Making a Game in Python with No Experience

Summary

In this video, the creator shares their journey of building a simple yet fun game using Python and the Pygame framework. Starting with basic concepts like drawing a blue screen, they progressively develop gameplay mechanics, sprite movement, and collision detection. After adding fun features like sound effects, voice acting, and a holiday-themed storyline, they create a polished, enjoyable game. The process is full of learning, creative problem-solving, and persistence, resulting in a game that not only meets their initial goal but exceeds expectations in terms of fun and playability.

Takeaways

• 😀 Python's popularity has surged, despite being slower than other languages, because of its ease of use and productivity.
• 😀 To make games in Python, you need a framework like Pygame, which simplifies the complex aspects of game development.
• 😀 The user started a game project during the holidays, inspired by their desire to make a game without using an engine.
• 😀 After installing Python and Pygame, the first challenge was creating a simple blue screen in the game, followed by designing a present character in Adobe Illustrator.
• 😀 The user struggled with developing a gameplay concept but eventually landed on a simple game idea where the player avoids hands trying to grab a present.
• 😀 Game development involved adding features like sprite movement, collision detection, and creating a dynamic game loop with infinite hands.
• 😀 The user enhanced the game with smoother, floaty movement by implementing acceleration and friction, and incorporated sine waves for UI effects.
• 😀 Pygame’s built-in collision system made it easy to add a feature where touching hands causes the game to reset.
• 😀 An upgrade to the character design involved replacing the present with a hand holding the present, adding extra polish to the game.
• 😀 The final touches included adding sound effects, music (with a retro DS sound font), and voice acting from the user's wife to complete the game.
• 😀 The project turned out to be unexpectedly fun, and the user enjoyed playtesting it, which helped refine the game while also learning about Pygame's capabilities.

Q & A

What made Python such an attractive choice for the game development process?

Python is known for being easy to learn and highly productive, despite its slow speed as a high-level language. Its simplicity and accessibility make it a popular choice for developers, especially beginners or those wanting to focus on rapid development.

What role does the Pygame library play in game development?

Pygame is a framework that provides a set of tools for handling the difficult aspects of game development, such as managing graphics, sound, and user input, making it easier for developers to focus on creating the game itself.

Why did the developer struggle with deciding what kind of game to create?

Initially, the developer didn’t know what kind of game to make, which is a common challenge in the creative process. They resolved it by involving their wife, who came up with a set of holiday-themed ideas, from which they randomly selected a concept.

How did the developer approach the visual aspects of the game?

The developer used Adobe Illustrator to create character designs, such as the Kawaii-style present and cartoon hands. They then exported the illustrations as PNGs to be used as Sprites in the game, despite Illustrator not being the most typical tool for game art creation.

What was the significance of using Pygame's Sprite class?

The Sprite class in Pygame allowed the developer to manage game characters (like the present and hands) as objects that can be easily moved and interacted with. This was essential for creating the game’s mechanics, such as player movement and collision detection.

Why did the developer focus on keeping the controls simple?

The goal was to make the game as accessible and fun as possible. By keeping the controls simple, the developer could create an easy-to-understand gameplay loop, making it more enjoyable for players, especially in a fast-paced, arcade-style game.

What inspired the game’s concept of 'Don't Touch My Present'?

The inspiration for the game came from the developer’s enjoyment of simple, classic games like Pong. The idea was to create a fun game where the player avoids hands trying to grab their present, which led to the catchy title 'Don't Touch My Present.'

How did the developer improve the player’s movement mechanics?

The developer added acceleration and friction to the player's movement, making the controls feel more fluid and realistic. This gave the player more control over the present, which helped make the game feel less stiff and more dynamic.

What was the purpose of using a sine wave in the game?

The sine wave was used to add a unique level of polish to the game. It helped create smooth, oscillating movements for different game elements, such as the UI, hands, and menu, adding visual flair and a more polished feel.

What key feature did the developer add that made the game more fun?

The key feature was transforming the player character from a present into a hand holding a present. This small change made the game feel more engaging, and the player’s movements became more relatable and fun, contributing to the overall enjoyment of the game.