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How to make sprite bounce off edges like a DVD screensaver

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BM

BounceEffect_Maya

Posted on July 20, 2025 • Beginner

🎯 Need help with DVD-style bouncing effect!

Hey everyone! I’m trying to create a cool bouncing effect for my project where a sprite moves around and bounces off the edges, just like those old DVD screensavers! 📺

Here’s what I want to achieve:

  • Sprite should glide smoothly to a random edge
  • When it hits an edge, it should bounce off realistically
  • The bouncing should continue forever, creating that mesmerizing DVD effect
  • The movement should look natural and smooth

I looked for a “glide to edge” block but it doesn’t seem to exist in Scratch. How can I make this work? Any ideas would be super helpful! 🤔

PM

PhysicsWizard_Jake

Replied 2 minutes later • ⭐ Best Answer

Great question @BounceEffect_Maya! You’re right that there’s no “glide to edge” block, but we can create an even better DVD-style bouncing effect using movement and physics! Let me show you how.

🎮 Understanding the DVD Bounce Effect

The classic DVD screensaver works by moving in a straight line until it hits an edge, then bouncing off at an angle:

flowchart TD A[Start Moving] --> B[Move in Straight Line] B --> C{Hit Edge?} C -->|No| B C -->|Yes| D[Bounce Off Edge] D --> E[Change Direction] E --> B F[Random Starting Direction] --> A style A fill:#e1f5fe style D fill:#fff3e0 style E fill:#f3e5f5

🚀 Solution 1: Basic DVD Bounce Effect

Here’s the simplest way to create the bouncing effect:

    // Main bouncing script
when flag clicked
// Start with a random direction
point in direction (pick random [-179] to [180])

forever
// Move continuously
move [5] steps

// Bounce when hitting edge
if on edge, bounce
end

🎯 Solution 2: Enhanced DVD Effect with Speed Control

For more control over the bouncing behavior:

    // Enhanced bouncing with variable speed
when flag clicked
set [speed v] to [3] // Adjust speed here
point in direction (pick random [-179] to [180])

forever
move (speed) steps
if on edge, bounce

// Optional: Add slight randomness to direction after bounce
if <touching [edge v]?> then
turn right (pick random [-5] to [5]) degrees
end
end

🌈 Solution 3: Color-Changing DVD Effect

Make it even more like the classic DVD screensaver with color changes:

    // DVD effect with color changes
when flag clicked
set [speed v] to [4]
point in direction (pick random [-179] to [180])
set [color v] effect to [0]

forever
move (speed) steps

if on edge, bounce

// Change color when bouncing
if <touching [edge v]?> then
change [color v] effect by [25]
play sound [pop v]
end
end

⚡ Solution 4: Advanced Physics Bounce

For more realistic physics with custom edge detection:

    // Advanced physics bouncing
when flag clicked
set [x speed v] to (pick random [-5] to [5])
set [y speed v] to (pick random [-5] to [5])

forever
// Move using velocity
change x by (x speed)
change y by (y speed)

// Custom edge detection and bouncing
if <(x position) > [230]> then
set [x speed v] to ((x speed) * [-1])
set x to [230]
end

if <(x position) < [-230]> then
set [x speed v] to ((x speed) * [-1])
set x to [-230]
end

if <(y position) > [170]> then
set [y speed v] to ((y speed) * [-1])
set y to [170]
end

if <(y position) < [-170]> then
set [y speed v] to ((y speed) * [-1])
set y to [-170]
end
end

🎨 Solution 5: Multiple Bouncing Sprites

Create multiple DVD-style sprites for a more dynamic effect:

    // For multiple bouncing sprites
when flag clicked
// Create multiple clones
repeat [5]
create clone of [myself v]
wait [0.5] seconds
end

// Main sprite behavior
forever
move [3] steps
if on edge, bounce
end

// Clone behavior
when I start as a clone
// Each clone gets different properties
set size to (pick random [50] to [150]) %
set [color v] effect to (pick random [0] to [200])
point in direction (pick random [-179] to [180])
set [speed v] to (pick random [2] to [6])

forever
move (speed) steps
if on edge, bounce
end

Pro tip: The “if on edge, bounce” block automatically handles the angle calculations for realistic bouncing! No need to do complex math - Scratch does it for you! 🎉

BM

BounceEffect_Maya

Replied 15 minutes later

@PhysicsWizard_Jake This is absolutely perfect! 🤩

I tried the basic version first and it works exactly like I wanted! The “if on edge, bounce” block is so much simpler than I thought it would be. The color-changing version looks amazing too - just like the real DVD screensaver!

Thank you so much for the detailed explanation and all the different variations. Now I can choose the perfect one for my project! 🎉

AnimationExpert_Chris

Replied 1 hour later

Love this thread! 💫 Just wanted to add some animation tips to make the bouncing even smoother:

  • Smooth movement: Use smaller step values (like 2-3) for smoother animation
  • Trail effects: Add a “ghost” effect that fades over time for cool trails
  • Sound effects: Play different sounds based on which edge is hit
  • Particle effects: Create small “spark” clones when bouncing for extra visual appeal

The physics approach @PhysicsWizard_Jake showed is perfect for when you need precise control over the bouncing behavior! 🎮

VB

Vibelf_Community

Pinned Message • Moderator

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