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Environment Preparation in Pygame for Visual Novels

Requisitos Previos

Before starting to develop a visual novel in Pygame, it is important to make sure that the development environment is properly configured. To do this, we need two key components: Python and Pygame. What these components are, why they are important, and how to install them are explained in detail below.

1. Python 3.6+

Python is a high-level interpreted programming language that is widely used in software development, including video games, web applications, automation scripts, data analysis, among others. Pygame is designed to work with Python, so it is essential to have it installed.

Why is it important to use Python 3.6 or higher?

  • Pygame is compatible with most recent versions of Python, but some older versions of Python do not have the features and optimizations that Pygame and other modern modules require.

  • Versions above Python 3.6 introduce improvements in performance, syntax and standard libraries, facilitating the development of more efficient and maintainable applications.

Note: If you have a version prior to Python 3.6, it is recommended to upgrade it before starting. You can check your Python version by running the following command in your terminal or console:

python --version

Si ves una versión inferior a 3.6, debes descargar la más reciente desde el sitio oficial de Python.

2. Pygame

Pygame is a library that allows you to develop video games in Python in a simple way. It provides tools to handle graphics, events, sound, keyboard and mouse inputs, and many other functionalities needed to create a complete game or, in this case, a visual novel.

Why is Pygame crucial for a visual novel?

  • Ease of creating 2D graphical interfaces: Visual novels typically display images of characters, backgrounds and text. Pygame makes it very easy to load and render these images on the screen.

  • Event management: You can manage user interactions, such as clicks and key presses, to navigate dialogs and story options.

  • Support for sound and music: Visual novels also often have background music and sound effects to enhance the user experience. Pygame makes it easy to play sounds without the need to install additional libraries.

Note: Installing Pygame: Once you have Python installed, you must install the Pygame library using the Python package manager, pip. This process is very simple and only requires the following command:

pip install pygame

Command explained:

  • pip: This is the Python package manager. It is used to install, update and uninstall Python libraries from the official repository.

  • install pygame: Tells pip to install the pygame library in your Python environment.

Note: Installation verification: To make sure that Pygame has been installed correctly, you can run this small Python script:

import pygame
print(pygame.ver)

If the installation was successful, you will see a printout of the installed Pygame version.