--- a
+++ b/helper_functions.py
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+'''
+Created on 19 jul 2012
+
+@author: Marco Baxemyr
+'''
+import os
+import datetime
+
+import pygame
+
+
+def load_image(file_name):
+    """inspired by http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7694"""
+    full_name = os.path.join('images', file_name)
+    
+    try:
+        image = pygame.image.load(full_name)
+    except pygame.error, message:
+        print "Couldn't load image:", full_name
+        raise SystemExit, message
+    
+    image = image.convert_alpha()
+    
+    return image
+
+def load_sound(file_name):
+    """inspired by http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7694"""
+    class No_Sound:
+        def play(self):
+            pass
+    
+    if not pygame.mixer or not pygame.mixer.get_init():
+        return No_Sound()
+    
+    full_name = os.path.join('audio', file_name)
+    if os.path.exists(full_name):
+        sound = pygame.mixer.Sound(full_name)
+        return sound
+    else:
+        print 'File not found', full_name
+        return No_Sound()
+
+def load_font(file_name, font_size):
+    full_name = os.path.join('fonts', file_name)
+    if os.path.exists(full_name):
+        return pygame.font.Font(full_name, font_size)