Exploring Game Mechanics with Python by Example

What makes games fun? Game mechanics! What makes learning a new programming language fun? Creating games with it! This course allows you to do both.  If you’ve ever wanted to take your programming skills further and get into Python, then this is your opportunity.  If you already know Python but want to know how to use it to create games, then this course is also for you.

Designed for INTERMEDIATE level students with a working knowledge of programming, the content in this course will take you step-by-step through the setup of a Python/Pygame development environment on your own computer and take you through a series of workshops designed to help you learn Python and Pygame while recreating some fun retro computer games including Breakout, Tetris, Asteroids, and Space Invaders.

You will learn about:

• The Pycharm Development Environment.

• The Pygame API, which is an interface for OpenGL and DirectX.

• The use of screen coordinates to place, size, move, animate, and restrict game characters.

• Constructing a main game loop.

• Working with Static and Animated Sprites.

• Sprite Collision Detection.

What people are saying about Penny’s courses:

• Dr. Penny is a wonderful person and a true expert. All of her courses I’ve taken have been top notch and in my opinion there is no better teacher out there.

• Allow me to say how hugely important this is for a person who is interested in certain types of game design. Creating games where you can create AI behaviors that support emergent situations.

• I honestly love Holistic’s teaching approach and I’ve never learned so much within a few hours about coding effectively with such detailed explanations!

This course focuses on providing students with hands-on experience coding game mechanics, while also providing an easy introduction to Python for the intermediate programmer.

Rating Distribution

• 1 stars: 1 votes
• 2 stars: 2 votes
• 3 stars: 12 votes
• 4 stars: 71 votes
• 5 stars: 169 votes

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have access to the course materials?

You can view and review the lecture materials indefinitely, like an on-demand channel.

Can I take my courses with me wherever I go?

Definitely! If you have an internet connection, courses on Udemy are available on any device at any time. If you don’t have an internet connection, some instructors also let their students download course lectures. That’s up to the instructor though, so make sure you get on their good side!