Invent Your Own Computer Games With Python 2nd Edition

Very well written book for the total beginner at programming. Lessons are organically taught and from the get go let's the user execute code to see it appear on the screen, albeit code that was copied straight from the book. Narration is SIMPLE and CONCISE. I have a huge Java 1000+ page text that I used to learn Java from scratch and it was like listening to Shakespeare -- not a knock on Shakespeare but most people don't talk that way in everyday life, therefore my brain isn't accustomed and therefore it has to "translate" Shakespeare's sentences into everyday speech - so the Java text was like that! But you shouldn't be double taxing your brain learning how to program AND deciphering what the author is writing, that is probably what frustrates most beginners. For motivational reasons, I think it is very important to hit the ground running when it comes to learning new skills and not get bogged down by all the details and memorization. It is possible to write about programming in simple sentences, I know because this book exists. So A+ there.The book starts off with installation of python and setting up an IDE (integrated development environment, software that tries to be a one-stop-shop for all your needs: editing code, running code, file manager, etc)Each chapter presents a game to be created. The author describes the mechanics of the game and then provides the source code from the get go for the student to copy over into his own file. The source code is also available on a website for quick copy-pasting. So immediately if the student copy and pastes the code into his IDE or runs the script manually through a terminal, bam, program is up and running within the first half an hour.Then the author goes step by step with each line of code and explains what is happening. Core lessons are spread throughout the book instead of all at the beginning like traditional books. In other words, in the first chapter you might learn about the import statement and variables, then a few chapters later learn about lists and dictionaries, etc. I like this format a whole lot better than texts that feature a lot of depth in the beginning that amounts to reading and memorizing -- but without anything to type and execute, you quickly forget anyway and have to spend time flipping backwards in the text to jog your memory when you realize you need something you've already learned about.Unfortunately I was a little disappeared as to how simple the lessons are. The user doesn't get to design games with a graphical interface (via the Pygame library), until the last third of the book. Prior to that, all games are executed through the command line interface (terminal, shell, console, whatever you happen to call it). This is probably my own fault for not taking a look into the book more thoroughly. I'm a novice programmer with some familiarity with Java and C++, not a total beginner so most of what the book goes over I was already familiar with and have used before, albeit the syntax is different and Python is definitely more concise in code. For some reason I was thinking the book was going to start with creating a graphical interface from the get go and progress a little quicker.I know now that the author has another book that is more what I thought this book was, entitled "Making Games with Python and Pygame"All in all, I still have to give the book 5 stars for doing well what I believe it set out to do: introducing programming to complete beginners as fast as possible, as pleasantly as possible, since I know how dense beginner texts can be.In summary, great book for TOTAL beginners. If you have some background in programming other languages, and can write simple input and output, read and write programs, this book is probably not for you.I also now know that you can read this book for free online at the author's website, which is incredible. So check out the text to see if it fits your speed. Personally, I prefer reading from real books since I stare at the screen long enough as it is and it's a good way to support the content if you like it.

This is a great book for anyone who's just starting to program or who has very little programming background and wants to get into python. The more advanced learner will find less of use here, but it does cover some topics a lot of other sources for introduction level stuff do not... such as the main program loop, introduction to AI, and some basic level 2d graphics with pygame. It does not include topics like OOP, recursion, or great depth of any of the topics it touches on. Still, I mostly purchased this book to give support to the Author (He makes the book available for free in ebook form), and going though it I've learned a couple of tricks in python I didn't know. Writing style is also very accessible and light. Strong online resource support.Those with more python\programming experience that want to get a basic handle on graphics might try his book Making Games with Python & PyGame as a better fit starting point.

I just received this book last week, and I am having so much fun with it...So much fun, that this is the first time I have felt compelled to write a review for a book purchased from Amazon.I am 59 years old, with no programming experience, and I am the furthest thing from being a computer geek that you could imagine. I have always wanted to learn a little about programming. I have leafed through some other books, but they all seemed either very intimidating or very dry/boring, or both. This book is just perfect to get someone like me started. What a fun way to learn...whether you are a kid or a big kid-at-heart.The extras and helpful tools on the author's website are a great bonus.I find that having the book in hand to make notes in, makes for a better learning experience. But if you are only going to download the free version, then please consider making a donation on the author's website...I think the author really deserves it.

Easy to understand and to the point. Many such "teach yourself" books about the subject claim an uncomplicated format yet they miss the mark leaving you with the feeling of either "sensory overloading" or "extensive and verbose-wasted time". This one is different! I liked it's task-oriented, piece meal approach to teach python programing. I have tried to learn python by using at least three of the other books...after hours of reading introductory chapters they left me with a feeling of confusion... It is as if they were describing the programming method but not teaching me what to do to use it.The difference here was an immediate and practical instruction to make my computer do something practical and fun. I like the book so much that after months of trying to read and use the other books I put them down and now concentrate on using this to continue learning to program by using python.