Introduction to Game Development with Pygame

1D-Physics Air Track

This first video demonstrates 1D collision detection, modeling of forces by gravity and mouse tethers, and user interactions. We use Pygame's capabilities to quickly draw polygons to the screen and listen for keyboard and mouse events. Try running the code on the tutorial page for creamy-smooth rendering.

2D-Physics Air Table

Much of the algorithmic content of the 1D exercise is extended here with a 2D vector class. Also object-object forces as modeled by springs and dampers are added. Collision detection and penetration corrections are developed for spherical shapes. Limitation of this simple home-brew physics engine are demonstrated with progressively smaller diameter ball-settling tests. Notice the popcorn effect of the smaller balls as they try to settle three balls deep. Finally a 2D grid of balls and springs shows how this basic physics engine can yield realistic results for non-spherical object collisions with walls (looks like a square piece of Jello).

Pybox2d Guns and Stacking

Here, the pybox2d port of the Box2D physics engine (of Angry Birds fame) does the computational heavy lifting. This illustrates Box2D's capabilities for general modeling of non-spherical objects. This includes proper handling of contact forces, stacking, and settling behaviors.

Vertical Bullet Stream

A short clip showing a vertical stream of rectangles collapsing onto itself. It acts like a fluid. Also a brief demo of a cursor gun.

Box Cutter

This demo shows a laser box cutter based on the ray casting feature of Box2D. Polygons are segmented based on the intersection points of the ray cast.