Build games in minutes using Python and Amazon Q Developer

Developing a game is now easier than ever!!!

Ever wanted to create a video game but felt intimidated by complex programming languages and development tools that are hard to learn? If so, then I have good news! The landscape of game development has transformed over the past decade. This evolution has taken us from exclusive domains requiring specialized knowledge and software to creative options that are fast, and free for anyone with a computer, endless imagination, and a desire to learn how to code.

In this article, I'll walk through a few simple steps to create a game app using a little help from generative AI, and in the process launch you on a journey to building something fun and adventurous. You won't have to write a single line of code, and once you've grasped the basic concepts, I'm confident you will be capable of building something new that you will be proud of, in as little as 60 minutes!

Game Development is for Everyone

It wasn't very long ago when developing games required lots of programming knowledge, expensive software licenses, and sophisticated computer hardware. Game engines were proprietary, closed systems that demanded lots of time, money, and specialized training.

Today, the story is completely different. Open-source tools, and AI coding assistants have revolutionized software development, and with it the ability to create practically anything. To show just how far we've come, we will accomplish our mission using three easy-to-use tools:

Pygame is a library that provides a robust framework for building games without licensing costs.
Python with its readable syntax, and broad community support is a programming language that makes coding fun, and inviting for beginners.
An AI Coding Assistant which provides builders of all skill levels the power of generative AI to overcome many application development challenges. For this use case, we will use Amazon Q Developer.

Meet Amazon Q Developer: Your AI Coding Partner

Amazon Q Developer is an AI-powered assistant designed specifically for software development. Unlike general-purpose AI tools, Q Developer understands code context, software patterns, and complex development workflows. Some key benefits of Q Developer include,

Code Explanations: Receive plain-language explanations of unfamiliar code, and complex functions.
Code Generation: Quickly create boilerplate code or development projects using natural language prompts.
Troubleshooting: Get help identifying and fixing bugs without pouring over forums or documentation.
Best Practice Recommendations: Learn how to optimize as you build.
Integration with Development Environments: Works seamlessly within your IDE, or command line for a smooth coding experience.

Amazon Q Developer offers a free tier option, so newcomers can start experimenting right away building creative apps instead of struggling with syntax or deployment details. We will provide more info including how to set up Amazon Q Developer later in the article.

Setting up your development environment

Before we dive into our game project, let's ensure we have everything needed to get started.

Integrated Development Environment

An integrated development environment (or IDE) is useful for building applications. IDE's like Visual Studio Code are an essential tool for developers because they allow you to edit, analyze, and debug code more efficiently. In addition to Visual Studio Code, other popular IDEs are available from Eclipse, and JetBrains. Be sure to select the product that best fits your development style and needs.

Python

Visit python.org to download the latest version for your operating system (I recommend v3.9 or later)
a) When the software has been downloaded onto your PC, run the python installer and follow the installation instructions.
b) Verify the installation by opening a command prompt or terminal and typing:
$ python --version
You should see the Python version. For my system, I am currently running,
$ Python 3.9.6

Pygame

Pygame is a free, open source Python library for creating video games. It allows developers to build games using modules that handle features like graphics, sound, and user input. Because it is free, and easy to learn, Pygame has become a popular tool with beginners and hobbyists who want to learn how to build games fast. Installing Pygame is simple:
a) On your PC, open a command prompt or terminal and type the following command:
$ pip install pygame
b) Verify the pygame installation by typing:
$ python -c "import pygame; print(pygame.ver)"
If installed properly, you will see output similar to the following,
$

pygame 2.6.1 (SDL 2.28.4, Python 3.9.6)     Hello from the pygame community. https://www.pygame.org/contribute.html   2.6.1

Amazon Q Developer

Visit Amazon Q Developer and sign up for the free tier version.
a) On the signup page, click _Download Amazon Q Developer_ to select the plugin for your preferred IDE, and follow the installation instructions.
b) The Q Developer setup includes creating an AWS Builder ID profile, a free tool that takes just a few minutes to configure.

My colleague Rohini Gaonkar wrote this article that contains detailed steps for installing Q Developer for Visual Studio Code. Once complete, Q Developer is now ready to help by answering questions and generating code within your development environment.

Let's build a game!!!

Capture the Flag

This next section will guide you on how to use Q Developer to design the basic building blocks for a capture the flag game adventure. With just a few natural language prompts, we will create the framework for our first game. Once you discover how quickly Q Developer can turn your idea into executable code, you will be able to add more features.

Not to worry as we will provide some helpful examples along the way so you don't get lost. By the end of the lesson, you will have everything you need to dream up additional ideas for more games!

Create a Basic Movement Prototype

We will start with a fundamental gameplay mechanic - moving a player character (represented by a red circle) around the screen using the arrow keys. Begin by prompting Q Developer with a few details, so it can generate some code for you. From the Q Developer prompt, enter instructions similar to the following,

Submit the prompt and watch as Q Developer processes the input, and generates the code. It should produce output that looks similar to the following (NOTE: the entire program is not displayed in the below graphic),

Program 1 image — Player Character Program

The output program when executed, will produce a game screen with a black background, and movable red circle using the arrow keys on your keyboard.

