Here are a couple games I wrote. The first was so popular that I made a sequel:
Win32 EXEs and source:
Look At This Rock
Look At This Rock 2: A Different Rock
Source (requires Pygame to be installed along with Python):
Source: LookAtThisRock.py and PNG
Source: LookAtThisRock2.py and PNG
Screenshots:


Posted by Al Sweigart at 12:03 pm on October 21st, 2011.
Categories: Uncategorized.
I’ve created a web version of the Caesar Cipher wheel using JQuery and CSS sprites.
JavaScript Cipher Wheel

I also have a Pygame version and Windows executable of this.
Posted by Al Sweigart at 10:19 pm on September 20th, 2011.
Categories: Uncategorized.
I wanted to share this link to a great site with some simple Pygame examples:
Python and Pygame Examples
There is also a textbook draft called “Introduction to Computer Science Using Python and Pygame” by Paul Vincent Craven.
Posted by Al Sweigart at 10:10 am on May 16th, 2011.
Categories: Uncategorized.
“MooseGesture” is a Python module that implements a basic mouse gesture recognition system. It can identify gestures made up of strokes in the eight cardinal and diagonal directions.
A mouse gesture is holding down the mouse button and moving the mouse cursor in a specific pattern to issue a command.
Mouse gestures are a way of dragging with the mouse in order to draw out a certain pattern. The most mainstream uses of mouse gestures in computer software are for web browsers. (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Internet Explorer)
Mouse gestures can provide an interesting game mechanic that you can add to your own programs (similar to what the Wiimote does in a few games).
You can download the module (and a simple Pygame test script that uses it) here:
MooseGestures & Test App (zipped)
moosegesture.py
moosegesturetest.py
Simon Gesture – A game that uses the MooseGesture module.

(The screenshot above shows the test app after entering a mouse gesture. It correctly identifies the gesture as Down Right Up.)

(The above screenshot shows a more complicated gesture: Down, Up, Down, Right, Left, Right.)
More… »
Posted by Al Sweigart at 3:13 pm on May 9th, 2011.
Categories: Uncategorized.

Here’s a cipher disk that you can print and cutout to help you manually implement the Caesar Cipher. A program to implement this cipher (and break the cipher) is available in Chapter 14 of the free programming book “Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python” at http://inventwithpython.com/chapter14.html
Simply download and printout the PDF and cut out the two circles and place them on top of each other. The key number is whichever one is opposite the outer “A” letter.
Download the PDF
If you would like to change around the font or the logo, you can also download the original Photoshop file.
High resolution PNG files of the inner and outer circles are also available for download.
Posted by Al Sweigart at 1:26 pm on February 9th, 2011.
Categories: Uncategorized.