Code Ninjas Blog Post (#11018)

* import of blog post text

* make a image folder

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* fix list to match source doc

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Author: ganicke

docs/blog.md

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 # Microsoft MakeCode Blog
 
+## [Interview with MakeCode Arcade Game Maker](/blog/arcade/code-ninjas)
+
+December 19, 2025 by [Jaqster](https://github.com/jaqster)
+
+As a great way to close out 2025, we sat down with MakeCode game developer and Code 
+Ninjas Sensei, Ethan Battaglia, to learn more about what it’s like learning and creating games with MakeCode Arcade. 
+
+**[Continue reading this blog post](/blog/arcade/code-ninjas)**
+
 ## [Computer Science Education Week 2025](/blog/csed-week/csed-week-2025)
 
 November 12, 2025 by [Jaqster](https://github.com/jaqster)

docs/blog/SUMMARY.md

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 # Microsoft MakeCode Blog
 
 * [Blog](/blog)
+    * [Interview with MakeCode Arcade Game Maker](/blog/arcade/code-ninjas)
     * [Computer Science Education Week 2025](/blog/csed-week/csed-week-2025)
     * [MakeCode Minecraft 2025 Update](/blog/minecraft/2025-release)
     * [MakeCode for the micro:bit – 2025 Update](/blog/microbit/2025-update)

docs/blog/arcade/code-ninjas.md

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+# Interview with MakeCode Arcade Game Maker
+
+**Posted on December 19th, 2025 by [Jaqster](https://github.com/jaqster)**
+
+_Interview from December, 2025_
+
+As a great way to close out 2025, we sat down with MakeCode game developer and [Code 
+Ninjas](https://www.codeninjas.com) Sensei, Ethan Battaglia, to learn more about what 
+it’s like learning and creating games with MakeCode Arcade.
+
+Ethan’s very fun [JetChamp](https://ethansguild.github.io/jetchamp) game, was 
+submitted as an entry in Code Ninja’s recent [Champions Game 
+Jam](https://forms.codeninjas.com/gamejam-champions). You can see all the 
+submissions [here](https://blog.codeninjas.com/champions-game-jam).
+
+![Ethan playing JetChamp](/static/blog/arcade/code-ninjas/ethan-playing-game.jpg)
+
+_Ethan playing JetChamp at his Code Ninjas center_
+
+## Tell us a little bit about JetChamp – what is the game about, and what is the game play like?
+
+JetChamp is my submission to the Code Ninjas Champions game jam! It’s about how 
+Yellow Bull (a fictional energy drink company) is looking for a new stunt artist. They decide 
+to hold a jetpack competition to determine who becomes the stunt artist and earns the 
+title of JetChamp!
+
+The gameplay is full of timing-based challenges where the player must use their jetpack to 
+fly at just the right time to pass each obstacle. There are five levels in total, with each level 
+building off of the previous ones by introducing new and exciting game mechanics!
+
+![JetChamp screen 1](/static/blog/arcade/code-ninjas/jet-champ1.png)
+
+## How did you come up with the idea for it?
+
+When brainstorming ideas for the Champions game jam, an image of a podium with people 
+at the base of it reaching for the top appeared in my mind. It was that sense of height 
+difference - where everyone started at the ground - which inspired me to make a game 
+where the player must keep flying higher.
+
+## What was your favorite part about building this game?
+
+In “Foddian” games like Getting Over It and Jump King, you lose considerable progress if 
+you make a mistake. This forces the player to plan their next move and execute it perfectly. 
+So, once the player pushes past an obstacle, they feel immensely satisfied and relieved. 
+Building these moments into the game by using clever tilemap design and checkpoints was 
+easily the most enjoyable part of making this game.
+
+![JetChamp screen 2](/static/blog/arcade/code-ninjas/jet-champ2.png)
+
+## What was the biggest challenge?
+
+For me, the hardest part of the game was designing the art for the player. I needed the 
+player to have a black outline to help with gameplay readability, but I also needed the 
+player to be smaller than one tile, or 16x16 pixels! I went through three or four iterations 
+and multiple hours of playtests until I was happy with the final design, and I fit it into 13x14 
+pixels! The final art for the player also influenced my storytelling in the intro cutscene to 
+say that the world is inhabited by “calculator droids”.
+
+## How did you learn about MakeCode Arcade, and how did you build up your game development skills?
+
+A while back at Code Ninjas, the curriculum was changed so that MakeCode Arcade was 
+the primary platform. As a Sensei, I felt obligated to master it, so I started building barebones recreations of popular games in MakeCode Arcade, including Pac-Man, Agar.io, 
+Minesweeper, and Just Shapes and Beats. While building these recreations, I also 
+sprinkled some of my own games in, including these genres: platformer, time-based 
+survival, incremental, and puzzle!
+
+I’ve been making games ever since one of the earlier updates to Geometry Dash 
+introduced the level editor. It allowed me to build custom levels and learn how to create a 
+strong, cohesive experience from nothing.
+
+## Tell us a little bit about Code Ninjas and what you do there?
+
+At Code Ninjas, kids (or Ninjas) learn how to code by starting with block coding in 
+MakeCode Arcade and progressing to professional game engines like Unity and Godot. 
+They practice their skills by building dozens of projects, answering interactive quizzes, and 
+solving problems in example code. As a Code Ninjas Sensei, I:
+
+1.
+2.
+3. Teach the fundamental rules behind
+4. coding
+5.
+6.
+7.
+8. Debug complex issues in Ninja-made
+9. games
+10.
+11.
+12.
+13. Inspire Ninjas to build their dream
+14. games
+15.
+
+## Tell us about Extra Life and what they do?
+
+[Extra Life]( https://www.extra-life.org/home) is a fundraising program (run by Children’s 
+Miracle Network Hospitals) where streamers raise money by holding gaming marathons. 
+The streamer chooses a specific hospital that is part of Children’s Miracle Network, and 
+schedules a marathon stream. All donations raised during this marathon go to the selected 
+children’s hospital!
+
+In October of 2025, Extra Life and Code Ninjas came together and created the Champions 
+game jam where the winners each get $500USD donated to their local children’s hospital!
+
+![Code Ninjas Game Jam](/static/blog/arcade/code-ninjas/code-ninjas-game-jam.png)
+
+
+## Any advice you have for aspiring game developers?
+
+If you are ever struggling with coming up with ideas for a game to make, it’s okay with using 
+some of your favorite games as a jumping-off point. A lot of people get stressed out trying 
+to make every single aspect of their game “original”, when really all a game needs to be is 
+FUN! The best games are often the ones that take existing ideas and make them better.
+
+Huge thanks to Ethan for helping inspire new generations of game makers at Code Ninjas, 
+and for making a super fun JetChamp game with MakeCode Arcade!
+
+Happy Making and Coding!
+
+<br/>
+The MakeCode Team