1. Pyweek Luke Arntson luke@leviathangames.com Colorado Game Developers Association Nov. 6 th, 2007 Competitive Python/Pygame Programming & Development for Games

2. Introduction Who Am I? Who Am I? Graduated ‘07 from Central Washington University Graduated ‘07 from Central Washington University Moved to Colorado in June Moved to Colorado in June Game Programmer for Leviathan Games Game Programmer for Leviathan Games Areas of expertise? Areas of expertise? C/C++ C/C++ Python/Pygame Python/Pygame SQL/DB Software SQL/DB Software Urban Ninja Cthulhu32 (me) – Pyweek #3 Entry

3. Overview Developing Games in Python? Developing Games in Python? Competitive Pygame? Competitive Pygame? Pyweek Overview Pyweek Overview Planning Your Game Planning Your Game Realistic Goals Realistic Goals Art, Audio, & Levels Art, Audio, & Levels Gameplay & Time-Constraints Gameplay & Time-Constraints Results! Results!

4. Python for Games? Rapid development Rapid development Python is dynamically typed Python is dynamically typed Pygame makes 2-D graphics easy Pygame makes 2-D graphics easy Pygame.Mixer allows for easy audio Pygame.Mixer allows for easy audio Open source programming Open source programming Python runs in real-time Python runs in real-time Pyweek projects are open-source (mostly GPL) Pyweek projects are open-source (mostly GPL) Extremely large community Extremely large community Take a look at the www.pygame.org forums! Take a look at the www.pygame.org forums!www.pygame.org IRC: irc.freenode.net #pygame #pyweek #python IRC: irc.freenode.net #pygame #pyweek #python

5. Pygame Library http://www.pygame.org – Pygame’s Website http://www.pygame.org – Pygame’s Website http://www.pygame.org

6. Competitive Pygame? Can you make a game in a week? Can you make a game in a week? Design, build, program, AND polish! Design, build, program, AND polish! Make it enjoyable from someone else’s POV Make it enjoyable from someone else’s POV Go solo or with a team? Go solo or with a team? Available first week of April or September? Available first week of April or September? Solo vs. Team Solo vs. Team Solo means you are in full control Solo means you are in full control Team means everyone has to work together Team means everyone has to work together Ready for a week worth of mayhem/fun? Ready for a week worth of mayhem/fun?

7. Spirit of Pyweek! No prizes, its just for the fun of games! No prizes, its just for the fun of games! Large Pyweek community on IRC Large Pyweek community on IRC Fun pre-game warmups Fun pre-game warmups Other competitors will Other competitors will gladly answer questions! gladly answer questions! Make contacts & friends Make contacts & friends Which Way is Up? Hectigo – Pyweek #4 Solo Winner

8. Pyweek! (Taken from www.pyweek.org) Invites entrants to write a game in one week from scratch either as an individual or in a team, Invites entrants to write a game in one week from scratch either as an individual or in a team, Is intended to be challenging and fun, Is intended to be challenging and fun, Will hopefully increase the public body of game tools, code and expertise, Will hopefully increase the public body of game tools, code and expertise, Will let a lot of people actually finish a game, and Will let a lot of people actually finish a game, and May inspire new projects (with ready made teams!) May inspire new projects (with ready made teams!) Richard – Host of Pyweek

9. Planning Phase Theme is chosen by Pyweek members Theme is chosen by Pyweek members Three weeks to vote on favorite themes Three weeks to vote on favorite themes Game design to the extreme Game design to the extreme Original game? Original game? Revamp the classics? Revamp the classics? My approach? My approach? Play some old-school classics Play some old-school classics What makes simple games great? What makes simple games great? Contra © Konami 1988

10. Realistic Goals What is feasible in just a week? What is feasible in just a week? Do not try to make your own engine! Do not try to make your own engine! Think about game style/genre Think about game style/genre Dynamic vs. Static entities/environments? Dynamic vs. Static entities/environments? Over-shooting & Under-shooting Over-shooting & Under-shooting Every developer has a unique style Every developer has a unique style Whacky brand new ideas are great! Whacky brand new ideas are great! … but there is nothing wrong with revamping classic games (Zelda, Mario, Tetris, Robotron, etc.) … but there is nothing wrong with revamping classic games (Zelda, Mario, Tetris, Robotron, etc.) Do not doubt your own talents and abilities Do not doubt your own talents and abilities

