Pyxel: A retro game engine for Python

by nateb2022 • 2 years ago

276 39 2 years ago

halfcat• 2 years ago

These retro game engines are so much fun. Takes me back to the days of mode 13h.

Pyxel is (I think) unique among Python game engines in that it can run on the web.

Some others I’ve played with are PyGame and Arcade, mostly geared toward 2D, but you can see some impressive 3D examples on the youtube channel DaFluffyPotato.

Ursina is another that’s more 3D, fairly expressive, and runs fairly well for being Python.

I do feel like I’m going to be forced to cross over into something more powerful to build a real game though. Either Godot or Unity.

kaibee• 2 years ago

Stride game engine also exists and seems pretty ok. I've been trying to switch to it from Unity. Its C# based.

raytopia2• 2 years ago

Panda3D [0] (which is what Ursina uses under the hood) and Pygame can both run on the web due to PygBag [1].

Truth be told you can build a game on any tool, obviously the tool you choose will help shape the game you make - but it's more about keeping at it then the underlying technology.

Personally I really like Panda3D and feel like it doesn't get enough attention. It's scene graph [3] is interesting because it splits it into nodes and nodepaths. A node is what gets stored in the graph but you manipulate them using the nodepaths which simplifies programming.

It also has a really amazing aync task manager [2] which makes game programming no problem. You can just pause in a task (or even a event) which sounds simple but you'd be suprised by who many engines won't let you do that.

It also has a multiplayer solution [6] that was battle tested for 2 mmos.

Finally I really like it's interval [4] system which is like Unreal or Unity's timeline but code based.

It's also on pypi [5] so super easy to install.

[0] http://panda3d.org/

[1] https://pypi.org/project/pygbag/

[2] https://docs.panda3d.org/1.10/python/programming/tasks-and-e...

[3] https://docs.panda3d.org/1.10/python/more-resources/cheat-sh...

[4] https://docs.panda3d.org/1.10/python/programming/intervals/i...

[5] https://pypi.org/project/Panda3D/

[6] https://docs.panda3d.org/1.10/python/programming/networking/...

westurner• 2 years ago

harfang-wasm is a fork of pygbag.

harfang-wasm: https://github.com/harfang3d/harfang-wasm

pygbag: https://github.com/pygame-web/pygbag

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38772400 :

FWIU e.g. panda3d does not have a react or rxpy-like API, but probably does have a component tree model?

Is there a react-like api over panda3d, or are there only traditional events?

The redux DevTools extension also works with various non-react+redux JS frameworks.

Manim has a useful API for teaching. Is there a good way to do panda3d with a manim-like interface, for scripting instructional design? https://github.com/ManimCommunity/manim/issues/3362#issuecom...

999900000999• 2 years ago

Looks very cool.

I absolutely love that it uses a language I actually know instead of some niche thing or a DSL.

I'll have to check it out when I have some spare time.

sgt• 2 years ago

Check out https://love2d.org/ if you ever change your mind on that.

Razengan• 2 years ago

I really wish there was a modern "computer console" like the Commodore 64 or Sinclair Spectrum of old, where you could boot straight into a programming environment.

Something comparable to the Nintendo SNES or DS's hardware capabilities, which seemed like the perfect sweet spot between artistic freedom and "helpful" limitations which actually improved creativity by lowering complexity.

keyle• 2 years ago

One could argue the opposite. There are countless 'computer console' available at various low price ranges.

The closest thing today is RaspberryPI, and boot to a linux in text mode, you're basically there.

What is more difficult to find is the combo hardware/software, but the Pi 400 includes keyboard and a mouse comes with as a kit.

Just like in the old days, find a (~TV) cheap LCD monitor and plug and play.

And you have hundreds of games for free, thousands possibly with emulators etc. And you can program in virtually every languages on the planet.

If anything, what you have now paralysis by choice. There is just too much you can do with a basic computers, so you wind up on youtube and social medias instead of being bored with 1 compiler and 1 book.

ref: I grew up on ZX Spectrum+! :)

asyx• 2 years ago

And you have the option to branch off into any other kind of development. A C64 Style clone is mostly nostalgia. A raspberry pi is presenting you (or your children) with dozens of ways to learn employable skills project based and in a fun way.

shakna• 2 years ago

Picotron [0] is looking like that. I am watching that project closely right now.

[0] https://www.lexaloffle.com/picotron.php

networked• 2 years ago

There are other fantasy computers, too. Check out https://github.com/paladin-t/fantasy.

An open issue [1] makes a point that MMIXX [2], which adds graphics to Knuth's MMIX, is a fantasy computer.

[1] https://github.com/paladin-t/fantasy/issues/109

[2] https://www.malgil.com/mmix/graphics/

Hackbraten• 2 years ago

Pyxel: A retro game engine for Python

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