.com/object-pool.html (This article talks memory management details that Scratch programmers don't need to be worried about)

Remember, the game loop is about updating the sprites once per frame.
This code:

when [tick v] key pressed
repeat (10)
change x by (2)
end

would NOT be good for the technique because translating the sprite 10 times costs multiple frames. Do not make a sprite undergo any animations in one “tick” broadcast; each frame of the animation is done under separate ticks.

Yeah, I'll be sure to check those out. Thanks!

Whoa, this is the most well-put-together post by a new scratcher that I've seen in a while.
I think I tried to read the series once. I was only about 7 or 8 and I barely got past the first chapter, but for some reason I kept checking out the books just because they had insanely well-designed covers and thus looked like something that should give me bragging rights for reading it. I always got the first book.
And every. Single. Time. I read the first sentence, retreated into my mind, somehow wound up at the end of the chapter, returned the book to the library and then repeated the process about a week later. I still can't tell you what the first chapter is about.
Anyway, I guess that didn't really have anything to do with anything, I just had a sudden flashback somewhat related to the OP and decided to type it out, and now it's too much work to delete it so I'm just gonna post it. This is totally valuable information I'm giving you right now. Yeah.
I'm really tired, in case you can't tell. And when I'm tired I have bad ideas and ramble. I promise, I'm not usually like this. XP

Candylanguagegirl wrote:

Whoa, this is the most well-put-together post by a new scratcher that I've seen in a while.
I think I tried to read the series once. I was only about 7 or 8 and I barely got past the first chapter, but for some reason I kept checking out the books just because they had insanely well-designed covers and thus looked like something that should give me bragging rights for reading it. I always got the first book.
And every. Single. Time. I read the first sentence, retreated into my mind, somehow wound up at the end of the chapter, returned the book to the library and then repeated the process about a week later. I still can't tell you what the first chapter is about.
Anyway, I guess that didn't really have anything to do with anything, I just had a sudden flashback somewhat related to the OP and decided to type it out, and now it's too much work to delete it so I'm just gonna post it. This is totally valuable information I'm giving you right now. Yeah.
I'm really tired, in case you can't tell. And when I'm tired I have bad ideas and ramble. I promise, I'm not usually like this. XP

Same, same, and same. Here, I have the very first book right here, I'll read the first - HOLY FRICK THERE'S 71 BOOKS. Sorry, I just found that interesting. If you have enough time on your hands to read 71 averagely sized chapter books…. get a life. *. Anyway… You have to do… (I forget) before you pounce. That was so forgettable that I forgot the sentence three seconds after I read it. I can't believe myself, I made it the whoel way to page 52.

Another thing I'm not a fan of is that there's so many characters and subplots that I can't keep track of them.

Hold up, there's something you may not realize.
Besides the RPs, a lot of cat related content isn't even warriors. Yes, it sparked with warriors, but now most of the memes and art and other stuff isn't even related to the books themselves. If you ask the average Meme maker if they've read warriors, chances are the answer is no.
Cat OCs aren't usually related to warriors anyways. Warrior cats are normal colored, normal shaped cats. Most Cat OCs have wings, halos, weird colors, hybrid parts, or clothes, all things that can't be found in warriors (Or at least i don't think so).

I used to read it in 5th grade.

Also, I agree that cats are becoming overused, shoving the other animals into a very dark corner. However, we must deal with it, we can only change what's wrong to the universe.

Ok good, _Foxtail_ has seen this. @_Foxtail_

cs156175 wrote:

Hold up, there's something you may not realize.
Besides the RPs, a lot of cat related content isn't even warriors. Yes, it sparked with warriors, but now most of the memes and art and other stuff isn't even related to the books themselves. If you ask the average Meme maker if they've read warriors, chances are the answer is no.
Cat OCs aren't usually related to warriors anyways. Warrior cats are normal colored, normal shaped cats. Most Cat OCs have wings, halos, weird colors, hybrid parts, or clothes, all things that can't be found in warriors (Or at least i don't think so).

