Changelog

1.3 (2026-10-31)

  • Dropped support for Python 2.7 and Pygame 1.8

  • Added support for Pygame 2

  • Characters can no longer be knocked out with a punch while on a staircase

  • Eric now finishes any action he’s engaged in (hitting, firing etc.) before being frozen by a character who has a message for him

  • Eric can no longer be knocked out if he’s in the middle of an action (hitting, firing etc.)

  • The shield in the girls’ skool kitchen is now restored when loading a saved Back to Skool Daze game

  • Speech bubbles are now drawn correctly after rescaling or loading a saved game

  • Fixed the bug that causes right-facing sprites to be misdrawn on systems without SDL2

  • Fixed the bug that can cause a skool window to reset to an incorrect state when starting a new game

  • Fixed two bugs that can lead to a character being spontaneously “dethroned”, even when not sitting down

  • Fixed the bug that prevents lines-giving from being re-enabled after pressing the NO_LINES cheat key (3) a second time

  • Fixed the bug that can send characters to negative x-coordinates

  • Fixed Einstein’s answers to Mr Rockitt’s questions in Ezad Looks

1.2.1 (2016-05-21)

  • Added missing verbs to the [AssemblyMessages] section for Back to Skool

  • When Eric is writing on a blackboard, the text now automatically wraps to the second line when the end of the first line is reached

  • Updated the worldofspectrum.org URLs in images.ini

  • Fixed links to classes, methods and variables in the API documentation

1.2 (2015-01-14)

  • Dropped support for Python 2.6 and Pygame 1.7

  • Added support for Python 3.4

  • The Insert (screenshot), F2 (save), F6 (load), F11 (toggle full-screen mode) and F12 (menu) keys now work when Eric is writing on a blackboard

  • Fixed the quit menu so that it works when Eric is writing on a blackboard

1.1.2 (2014-06-14)

  • Customised the theme tunes, ‘all shields’ tunes, ‘open safe’ tunes and ‘up a year’ tunes in Skool Daze Take Too, Ezad Looks and Back to Skool Daze

  • Customised the lesson questions and answers in Skool Daze Take Too, Ezad Looks and Back to Skool Daze

  • Customised the ‘sit down’ messages and ‘lesson’ messages in Back to Skool Daze

  • Added the --config command line option (to set the value of a configuration parameter)

1.1.1 (2014-01-26)

  • Added the ConfirmClose and ConfirmQuit parameters to the [GameConfig] section (to control whether a confirmation screen is shown when Escape or the window close button is pressed)

  • Added the Volume parameter to the [GameConfig] section (to set the volume for sound effects)

  • Added support for appending content to existing ini file sections by adding a ‘+’ suffix to the section name (e.g. [SkoolLocations+])

  • Added a menu item to switch between full-screen and windowed mode

  • Added the --force command line option (to overwrite existing images, ini files and sound files)

  • Added the --sample-rate command line option (to set the sample rate of the sound files created by --create-sounds)

  • Fixed the bug that freezes the game if Eric’s lines total goes over 10000 while he’s being fetched by the teacher on dinner duty

1.1 (2013-12-01)

  • Replaced all the sound files with high-quality (44.1kHz) versions

  • Added hitting sound effects (HIT0, HIT1) to Skool Daze

  • Added the ALARM sound effect ID (for when Albert is telling Mr Wacker that Eric’s escaping)

  • Screenshots are now saved to the screenshots directory by default

  • Added the --create-sounds command line option (to create the sound files required by a game)

  • Added the --package-dir command line option (for showing the path to the pyskool package directory)

  • Added the --search-dirs command line option (for showing the locations that Pyskool searches for data files)

  • Added the --setup command line option (to create the images, ini files and sound files required by a game)

  • Added a second source for the Skool Daze TZX file to images.ini

  • Removed the documentation sources from the Pyskool distribution (they can be obtained from GitHub)

1.0.1 (2012-12-07)

  • Moved the man pages to section 6

1.0 (2012-12-03)

  • Added the --get-images command line option (to download TZX files of Skool Daze and Back to Skool from sources listed in images.ini and extract images from them)

  • Added the --create-ini command line option (to create the stock game ini files)

  • Added the ability to switch between full-screen and windowed mode by pressing F11

  • Man pages for the game launcher scripts are included in the man directory

  • Fixed the audio latency that can occur when using Pygame 1.8+

  • Fixed the bug that enables Eric to ride the bike past Albert when he has his arm raised

  • Fixed the bug that makes Eric remain aloft after the knocked-out kid he’s standing on (near a staircase) has risen

  • Fixed the bug in Back to Skool Daze that makes the shield on the shelf in the boys’ skool turn into a cup when Eric goes onto the next year

  • Fixed the ezad_looks/mutables.png image (each pair of shield/safe images was in the wrong order)

0.6 (2011-06-05)

  • Pyskool can be installed as a Python package using setup.py install

  • Changed the menu show/hide key from F10 (which activates the menu bar in Windows) to F12

  • Added default key bindings to pyskool.ini

  • Fixed the bug that enables Eric to kiss Hayley while she’s sitting down

  • Fixed the bug that makes Mr Wacker give Eric lines for being on the floor or not in skool while expelling him for jumping out of the top-floor window

  • Fixed the bug that causes sprite graphics to lose their transparency when a game saved at one colour depth is loaded at a higher colour depth

0.5.4 (2011-03-15)

Fixed the bug that causes a crash when Eric tries to get on the bike.

0.5.3 (2010-12-16)

Fixed the bug that prevented a saved game from loading when using GraphicsMode 0 (hi-res colour).

