# Biomimicry
**URL:** https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955
**Category:** Show & Tell
**Tags:** game, featured-game
**Created:** [July 29, 2020, 5:49pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955 "2020-07-29T17:49:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@FlyingFox](https://forum.makecode.com/u/FlyingFox)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2020, 5:49pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/1 "2020-07-29T17:49:16Z")
I started out trying to make a simple game to show kids how to use MakeCode Arcade, but then I couldn’t help adding a few fun features. Please let me know what I could do to improve it, gameplay-wise and code-clarity-wise. I am trying to keep the blocks simple enough for beginners to examine, but may have missed that boat already by using arrays and data sprites.
> **[Biomimicry 2.0.0](https://arcade.makecode.com/64653-47012-40623-01611)**
>
> Made with ❤️ in Microsoft MakeCode Arcade.
Thanks!
Jeff 🙂
POST EDIT:
Here’s a newer version incorporating feedback from Richard, as discussed in comments below.
> **[Biomimicry v2.2.0](https://arcade.makecode.com/33294-46648-23572-13548)**
>
> Made with ❤️ in Microsoft MakeCode Arcade.
---
### Author:  [@richard](https://forum.makecode.com/u/richard)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2020, 6:44pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/2 "2020-07-29T18:44:48Z")
This is amazing!!! I’ll admit I was a little perplexed as to why my submarine was changing shape but it ended up being such a cool mechanic
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### Author:  [@FlyingFox](https://forum.makecode.com/u/FlyingFox)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2020, 6:54pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/3 "2020-07-29T18:54:47Z")
Thanks for the feedback, Richard!
The idea was that you would study each fish, and learn something from each one that would let you catch one shark. So studying the turtle would teach you to harden the hull of your sub, and studying the green fish would teach you to use camouflage, and so on. I have the dialog boxes pop up, but they are on the long side, and players may just click through. Let me know if you think of a better way to convey the premise.
Thanks again!
Jeff 🙂
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### Author:  [@richard](https://forum.makecode.com/u/richard)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2020, 9:29pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/4 "2020-07-29T21:29:42Z")
Maybe the submarine could say something like “this specimen gives me an idea…” when you change shape. Might make the relationship between collecting species and morphing the submarine a little more explicit.
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### Author:  [@richard](https://forum.makecode.com/u/richard)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2020, 9:30pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/5 "2020-07-29T21:30:05Z")
I love the dialog boxes too, so don’t get rid of those!
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### Author:  [@FlyingFox](https://forum.makecode.com/u/FlyingFox)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2020, 1:09am UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/6 "2020-07-30T01:09:49Z")
Yes, that’s an excellent idea. I tried something more verbose, but it was hard to read the “say” with the sub moving, so I shortened the “say” text to a one word summary of the mimicry, such as “Spines!”, “Pinchers!”, etc. and left the dialog at the end to summarize the use of the mimicry to catch the shark. Here is the game now, subtly changed, but hopefully improved:
> **[Biomimicry v2.2.0](https://arcade.makecode.com/33294-46648-23572-13548)**
>
> Made with ❤️ in Microsoft MakeCode Arcade.
Jeff 🙂
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### Author:  [@AlexK](https://forum.makecode.com/u/AlexK)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2020, 1:48am UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/7 "2020-07-30T01:48:26Z")
This is _super_ cute! Absolutely love the concept, and the game is nicely implemented, too! Well done!
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### Author:  [@LcAtonal](https://forum.makecode.com/u/LcAtonal)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2020, 7:34am UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/8 "2020-07-30T07:34:20Z")
I like how you collect animals and change the design
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### Author:  [@livcheerful](https://forum.makecode.com/u/livcheerful)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2020, 5:56pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/9 "2020-07-30T17:56:59Z")
I SCREAMED when I got the spines from the pufferfish I was so excited. The colors were so nice together too 😮
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### Author:  [@FlyingFox](https://forum.makecode.com/u/FlyingFox)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2020, 8:02pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/10 "2020-07-30T20:02:36Z")
Exxxxcellent! I’m happy to hear you were drawn in, emotionally. It’s tricky trying to balance the right amount of difficulty. I tried to craft things so that it would be easy to jump in and get some animals and sub modifications, but then have another layer of strategy required (getting the faster animals first) to win the game. Thanks for testing!
Jeff 🙂
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### Author:  [@Dreadmask197](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Dreadmask197)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2020, 11:35am UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/11 "2020-07-31T11:35:09Z")
It’s cool how you make the points and stuff change color
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### Author:  [@Dreadmask197](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Dreadmask197)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2020, 1:21pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/12 "2020-08-03T13:21:17Z")
Woo hoo!!!
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### Author:  [@FlyingFox](https://forum.makecode.com/u/FlyingFox)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2020, 2:18pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/13 "2020-08-03T14:18:29Z")
Amazing work, @Dreadmask197 !! It ain’t easy, avoiding the sharks and avoiding wasting immunities. Thanks so much for posting, too. It’s nice to see it enjoyed.
With a full win under your belt, let me know if you think of any further improvements I might make. I was thinking of making the levels/speeds more visually distinct, and maybe also increasing the difficulty (even though I rarely win) or having adjustable difficulty, with fun navy ranks to play as: seaman, first mate, captain, etc.
Jeff 🙂
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### Author:  [@Dreadmask197](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Dreadmask197)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2020, 2:22pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/14 "2020-08-03T14:22:25Z")
Levels and maybe different animals or maybe even playing as a shark or a competitive play against your friends? I love your game with the sea animals so maybe the land animals should get a chance or bugs?
@FlyingFox Your games are nicely done.
Nathan
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### Author:  [@Dreadmask197](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Dreadmask197)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/15 "2020-08-03T14:24:05Z")
They are just suggestions. Different animals and biomes can be done.
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### Author:  [@FlyingFox](https://forum.makecode.com/u/FlyingFox)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2020, 5:15pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/16 "2020-08-19T17:15:56Z")
The museum finally published the video that got me started making this game.
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQDZlBXLu7Q)
I originally started out trying to make the simplest possible game to be able to show kids in five minutes. Arcade is so engaging, though, that I got sucked down the rabbit hole and couldn’t stop adding features to my version, which the editor of the video only briefly used 🙂
The important thing is that _I_ had fun, right? And the video will probably inspire a few kids, too boot 😃
Jeff
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### Author:  [@Kat](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Kat)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/17 "2020-08-19T18:01:21Z")
Is that museum in Portland, Maine?
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### Author:  [@Kat](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Kat)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2020, 6:03pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/18 "2020-08-19T18:03:17Z")
Nevermind! Thats the one in Raleigh. A children´s museum in Portland looks very similar!
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### Author:  [@FlyingFox](https://forum.makecode.com/u/FlyingFox)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2020, 6:06pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/19 "2020-08-19T18:06:36Z")
I’ve heard the Portland one is super cool, too. I think that’s the one that has some tech exhibits I’ve seen pictures of.
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### Author:  [@Kat](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Kat)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2020, 6:09pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/biomimicry/2955/20 "2020-08-19T18:09:42Z")
It is quite cool. There is a fishing boat play area/exhibit that looked like the one in the video you shared. Thats why I thought it was the one in Portland.
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