Discuss Scratch
- tacky365
-
100+ posts
Guide To Finding Ideas
Hey you there! Yeah I'm talking to you! I bet your here because you want an idea right? Well look no further, instead of requesting ideas, hopefully with this guide you can find them on your own! 
Now, if your in this forum section your probably thinking, “I need an idea for a new project, I'll ask in the forums!” However, have you ever thought of how the people that respond to you give good, innovative, and creative ideas? Probably not eh? You just go with the flow. But don't worry, in this guide of five easy steps you can learn to find your own ideas.
Step 1: Appeal to Your Interests
That's right, don't go thinking to yourself that you want to make a project because it will make you popular. Do something you like! If you love playing tennis, make a virtual tennis simulator. If you love art, make a showcase of all your pieces. You can make almost anything you imagine in scratch, and it certainly won't help if your doing it not for fun, but for fame. Doing this will help narrow down what you want to do, and hopefully make it more fun and interesting so that the project won't we dreadful and boring to make.
Step 2: Acknowledge Your Environment
Here's a fun fact, most scratchers often make projects a little based on their life or what they do. For example, when I made Escape I was playing Portal on Newgrounds.com. I thought to myself, hey wouldn't people enjoy a platformer game that had graphics and a storyline similar to Portal? In the end it turned out to be a great success and I thoroughly enjoyed making the project. It doesn't have to be inside to find ideas, sometimes it's best to go outside for some fresh air and just have fun. You can find some things outside not found inside that may become the base of a great project. For example, if you go outside and see an airplane doing loops and spins. You may want to design a flight simulator in Scratch with the airplane being able to do tricks which is an unexplored idea in scratch.
Step 3: Inspiration, Remixing, and Copying
There is a big difference being inspired copying. People often get this wrong, when they say, “You copied their idea” it's sometimes not true. Yes, if they made something totally new such as an iPhone and then Android made Samsung that would be considered an idea being copied. But if someone said you copied my platformer idea that isn't right. Ideas like platformers are general and people can all use it as a base. It's what you put in the platformer that counts. Being inspired is when an idea is created from another's work mixed with your own ideas. You make your own project from the bottom up, but the idea is a bit related to another's work. Remixing is similar to inspiration, but instead you tweak the project to what your idea is. Being inspired is almost always the best, as it is hard to achieve, remixing is ok as long as you give credit, and exactly copying the project while claiming you made it is bad.
Step 4: Finding Inspiration
By now your probably wondering, so Tacky I've learned about inspiration, remixing, and copying, but how can I find inspiration or creativity? Well, relate to step 1 and 2. Appeal to your interests and the environment. When you use Windows or Mac OS think of how you could make your own OS if your interested. When your playing a video game think of how you could make your own game. Instead of focusing on your self-interests, think outside the box on how you could make something new, but with the same concept. This is inspiration at it's finest form. When you have an idea that branches off from an another idea, into a a new tree. Thus the remix tree of ideas, but one stick may be a new project with a new idea, and grow up with more branches.
Step 5: Connect With The Community
You still here? Yes? So you still can't find ideas? Or are you ready to help the community? You see Scratch can be related to a social network. A good and safe one at least, where scratchers can imagine, program, and share. If you truly cannot find ideas then don;t be afraid to ask for help. There are scratchers everywhere that are willing to help you, all you have to do is ask! Also, when a scratcher helps you, don't you think you owe the scratch community to help them too? People will be grateful when you help them as will you when you are helped out. Help others and they'll help back. People come in many varieties and there are a lot of ideas to share. So connect with others and have fun in Scratch!
Remember it's not about the number of projects or followers you have on Scratch, It's about the experience~Tacky365
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Now, if your in this forum section your probably thinking, “I need an idea for a new project, I'll ask in the forums!” However, have you ever thought of how the people that respond to you give good, innovative, and creative ideas? Probably not eh? You just go with the flow. But don't worry, in this guide of five easy steps you can learn to find your own ideas.
Step 1: Appeal to Your Interests
That's right, don't go thinking to yourself that you want to make a project because it will make you popular. Do something you like! If you love playing tennis, make a virtual tennis simulator. If you love art, make a showcase of all your pieces. You can make almost anything you imagine in scratch, and it certainly won't help if your doing it not for fun, but for fame. Doing this will help narrow down what you want to do, and hopefully make it more fun and interesting so that the project won't we dreadful and boring to make.
Step 2: Acknowledge Your Environment
Here's a fun fact, most scratchers often make projects a little based on their life or what they do. For example, when I made Escape I was playing Portal on Newgrounds.com. I thought to myself, hey wouldn't people enjoy a platformer game that had graphics and a storyline similar to Portal? In the end it turned out to be a great success and I thoroughly enjoyed making the project. It doesn't have to be inside to find ideas, sometimes it's best to go outside for some fresh air and just have fun. You can find some things outside not found inside that may become the base of a great project. For example, if you go outside and see an airplane doing loops and spins. You may want to design a flight simulator in Scratch with the airplane being able to do tricks which is an unexplored idea in scratch.
