Customizing The Game Over Experience in MakeCode Arcade
Maybe you’ve added additional categories for scoring your Microsoft MakeCode Arcade game, or maybe you don’t want your losing music to be so sad. Whatever the reason, it’s possible to make your game even more special with a few tweaks to the Game Over experience!
MakeCode Arcade’s game category offers a variety of blocks that allow you to change how your game ends. In this post, we’ll explore how to use those blocks to create a custom, memorable game-over experience without straying from the essentials.
1. Setting the Mood with Game Over Effects
The default Game Over screen is a bit dramatic, but what if you want to add some flair? You can use the Game menu to set different effects for when the game ends. This can add a burst of excitement, silliness, or calmness depending on the effect you choose.
For example, to create a happy vibe, you might use:
This block sets the effect to rain smiles instead of confetti when the game ends as a win.
The available effects like “smiles,” “confetti,” “bubbles,” and more can completely change how the player perceives the game’s ending. Experiment with different effects to see which one matches the mood of your game!
2. Customizing Game Over Music: Change the Tune
You don’t have to stick with the default sad tune. If your game has an upbeat theme, you can change the music that plays on the Game Over screen using
This block lets you set a tune and choose whether it should loop or play once at the end of the game.
LOSE sets the music for a loss. Use WIN to set the music for a victory.
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Now, your game can end on a note that feels right, whether it’s celebratory or encouraging.
3. Personalized Game Over Messages
Want to provide a custom message based on the player’s performance?
This block lets you display a specific message when the game ends. This is perfect for encouraging players to try again or congratulating them on their success.
You can set different messages for victories and defeats to match the tone of your game. For instance, if the player loses, you might want to use:
You can even include other variables in your game over message to let users know how well they did with items beyond the score:
4. Combining It All: The Ultimate Game Over Customization
Now that you know how to customize effects, music, and messages, let’s combine these into a complete game-over experience. Here’s an example of how you can set up a custom Game Over sequence for a winning scenario:
And for a losing scenario:
It’s important to notice that you still need to call game over <WIN> or game over <LOSE>, since none of these customizations actually initiate the “Game Over” sequence.
Why Customize?
Customizing your “Game Over” screen gives players a memorable send-off that matches the feel of your game. Whether you want to make your ending cheerful, motivating, or even humorous, the blocks in the game category make it easy. Experiment with different combinations to create the perfect ending for your game!
