What is the first action you should take when beginning to code a game that includes animated images?

Loading the images into your project directory is an essential first step when coding a game with animated images. This action ensures that all visual elements are readily accessible to your code, allowing you to incorporate them effectively into your game's design. Without the images in the correct location, your animations and graphics will not work, as the program will not be able to reference or display them.

While writing down the game rules, designing the user interface, and testing the code for errors are all important aspects of game development, they typically follow after you have established the necessary assets, such as images. Having the images ready early in the process allows you to visualize how the game will look and function, ultimately aiding in the design and implementation stages that come next. Therefore, starting with the loading of images lays a crucial foundation for the subsequent elements of game creation.