11. Team Goals Bigger teams can take bigger risks Bigger teams can take bigger risks Resource building can eat up huge time chunks Resource building can eat up huge time chunks Having a well split team will give amazing results Having a well split team will give amazing results Good team ratio: Good team ratio: (1-2 Programmers) (1-2 Programmers) (2-4 Artists) (2-4 Artists) (1-3 Designers) (1-3 Designers) (1-2 Sound Guys) (1-2 Sound Guys) Mix of these talents is fine, Mix of these talents is fine, such as an artist/sound such as an artist/sound guy/designer guy/designer Bubble Kong The Olde Battleaxe – Pyweek #4 Team Winner

12. Gameplay Puzzle, action, RPG, spelling challenge? Puzzle, action, RPG, spelling challenge? Solid gameplay can make or break a game Solid gameplay can make or break a game Fantastic art, great audio, and bad controls can ruin a game! Fantastic art, great audio, and bad controls can ruin a game! Timer/no-timer? Timer/no-timer? Games can be entertaining with or without a timer Games can be entertaining with or without a timer Non-timing turn-based allows for strategy Non-timing turn-based allows for strategy Examples: Examples: Timing: Dr. Mario, Tetris, Guitar Hero Timing: Dr. Mario, Tetris, Guitar Hero Turn-based: Final Fantasy Tactics, Chess, Othello Turn-based: Final Fantasy Tactics, Chess, Othello

13. Art, Audio & Levels Large art resources can make a game great Large art resources can make a game great Take Megaman X as an example Take Megaman X as an example Enemies have same AI, same patterns, different art! Enemies have same AI, same patterns, different art! Music & sound effects enhance play Music & sound effects enhance play Catchy music makes old-school memorable Catchy music makes old-school memorable Everyone knows Zelda! Everyone knows Zelda! Strong level design keeps players going Strong level design keeps players going Most judges will play a game Most judges will play a game for 30-90 seconds for 30-90 seconds Its wise to have more than one Its wise to have more than one level designer in a team!! level designer in a team!! Death Tower Cthulhu32 (me) – Pyweek #4

14. Time-Constraints Gameplay & Testing Gameplay & Testing With so little time, its hard to judge “fun” With so little time, its hard to judge “fun” Post betas on Pyweek for others to give feedback Post betas on Pyweek for others to give feedback Do not go for the “dream” features, go for the essential functionality. Do not go for the “dream” features, go for the essential functionality. Determination to Finish Determination to Finish The last two days are the most stressful The last two days are the most stressful Don’t give up, showing something is better than nothing! Don’t give up, showing something is better than nothing! Judging is purely for fun! Judging is purely for fun!

15. Putting it all together SVN Control is vital for teams SVN Control is vital for teams Everyone needs to be up to date! Everyone needs to be up to date! Lack of resources can ruin a project Lack of resources can ruin a project Artists need to see their work in-game Artists need to see their work in-game Keep timelines/diary entries Keep timelines/diary entries Helps keep track of events/goals Helps keep track of events/goals Make a checklist of things you wish to accomplish Make a checklist of things you wish to accomplish Sometimes non-vital gameplay aspects are removed Sometimes non-vital gameplay aspects are removed

16. Results! Every entry is ranked by other Pyweek competitors Every entry is ranked by other Pyweek competitors Ranked on Fun, Innovation, and Production Ranked on Fun, Innovation, and Production Entries can be disqualified for unfair content Entries can be disqualified for unfair content Updates are posted after judging ends Updates are posted after judging ends The Olde Battleaxe generally releases “Deluxe” versions of their games after a Pyweek The Olde Battleaxe generally releases “Deluxe” versions of their games after a Pyweek Patches & Bug Fixes are very Patches & Bug Fixes are very common! common! Disk Field Tigga – Pyweek #5 Solo Winner

17. Questions or Comments? Feel free to contact me! Feel free to contact me! Luke Arntson Work email: luke@leviathangames.com Home email: cthulhu32@gmail.com Home email: cthulhu32@gmail.com Side note: Leviathan Games is looking for testers & possible internship opportunities in the Boulder area. For more information, contact Wyeth Ridgway at wyeth@leviathangames.com