Code the Classics Volume II

Five retro-inspired games provide the starting point for Code the Classics Volume II: build a block breaker, a scrolling shooter, an action-adventure, a beat-’em-up, and an arcade racer. The book pairs those projects with explanations of how their code works, offering a hands-on look at the ideas behind classic-style gameplay.

Python and Pygame Zero are at the center of the programming material. Setup guidance and introductions to the tools help orient readers, while chapters explore game logic through concrete examples rather than abstract discussion alone. It’s a book for readers who enjoy seeing how a game comes together—and who are curious about making their own.

Five familiar genres, freshly coded 🎮

The projects take inspiration from arcade and home-computer games of the 1980s. They range from the paddle-and-brick action of a block breaker to the movement and combat of a side-scrolling shooter, then move through adventure, beat-’em-up, and pseudo-3D racing ideas. Each chapter gives readers a different set of game-design problems to examine.

Learn by following the game code

Rather than treating programming concepts in isolation, the book connects them to the features a game needs: displaying images, playing sounds, and responding to keyboard or controller input. The examples and explanations show how those pieces contribute to a playable experience. Introductions to Python and Pygame Zero provide context for the code, while guidance on setting up and editing the games supports readers as they work through the material.

More than a coding manual

The book also looks back at the games and creative work behind its retro inspiration. A foreword by Dr David Braben opens the volume, and an interview with Mike Montgomery offers a conversation with the co-founder of The Bitmap Brothers. These editorial features give the programming chapters a wider connection to videogame history and design.

For curious game-makers

Readers interested in Python, Pygame Zero, arcade games, or the craft of recreating classic genres will find a varied set of examples to explore. Git and version control receive their own introduction, adding another practical topic for anyone working with code. The appeal is both nostalgic and hands-on: look back at familiar styles of play, then study how their underlying mechanics can be expressed in a modern programming environment.