Question

I’m reading the book Introduction to Computer Science Using Python and Pygame by Paul Craven (note: legally available for free online). In the book, he uses a combination of Python 3.1.3 and Pygame 1.9.1 . In my Linux Ubuntu machine, I have Python 3.1.2 but even after I sudo apt-get installed python-pygame (version 1.9.1), Python 3.1.2 can’t import pygame.

Python 3.1.2 (r312:79147, Sep 27 2010, 09:45:41) 
[GCC 4.4.3] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import pygame
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
ImportError: No module named pygame

Python 2.6.5 imports it without fuss, however,

Python 2.6.5 (r265:79063, Apr 16 2010, 13:09:56) 
[GCC 4.4.3] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import pygame
>>> 

Are you aware of any issues for Linux/Ubuntu’s Python 3.1.2 (Prof. Craven used Windows in his book)? How come Pygame 1.9.1 worked for Python 3.1.3 but not for 3.1.2?

Thanks for any pointers. (–,)

Answer 1

It’s because installing the python-pygame package installs it for the default version of Python on your system, 2.6.5 in this case. You should download the pygame package and use setup.py to install it in 3.1.2.