Step 3: Inspiration, Remixing, and Copying
There is a big difference being inspired copying. People often get this wrong, when they say, “You copied their idea” it's sometimes not true. Yes, if they made something totally new such as an iPhone and then Android made Samsung that would be considered an idea being copied. But if someone said you copied my platformer idea that isn't right. Ideas like platformers are general and people can all use it as a base. It's what you put in the platformer that counts. Being inspired is when an idea is created from another's work mixed with your own ideas. You make your own project from the bottom up, but the idea is a bit related to another's work. Remixing is similar to inspiration, but instead you tweak the project to what your idea is. Being inspired is almost always the best, as it is hard to achieve, remixing is ok as long as you give credit, and exactly copying the project while claiming you made it is bad.
Step 4: Finding Inspiration
By now your probably wondering, so Tacky I've learned about inspiration, remixing, and copying, but how can I find inspiration or creativity? Well, relate to step 1 and 2. Appeal to your interests and the environment. When you use Windows or Mac OS think of how you could make your own OS if your interested. When your playing a video game think of how you could make your own game. Instead of focusing on your self-interests, think outside the box on how you could make something new, but with the same concept. This is inspiration at it's finest form. When you have an idea that branches off from an another idea, into a a new tree. Thus the remix tree of ideas, but one stick may be a new project with a new idea, and grow up with more branches.
Step 5: Connect With The Community
You still here? Yes? So you still can't find ideas? Or are you ready to help the community? You see Scratch can be related to a social network. A good and safe one at least, where scratchers can imagine, program, and share. If you truly cannot find ideas then don;t be afraid to ask for help. There are scratchers everywhere that are willing to help you, all you have to do is ask! Also, when a scratcher helps you, don't you think you owe the scratch community to help them too? People will be grateful when you help them as will you when you are helped out. Help others and they'll help back. People come in many varieties and there are a lot of ideas to share. So connect with others and have fun in Scratch!
Remember it's not about the number of projects or followers you have on Scratch, It's about the experience~Tacky365
Last edited by tacky365 (April 20, 2014 01:10:36)
- tacky365
-
100+ posts
Guide To Finding Ideas
So, you really stuck huh? Can't find any good ideas?
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Well then ask the one and only ErnieParke's idea shop! I've found it to be a good resource and a huge help. The members their are extremely creative as they are even tested on their creativity to join. They have to answer at least three prompt questions and give an idea in response to join. You can also ask the rest of the forums, though I've found this one to be fastest and most innovative shop. You'll get your answers back in less than 48 hours max, usually about 12 hours which is great feedback. They also include many ideas that are extremely detailed ranging from five to twenty+ sentences. Check it out if you need help! It'll be worth it!
Idea Shop :3
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Well then ask the one and only ErnieParke's idea shop! I've found it to be a good resource and a huge help. The members their are extremely creative as they are even tested on their creativity to join. They have to answer at least three prompt questions and give an idea in response to join. You can also ask the rest of the forums, though I've found this one to be fastest and most innovative shop. You'll get your answers back in less than 48 hours max, usually about 12 hours which is great feedback. They also include many ideas that are extremely detailed ranging from five to twenty+ sentences. Check it out if you need help! It'll be worth it!

Idea Shop :3
Last edited by tacky365 (April 21, 2014 01:17:16)
- ErnieParke
-
1000+ posts
Guide To Finding Ideas
I have to say, this looks like a really nice idea guide already! I truthfully haven't seen anything like it anytime during my time on Scratch, and it's penmanship is great. It should be helpful to Scratchers. 
Out of curiosity, what do you plan to add to the two reserved posts?
Complimenting,
ErnieParke
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Out of curiosity, what do you plan to add to the two reserved posts?
Complimenting,
ErnieParke
Last edited by ErnieParke (April 20, 2014 02:20:29)
- tacky365
-
100+ posts
Guide To Finding Ideas
I have to say, this looks like a really nice idea guide already! I truthfully haven't seen anything like it anytime during my time on Scratch, and it's penmanship is great. It should be helpful to Scratchers.
Out of curiosity, what do you plan to add to the two reserved posts?
Complimenting,
ErnieParke
I really do not know yet, but if I find another pressing matter at hand I may include something. Also, I may need them sometime you know? Like in your idea shop you have more posts. Also thanks for the compliment! I worked hard on it! (30 minutes to be exact)
- trishakk
-
30 posts
Guide To Finding Ideas
Tacky, I must admit… You have really laid down a very neat guide to finding ideas.. It was very much needed here. 
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- derpmeup
-
1000+ posts
Guide To Finding Ideas
I agree. I think they did a great job on this topic. Tacky, I must admit… You have really laid down a very neat guide to finding ideas.. It was very much needed here.
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- tacky365
-
100+ posts
Guide To Finding Ideas
Thanks everyone for the support on the topic, sorry I was offline for a while 
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- braxbroscratcher
-
1000+ posts
Guide To Finding Ideas
You should use the extra post for How Others Are Inspired. Just ask people how they get/got inspired!
- tacky365
-
100+ posts
Guide To Finding Ideas
You should use the extra post for How Others Are Inspired. Just ask people how they get/got inspired!
That's a cool idea! Thx I might do it!
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- braxbroscratcher
-
1000+ posts
Guide To Finding Ideas
You should use the extra post for How Others Are Inspired. Just ask people how they get/got inspired!
That's a cool idea! Thx I might do it!
You are welcome.