Video Game Design with Python

Video Game Design with Python

Build real video games while learning Python — the world's most popular programming language. Whether you've never written a line of code or you already know some Python, this camp meets you where you are and takes you further.

What you'll build

• 🎨 Pixel Playground — Jump right in: draw shapes, animate sprites, and make things move on screen with Pygame. Your first program runs in minutes.
• 🏓 Pong — Build the classic two-paddle game. Learn game loops, keyboard controls, ball physics, and scorekeeping.
• 👾 Space Invaders — Code a wave-based shooter with enemies, bullets, lives, and increasing difficulty.
• 🐍 Snake — Recreate the legendary game with a growing snake, random food spawns, and game-over logic.
• 🧱 Platformer — Build a side-scrolling game with gravity, jumping, platforms, and collectibles.
• 🎮 Final Project: Your Own Game — Design and code an original game from scratch. Combine everything you've learned into something totally yours.

Skills you'll pick up along the way

• Python fundamentals (variables, functions, loops, lists, conditionals)
• Pygame: sprites, surfaces, game loops, and event handling
• Collision detection and basic game physics
• Keyboard and mouse input
• Sound effects and background music
• Debugging — finding and squashing bugs like a pro
• Game design thinking: levels, difficulty curves, and player feedback

Already know some Python? You'll move faster through the basics and dive into advanced challenges — custom enemy AI, particle effects, level editors, and more.

No experience needed. We start from scratch and build up to full games. By Friday, you'll have a portfolio of playable games you coded yourself.