To build and test your version of the code,

Copy the program generated by Q Developer into a file using the IDE editor; Save the file (e.g., red-circle.py)
Launch a terminal session within the IDE (or a terminal application like `iterm`)
Change the directory to the location of your saved program and execute,
$ python ./red-circle.py

VOILA!!! The game launches, and as a player you move the red circle around with the arrow keys. Congratulations, you've just created a feature for your first game!

Here is a sample program for reference should you experience any problems. I encourage you to first try using the program Q Developer created for you.

Add Flags to Capture

Now that you've got a handle on basic game creation, let's add more features. Start by adding six colorful flags that the player can collect by moving the red circle around the surface to capture them. Each captured flag will be worth 50 points. Once all of the flags are captured, the game will end.

To generate some code to handle this, prompt Q Developer with a prompt similar to the following,

Note that you may need to add the previously generated code as part of the prompt input to Q Developer. If so, be sure to insert the code in between closed quotes ''' ''' so that it can pass along the code for processing.

Once entered, Q Developer will generate a new Python game file,

Follow the same steps used previously to create and save a new program file. Once saved run the new program.

Copy the program generated by Amazon Q Developer into a file using the IDE editor; Save the file (e.g., capture-the-flag.py)
Launch a terminal session within the IDE (or a terminal application like `iterm`)
Change the directory to the location of your saved program and execute,
$ python ./red-circle.py

A new game should launch complete with colored flags that the player can capture by moving the circle around. When all six flags are captured, the game will end.

See how easy it is to build a game?!!! In just a few minutes, we've managed to create an adventurous game that's fun to play! Here's another sample program to help you out, but give the program created by Q Developer a try first. You'll be glad you did!!!

Add More Features

By now, you should have a handle on how to leverage Q Developer to generate code and add more features to your gaming app. The good news is that we've only begun to scratch the surface of Q Developer's capabilities. Continue to explore Q Developer, and familiarize yourself with other features like,

/dev for generating new code across your entire project or implement new features.
/doc to write API, technical design, and other onboarding documentation.
/review to ask Q Developer to perform a code review, and flag suspicious code patterns or assess deployment risks.
/test to generate unit tests and add them to your project, helping to improve code quality.

We're not done with the flag capture game just yet! Let's use Q Developer to make the game even more adventurous, by adding more features:

Add a _60-second timer_ to limit the amount of time a player has to capture the flags.
More flags; When all of the flags have been captured, generate a new set of flags. By adding this feature, a player can capture as many flags as possible within the available time limit.
Game reset; When the timer expires, display a "Game Over" banner on the screen. Along with the banner, allow players to restart the game (e.g., To Start a new game, press the 'R' key)
Dynamic flags; With Q Developer's help, modify the game so the flags move around, thus making it harder for players to collect flags.
Improved UI Design; Arrange the layout to have the 60 second timer, and points total located at the bottom of the screen. Separate the playing surface from the readouts with a solid line.Bonus Challenge: Replace the red circle with a compelling animation. Try this feature only after you've successfully added the other features. An example of the new graphic could be a butterfly net that captures the flags...it's your game so surprise yourself!

Implementing each of the features above will be challenging, but possible. Use the prior examples for prompting Q Developer to build your inputs for each feature. Remember to be specific, and add each new feature individually, testing those features as you progress. Be confident that everything will work as planned, and when finished you will have a functioning, deluxe game app just like the one used in this program below. Good Luck!!

Wrapping Up

With just a few tools, we've created a game app from scratch using Python, Pygame, and Amazon Q Developer. Not long ago, accomplishing this would have required extensive knowledge of programming, collision detection, and other complex concepts. Today, we've implemented all of these features in just minutes!

As newly minted game developers, we've also demonstrated,

Smooth player movement
Interactive game objects
Collision detection
Animated game elements
Game state management
UI elements like timers and score boards

And the best part is it was all built with free and open-source tools. There was no need to buy expensive software licenses, or procure specialized hardware.

What's next? A Call to Action

Now that you have seen what's possible with Amazon Q Developer, take the next step in unlocking your developer potential. Here are a few suggestions to keep you going:

Experiment further: Use Amazon Q Developer to add more features to your game like obstacles, or player levels.
Become a Pygame guru: Explore sprites, sound libraries, and Pygame's advanced rendering techniques. Keep asking Q Developer for help, and it will be more than happy to assist you!
Share your creation: Upload any games you build to GitHub, or invite a colleague along to join in on the fun.
Join a developer community: Connect with other developers on forums like Discord, Reddit, or StackOverflow to collaborate, and share ideas. You're certainly welcome to hang out right here at the AWS Community Hub!

Don't forget, modern day application development is all about learning, experimenting and being creative. With the right developer tools and Amazon Q Developer, you can focus on designing great experiences and less on wrestling with complex code.

Now, Go Build!

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