Oh yeah, I'm well aware of that. But you may be missing my point - their names may not be the same, but it's still the same thing in a way. Like I said, younger audiences read Warriors. They go on Scratch. They put things on about Warriors. But their OCs have wings, halos, weird colors, hybrid parts, and clothes because they like the concept that their cat is invincible, and that they can, well, boast to their friends about how their cat has all of these fixes. It's inspiration - a big one. And that is why I think that, while it may not be Warriors directly, cats in general have taken over Scratch. Now, I'm trying my best to see where you're coming from - you like Warriors, or cats anyway, and it probably doesn't bother you that here on Scratch, you're surrounded by art and projects that you love. If I was put in the same situation, I'd be in la-la-land as well. However, if there's so much of it that when you look up “CC” all you get is cats, then how are you to be original if you like said topic? That's my only problem with it. Look at Rocco32's project on why it all looks the same. You can't be original. I can't tell one artist from the rest, even though the super good artists give them a gazillion whiskers and eyebrows. I don't know what I'd do in that situation. I love the topic and want to make projects about it, but how do I make myself look different? It's like trying to make yourself different from all of the other Minecraft YouTubers. You almost can't. So, what's my advice? To be honest, I don't know. I really don't. I guess you're just… Stuck. Try to make a few memes and CCs, and you'll fit right into the “Top Remixed” place.

Wow, that went off topic.

]New Scratcher status. I can't post photos yet, but I had a screenshot of me looking up “CC”. I didn't even put in the keywords “Warriors” or even “Cat”! One of the CCs was literally called, “Chibi Warrior Cat CC”. I laughed so hard, I died. Now I'm dead.

On a side note, people looked at this wanting to get offended, I think. This has like 150-160 views and thirtysome replies. I now know how to become a famous Scratcher. Just find controversial topics and explain them well. But make sure they tie into Scratch.

-Scotch- wrote:

cs156175 wrote:

Hold up, there's something you may not realize.
Besides the RPs, a lot of cat related content isn't even warriors. Yes, it sparked with warriors, but now most of the memes and art and other stuff isn't even related to the books themselves. If you ask the average Meme maker if they've read warriors, chances are the answer is no.
Cat OCs aren't usually related to warriors anyways. Warrior cats are normal colored, normal shaped cats. Most Cat OCs have wings, halos, weird colors, hybrid parts, or clothes, all things that can't be found in warriors (Or at least i don't think so).

Oh yeah, I'm well aware of that. But you may be missing my point - their names may not be the same, but it's still the same thing in a way. Like I said, younger audiences read Warriors. They go on Scratch. They put things on about Warriors. But their OCs have wings, halos, weird colors, hybrid parts, and clothes because they like the concept that their cat is invincible, and that they can, well, boast to their friends about how their cat has all of these fixes. It's inspiration - a big one. And that is why I think that, while it may not be Warriors directly, cats in general have taken over Scratch. Now, I'm trying my best to see where you're coming from - you like Warriors, or cats anyway, and it probably doesn't bother you that here on Scratch, you're surrounded by art and projects that you love. If I was put in the same situation, I'd be in la-la-land as well. However, if there's so much of it that when you look up “CC” all you get is cats, then how are you to be original if you like said topic? That's my only problem with it. Look at Rocco32's project on why it all looks the same. You can't be original. I can't tell one artist from the rest, even though the super good artists give them a gazillion whiskers and eyebrows. I don't know what I'd do in that situation. I love the topic and want to make projects about it, but how do I make myself look different? It's like trying to make yourself different from all of the other Minecraft YouTubers. You almost can't. So, what's my advice? To be honest, I don't know. I really don't. I guess you're just… Stuck. Try to make a few memes and CCs, and you'll fit right into the “Top Remixed” place.

Wow, that went off topic.

