student_tasks.md

Week 11 – Student Tasks: Timed Coin Collector

Task A: Run and play

1. Open week11.py in Thonny
2. Press Run (F5)
3. Try to collect as many coins as possible before time runs out
4. Note your final score
5. Play again and try to beat your score!

Task B: Make modifications

1. Change game duration

   • Find: GAME_SECONDS = 20
   • Try: GAME_SECONDS = 30 (easier - more time)
   • Try: GAME_SECONDS = 10 (harder - less time)
   • Try: GAME_SECONDS = 60 (long game)

2. Change movement speed

   • Find: STEP = 20
   • Try: STEP = 30 (move faster to collect more)
   • Try: STEP = 10 (slower, more challenging)

3. Change collection distance

   • Find: if hero.distance(coin) < 25:
   • Try: < 40 (easier)
   • Try: < 15 (harder)

4. Change colors

   • Find: coin.color("gold")
   • Try different colors: "red", "blue", "green"
   • Change hero color: hero.color("blue")

Task C: Add enhancements

1. Show final score

   • Modify the game_over() function:

   def game_over():
       writer.goto(-120, 20)
       writer.write("GAME OVER", font=("Arial", 24, "bold"))
       writer.goto(-100, -20)
       writer.write(f"Final Score: {score}", font=("Arial", 18, "normal"))

2. Add a win condition

   • Win if you reach score of 15 before time runs out:

   def check_collect():
       global score
       if check_time():
           game_over()
           return
       if hero.distance(coin) < 25:
           score += 1
           place_coin()
           if score >= 15:  # Win condition!
               writer.goto(-70, 0)
               writer.write("YOU WIN!", font=("Arial", 24, "bold"))
               return
       draw_ui()

3. Add time warning

   • Change text color when time is running out:

   def draw_ui():
       remaining = max(0, int(GAME_SECONDS - (time.time() - start_time)))
       writer.clear()
       
       # Warning when less than 5 seconds
       if remaining <= 5 and remaining > 0:
           writer.color("red")
           writer.write(f"Score: {score}   Time: {remaining}  HURRY!", 
                       font=("Arial", 16, "bold"))
           writer.color("black")
       else:
           writer.write(f"Score: {score}   Time: {remaining}", 
                       font=("Arial", 16, "normal"))

4. Count-up timer

   • Show elapsed time instead of countdown:

   def draw_ui():
       elapsed = int(time.time() - start_time)
       writer.clear()
       writer.write(f"Score: {score}   Time: {elapsed}s", 
                   font=("Arial", 16, "normal"))

Task D: Creative challenges

1. Difficulty levels

   • Add this at the start:

   print("Choose difficulty:")
   print("1 = Easy (30 seconds)")
   print("2 = Normal (20 seconds)")
   print("3 = Hard (10 seconds)")
   choice = input("Enter 1, 2, or 3: ")
   
   if choice == "1":
       GAME_SECONDS = 30
   elif choice == "3":
       GAME_SECONDS = 10
   else:
       GAME_SECONDS = 20

2. Shrinking coin challenge

   • Coin gets smaller as time passes:

   def place_coin():
       coin.goto(random.randint(-320, 320), random.randint(-200, 200))
       time_passed = time.time() - start_time
       size = max(0.5, 1.5 - (time_passed / GAME_SECONDS))
       coin.shapesize(size, size)

3. Moving coin

   • Coin moves on its own every few seconds:

   last_move = time.time()
   
   def check_collect():
       global score, last_move
       if check_time():
           game_over()
           return
       
       # Auto-move coin every 3 seconds
       if time.time() - last_move > 3:
           place_coin()
           last_move = time.time()
       
       if hero.distance(coin) < 25:
           score += 1
           place_coin()
       draw_ui()

4. Multiple coins with timer

   • Combine week 10's multiple coins with timer:

   # Create list of 5 coins
   coins = []
   for _ in range(5):
       c = turtle.Turtle()
       c.shape("circle")
       c.color("gold")
       c.penup()
       c.goto(random.randint(-320, 320), random.randint(-200, 200))
       coins.append(c)
   
   # Check all coins
   def check_collect():
       global score
       if check_time():
           game_over()
           return
       for coin in coins:
           if hero.distance(coin) < 25:
               coin.goto(random.randint(-320, 320), random.randint(-200, 200))
               score += 1
               break
       draw_ui()

5. High score tracking

   • Keep track of best score:

   high_score = 0
   
   def game_over():
       global high_score
       if score > high_score:
           high_score = score
       writer.goto(-120, 20)
       writer.write("GAME OVER", font=("Arial", 24, "bold"))
       writer.goto(-140, -20)
       writer.write(f"Score: {score}  High: {high_score}", 
                   font=("Arial", 16, "normal"))

Success checklist

• I can play the timed game and get a score
• I understand how time.time() tracks elapsed time
• I changed the game duration successfully
• I added at least one enhancement (final score, win condition, or warning)
• I can beat my previous high score!