I chose to use Python with PyGame, PyOpenGL, and PyODE. (I had only written about one Python program, and had only written one OpenGL program in C++…)

The idea was a Jenga-like tower of bricks that you must defend from owls who fly by and remove pieces. It would topple with realistic physics.

Tall, proud tower:

PyODE (well, ODE itself I believe) unfortunately is apparently not up to the task of a Jenga tower. If I created more than about 8 layers of Jenga bricks, I’d get a segfault somewhere within the collision detection code.

I shortened the Jenga tower and PyODE stopped crashing.

Applying a force to one of the bricks seems not to break the tower… I think I’m just doing something wrong there, though. But PyODE slows down the program to the “watching ice melt” realm.

Pitifully short tower:

I will try to throw together a 2D version of the game idea using Pymunk today, but with less than 11 hours, I may not submit anything.

Either way: a great, fun learning experience!

Tags: screenshot

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 10th, 2008 at 8:04 am and is filed under LD #12 - The Tower - 2008. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.