0.5.2 (2010-11-03)

  • Added a jumping sound effect to Skool Daze

  • Fixed a graphic glitch in the girls’ shoes

0.5.1 (2010-06-21)

Fixed the bug that causes a crash during a non-question-and-answer lesson when the teacher has returned to the blackboard after fetching the truant Eric.

0.5 (2010-06-08)

  • Added an in-game menu

  • Screen can be rescaled while Pyskool is running

  • Key bindings are defined in pyskool.ini

0.4 (2010-05-28)

  • Added the ability to save and load games

  • The score box is drawn using labels defined in the [MessageConfig] section

  • Added lesson box background images

  • Added message box images (now the message boxes in Skool Daze mode look like those used in the original game)

0.3 (2010-05-18)

0.2.4 (2010-04-30)

Added the following features:

  • ‘Back to Skool Daze’ example customisation

  • Keyboard is checked during long sound effects (so you can pause or quit while the tune is playing, for example)

  • Screenshots can be taken while the game is paused

  • [Screen] section in the ini files

  • API documentation

0.2.3 (2010-04-13)

Added the ‘Ezad Looks’ example customisation.

0.2.2 (2010-04-02)

Added the following features in Back to Skool mode:

  • Eric is paralysed and expelled after jumping out of the top-floor window

  • Albert alerts Mr Wacker if he spots Eric trying to escape

  • Mr Wacker shadows Eric after being alerted by Albert

  • Mr Creak and Mr Rockitt behave correctly during assembly

  • Mr Withit does assembly duty

  • Eric gets lines for not sitting down facing the stage during assembly

  • Eric gets lines for standing on plants

  • Miss Take chases Eric out of the girls’ skool if she spots him there when it’s not playtime

Also fixed the following bugs:

  • Game crashes if Eric tries to sit back on the saddle of the bike after standing on it

  • Eric gets lines for riding the bike in the playground

  • Eric gets lines if spotted falling from a window

  • Screen scrolls right every time Eric kisses Hayley

0.2.1 (2010-03-26)

Added the following features in Back to Skool mode:

  • Eric can release mice

  • The girls and Miss Take will jump up and down or stand on a chair if they spot a mouse nearby

  • Eric can kiss (or try to kiss) Hayley

  • Eric can open desks and collect the water pistol or stinkbombs

  • Eric can drop stinkbombs

  • Mr Wacker will open a nearby window if he smells a stinkbomb

  • Eric can fire the water pistol

  • Eric can fill the water pistol with sherry

  • Eric can throw away the water pistol

  • Cups can be filled with water or sherry

  • Plants grow when watered

  • Eric can stand on plant pots

  • Eric is lifted by a growing plant

  • Eric can step off a fully grown plant through an open window

  • Eric can step off a fully grown plant over the skool gate

  • Drops of water or sherry can be knocked out of a cup with a catapult pellet

  • Teachers reveal bike combination digits when hit by a drop of water

  • Eric can unchain the bike by writing the combination on a blackboard

  • Eric can ride the bike

  • Eric can stand on the saddle of the bike

  • Eric can jump off the saddle of the bike

  • Eric is launched over the closed skool gate if he hits it while standing on the saddle of the bike

  • Teachers reveal storeroom combination letters when hit by a drop of sherry

  • Eric can get the storeroom key (and hence the frog) by writing the combination on a blackboard

  • Conker falls from the tree when hit by a catapult pellet

  • Falling conker can knock people out

  • Eric can place the frog in a cup

  • Eric can get the safe key by knocking the frog from a cup onto Miss Take’s head

  • Eric can open the safe by jumping up to it when he has the key

Also fixed the following bugs:

  • Game crashes if a character is chasing or looking for Eric while Eric is on a staircase or jumping

  • Eric does not get lines if caught writing on a blackboard

  • Eric gets lines for being in the assembly hall during non-assembly periods

0.2 (2010-03-16)

  • Added mice and frogs and the ability to catch them

  • Fixed glitches in the animatory state graphics (sprites.png)

  • Added the SHERRY sound sample

  • Added the GameFps and ScrollFps configuration parameters

Also fixed the following bugs:

  • Game crashes if you press ‘Delete’ while writing on a blackboard

  • If a little boy talks to ERIC while he’s writing on a blackboard, pressing ‘U’ has no effect

  • During dinner, the teacher on duty keeps giving Eric lines for not finding a seat

0.1.2 (2009-07-22)

Fixed bug in Skool Daze mode where shields stay flashing after Eric’s been expelled.

0.1.1 (2009-04-29)

Fixed bug where Eric gets trapped in his seat if he’s knocked out of it by a catapult pellet and then tries to stand up.

0.1 (2008-11-12)

  • Eric is expelled after exceeding the lines limit

  • The swot tells tales

  • Teachers track down Eric if he tries to skip class

In Skool Daze mode:

  • Special playtimes have been implemented

  • Teachers give lines for all possible infractions

  • All commands required in Skool Daze mode have been implemented

0.0.4 (2008-10-24)

  • Eric can write on blackboards

  • Improved keyboard responsiveness

  • Added ready-made example customisation: Skool Daze Take Too

In Skool Daze mode:

  • Teachers reveal safe combination letters when all shields are flashing

  • Eric can open the safe after writing the combination code on a blackboard

  • Eric can unflash all the shields after opening the safe

0.0.3 (2008-10-08)

  • Sound effects and tunes

  • Teachers give lines for some infractions

  • Eric can jump (into the air and onto other kids, too)

  • Eric can make shields flash

0.0.2 (2008-09-23)

  • Added --scale and --ini command line options

  • Bully can knock people out

  • Tearaway can fire catapult pellets

  • Eric can do these things too

  • Tearaway writes on the blackboards

  • Implemented several previously unimplemented commands

0.0.1 (2008-09-09)

Initial public release.