Patch:

--- original/src/utils.py	2009-06-13 00:12:39.000000000 +0100
+++ patched/src/utils.py	2009-09-05 15:31:41.000000000 +0100
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 import logging
 import os
 import sys
+import xdg.BaseDirectory
 
 _ = gettext.gettext
 
@@ -39,7 +40,9 @@
         @return: A list of paths to search in the order they will be searched
     """
     return [
+        xdg.BaseDirectory.save_data_path("transmageddon"),
         os.getcwd(),
         os.path.expanduser(os.path.join("~", ".transmageddon")),
         os.path.join(sys.prefix, "share", "transmageddon"),

there is probably a glib function for this too, I'll check

i don't know if it's what you're looking for but glib has a simlar bug report (see Bug 328679)

Ok, giving up on these actually ever going into glib. Patch merged Stuart, took only 2 years :)

And just as I have given up it turns out they are in glib :) Ok, new updated pushed using glib functions instead of xdg :)