Do you want to create a fun and interactive game for kids? Imagine a simple game where clicking on an animal plays a cute sound—such an educational game can be easily built using Pygame! However, many beginners struggle with the first step—installing Pygame correctly. In this guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of installing Pygame in Visual Studio Code (VSCode) and running a built-in Pygame demo game to get you started with game development.
1. Preparing the Environment – Install Python and VSCode.
Before installing Pygame, you need to set up your development environment by installing Python and VSCode.
1. Install Python:
– Go to the official Python website: [https://www.python.org/downloads/]
– Download and install the latest version of Python.
– During installation, check the “Add Python to PATH” option to ensure Python is accessible from the command line.
2. Install VSCode:
– Download VSCode from [https://code.visualstudio.com/] and install it.
– Once installed, open VSCode and go to the “Extensions” marketplace.
– Search for “Python” and install the official Python extension to enhance Python support in VSCode.
3. Configure Python Interpreter in VSCode:
– Open VSCode and press `Ctrl + Shift + P` to bring up the command palette.
– Type `Python: Select Interpreter` and select your installed Python version.
– Verify Python installation by opening the terminal and running `python –version`.
2. Installing Pygame with a Single Command.
Once Python and VSCode are set up, you can install Pygame with ease:
1. Open the VSCode Terminal:
– Click on “Terminal” → “New Terminal” from the VSCode menu.
– Ensure the terminal is running within the correct Python environment.
2. Install Pygame using pip:
In the terminal, type the following command and press Enter:
pip install pygame
This will download and install Pygame and its dependencies. Once finished, the terminal should display `Successfully installed pygame-x.x.x`.
3. Verify the Installation:
– Open Python in the terminal by typing `python`.
– Type `import pygame` and press Enter. If there is no error, Pygame is installed correctly.
– Check the installed version by running `pygame.__version__`.
3. Running the Pygame Built-in Sample Game.
To confirm that Pygame is working correctly, let’s run an official example game:
1. Exit Python interactive mode (if running):
– Type `exit()` or press `Ctrl + Z` (Windows) / `Ctrl + D` (Mac/Linux) and press Enter.
2. Run the sample game:
– Enter the following command in the terminal:
python -m pygame.examples.aliens
This will launch a simple spaceship shooting game, where you can control a spaceship and shoot alien enemies.
If the game runs successfully, it means Pygame is installed and ready for development!
4. Conclusion: Your First Step Toward Pygame Game Development.
Now that you’ve installed Pygame and successfully run the demo game, you’re ready to start building your own interactive games. In the next tutorial, we’ll introduce how to create a simple “Hello World” program in Pygame using DeepSeek AI. Stay tuned!
5. Demo Video.
You can watch the following demo video by select the subtitle to your preferred subtitle language.