Dodge the Blocks

Starter code

"""
LEVEL 4 - PYGAME
Starter: Dodge the Blocks

Run with: python starter_pygame_game.py

Use LEFT/RIGHT arrow keys to dodge the falling red blocks.
Survive as long as you can - your score is how many seconds you survived.
Your job: change it, upgrade it, make it yours!
"""
import pygame
import random
import sys

pygame.init()

WIDTH, HEIGHT = 480, 500
screen = pygame.display.set_mode((WIDTH, HEIGHT))
pygame.display.set_caption("Level 4 - Dodge the Blocks")
clock = pygame.time.Clock()
font = pygame.font.SysFont(None, 36)

# ---- Player ----
player_width, player_height = 50, 20
player_x = WIDTH // 2 - player_width // 2
player_y = HEIGHT - 50
player_speed = 6

# ---- Falling blocks ----
block_width, block_height = 40, 40
blocks = []          # each block is [x, y]
block_speed = 4
spawn_timer = 0
spawn_interval = 40  # frames between new blocks

def spawn_block():
    x = random.randint(0, WIDTH - block_width)
    blocks.append([x, -block_height])

def collides(px, py, bx, by):
    player_rect = pygame.Rect(px, py, player_width, player_height)
    block_rect = pygame.Rect(bx, by, block_width, block_height)
    return player_rect.colliderect(block_rect)

running = True
game_over = False
start_ticks = pygame.time.get_ticks()

while running:
    dt = clock.tick(60)

    for event in pygame.event.get():
        if event.type == pygame.QUIT:
            running = False

    if not game_over:
        keys = pygame.key.get_pressed()
        if keys[pygame.K_LEFT]:
            player_x -= player_speed
        if keys[pygame.K_RIGHT]:
            player_x += player_speed
        player_x = max(0, min(WIDTH - player_width, player_x))

        spawn_timer += 1
        if spawn_timer >= spawn_interval:
            spawn_block()
            spawn_timer = 0

        for block in blocks:
            block[1] += block_speed

        blocks = [b for b in blocks if b[1] < HEIGHT]

        for block in blocks:
            if collides(player_x, player_y, block[0], block[1]):
                game_over = True

    # ---- draw ----
    screen.fill((20, 20, 30))
    pygame.draw.rect(screen, (0, 200, 100), (player_x, player_y, player_width, player_height))
    for block in blocks:
        pygame.draw.rect(screen, (200, 50, 50), (block[0], block[1], block_width, block_height))

    if not game_over:
        seconds_survived = (pygame.time.get_ticks() - start_ticks) // 1000
        score_text = font.render(f"Time: {seconds_survived}s", True, (255, 255, 255))
    else:
        score_text = font.render("GAME OVER - close window to quit", True, (255, 255, 0))
    screen.blit(score_text, (10, 10))

    pygame.display.flip()

pygame.quit()
sys.exit()


# ---------------------------------------------------------------
# LEVEL UP! Try one (or more) of these upgrades:
# 1. Make blocks fall faster over time to increase difficulty.
# 2. Add a "power-up" (different color block) that gives bonus points
#    instead of ending the game.
# 3. Add a restart key (e.g. press R) instead of closing the window.
# 4. Replace rectangles with images using pygame.image.load().
# 5. Add background music with pygame.mixer.
# 6. Ask your AI tool: "How do I add a high score that saves between
#    game runs in Pygame?"
# ---------------------------------------------------------------