Learn how to program!
“Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python” is a free book (as in, open source) and a free eBook (as in, no cost to download) that teaches you how to program in the Python programming language. Each chapter gives you the complete source code for a new game, and then teaches the programming concepts from the example.
“Invent with Python” was written to be understandable by kids as young as 10 to 12 years old, although it is great for anyone of any age who has never programmed before.
This second edition has revised and expanded content, including a Pygame tutorial to make games with graphics, animation, and sound.
The book and the programs are open source, and are available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike license, meaning they are free to copy and distribute. See the license for full details. A print copy can be bought on Amazon.com for $25.
ISBN 978-0982106013
Download the .pdf version for free.
Make games with graphics!
“Making Games with Python & Pygame” covers the Pygame library with the source code for 11 games. “Making Games” was written as a sequel for the same age range as “Invent with Python”. Once you have an understanding of the basics of Python programming, you can now expand your abilities using the Pygame library to make games with graphics, animation, and sound.
The book features the source code to 11 games. The games are clones of classics such as Nibbles, Tetris, Simon, Bejeweled, Othello, Connect Four, Flood It, and others.
The book and the programs are open source, and are available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike license, meaning they are free to copy and distribute. See the license for full details. A print copy can be bought on Amazon.com for $25.
ISBN 978-1469901732
Download the .pdf version for free. Download the .mobi version for your Kindle/eReader for free.
Vote for this siteQuick Download Links
- Python 3.1 installer (for Windows)
- Python for other operating systems (Mac, Linux)
- Pygame for Python 3.1 installer (for Windows)
- Full PDF of the "Invent with Python" book
- Full PDF of the "Making Games with Python & Pygame" book
- Source Code of the games.
Amazon Reviews and Testimonials
“This book is totally appropriate for someone who has never programmed before. Everything is explained, right from the ground up, in a lively, interesting style which doesn't dumb things down.”
“I am a college professor who occasionally teaches courses for liberal arts students. [...] I offered a game programming course in the Python programming language using Sweigart's book. The students loved this book. It starts at the very beginning and leads them, game by fascinating game, to become highly capable programmers.”- Dr. Robert C. Gann
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“I picked up a copy of this book and was in all honesty blown away by how easy the concepts of python are introduced to the reader in a clear and concise manner. The fact that you are also making small little games with your programs throughout this book helps with motivation as tasks get harder and harder - it keeps it all fun while learning. [...] I e-mailed the author and got great personal help to advance further - that was of course much appreciated as well.”- Tor Hagen
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“It provides a simple introduction both to programming, and to Python. The book and examples are also available online at the book's website under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license, so you're also supporting free culture business models by buying this book. The examples are both fun and informative.
This book is particularly effective at getting you started, and so if you've tried to learn programming before and failed or gotten stalled, I highly recommend this as the approach for you.”- Terry Hancock, Free Software Magazine
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“This Spring, we used this book for six weeks of a homeschool "Physics and Modeling" class. I am extremely happy with the book. It received many compliments from the students for ease of use, the hands-on approach, and the fact that game programming starts right away.”
“I used to write a column on a greek magazine about learning Python and PyGame. [...] Since I found this book, every time the topic of learning programming is mentioned - especially from a person interested on making games - I point people to it.”- Konstantinos Michalopoulos
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“My name is Felix. I'm ten years old, and I really liked your book on game programming with python.”- Felix D. (email to the author)
Compare Prices, Educational Discount
I want to make programming knowledge accessible to everyone. As such, “Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python” is free to read online. And I've priced the print version (available for sale on Amazon.com) for $25.00 (including free shipping) to make it affordable. If you are an educator, please email me for information about a 55% education discount code. al@inventwithpython.com
Compare this with other programming books on Amazon:
Contact
You can email the author at al@inventwithpython.com. Feel free to send your programming questions or comments.