I don't find that it all looks the same. Yes, there are a group of artists who's styles look similar, but upon examining them you see that there are very distinct differences between their styles. And I find that the halos/wings/weird colors aren't actually strengths the character has. If we stuck to normal cats, a lot of OCs would end up looking the same. There are only a few combinations of ‘normal’ cat colors, and adding the special colors adds a bit more to the spectrum.
Adding the wings/halos/horns/scarves/robotic prosthetic arms (That's pretty much just me) adds even more.
Anyways, if you examine each artist's style you can clearly see the differences between them. Some have 2 shines in the eyes, some have 1. Some have lines that connect, some have no lines, some have thin, wispy lines. Some have a lower shading area in the ear, some have a shading are in the middle, some have no shading area. Some have paws that taper into thin points, some have wide, thick paws (me.). Some people have fluffy chests, some don't. Some people have fox-like tails, some people have fluff-at-the-end tails, some people have shorthair tails.. you get it.

-Scotch- wrote:

-Snip-

I don't find that it all looks the same. Yes, there are a group of artists who's styles look similar, but upon examining them you see that there are very distinct differences between their styles. And I find that the halos/wings/weird colors aren't actually strengths the character has. If we stuck to normal cats, a lot of OCs would end up looking the same. There are only a few combinations of ‘normal’ cat colors, and adding the special colors adds a bit more to the spectrum.
Adding the wings/halos/horns/scarves/robotic prosthetic arms (That's pretty much just me) adds even more.
Anyways, if you examine each artist's style you can clearly see the differences between them. Some have 2 shines in the eyes, some have 1. Some have lines that connect, some have no lines, some have thin, wispy lines. Some have a lower shading area in the ear, some have a shading are in the middle, some have no shading area. Some have paws that taper into thin points, some have wide, thick paws (me.). Some people have fluffy chests, some don't. Some people have fox-like tails, some people have fluff-at-the-end tails, some people have shorthair tails.. you get it.

Yes, while there still can be some variances, they still have the same, er.. Shape, I guess. Rocco32 put those key variances together nicely. So, if you can find a way to make yourself stand out, then I guess I'll see you in the Top Remixed or Top Loved box. Good luck!

i guess it's an okay series! i haven't read it but i am sure it's something you'd really like if you're into that type of stuff (e.g. eragon, percy jackson, etc)

therealpsy wrote:

i guess it's an okay series! i haven't read it but i am sure it's something you'd really like if you're into that type of stuff (e.g. eragon, percy jackson, etc)

But that's the thing - I like animal books. Heck, my favorite series was Wolves Of The Beyond, and I read all six books. I just don't know about that series in particular.

Oh, hellopink-tail!

Chibi-Matoran wrote:

(…) Sometimes, I'm a bit sad, because I feel like most of the community cares more about cat animations than computing, even though Scratch is a programming site. I wish that more CS-related projects got on the front page, but for some reason, the people who are interested in programming are a minority on this little programming site.

Best post.

I think the animations are okay, but just the drawings, or the coloring contests, are just ugh. So much for “What the Community's Remixing.”Also, it seems that a lot of Scratchers have become interesting in graphic design and wierd usernames rather than improving their programming. Like I've found projects of just some random inanimate object drawn in vector… like what??

I saw the first Warriors book at a bookstore and I read it a bit, and it just wasn't to my interest, but the only reason I read it was because there's so much Warriors on Scratch

What I think happened is one person read it, and they went on Scratch and started talking about how fantastic it is, and then someone else read it and started talking about it, and someone else, etc… and then it happens to the point that when someone sees a Warriors project on Scratch, they feel required to read it because everyone else is talking about it, and it probably causes a chain reaction if they end up liking it.

Lataliat wrote:

Chibi-Matoran wrote:

(…) Sometimes, I'm a bit sad, because I feel like most of the community cares more about cat animations than computing, even though Scratch is a programming site. I wish that more CS-related projects got on the front page, but for some reason, the people who are interested in programming are a minority on this little programming site.

Best post.

I think the animations are okay, but just the drawings, or the coloring contests, are just ugh. So much for “What the Community's Remixing.”Also, it seems that a lot of Scratchers have become interesting in graphic design and wierd usernames rather than improving their programming. Like I've found projects of just some random inanimate object drawn in vector… like what??

*Wishes there was a favorite button for posts*