game

This project implements the game of Breakout.

Name: Aneesh Gupta

NetID: ag468

Timeline

Start Date: 01/12/2019

Finish Date: 01/19/2020

Hours Spent: ~20 hours

Resources Used

• JavaFX tutorial (TutorialsPoint)
• StackExchange
• Class Lab code (lab_bounce)

Running the Program

Main class:

• Main.java (game_ag468/src/breakout/Main.java)
• This is the file to be run to execute the game.

Data files needed:

• From the resources folder: lvl1.txt, lvl2.txt, lvl3.txt.
• Also from the resources dir: various .gif files for the ball, paddle, brick, and misc decoration.

Key/Mouse inputs:

• Right/Left arrow Keys to move paddle left and right
• In Random spell of level this is switched
• Spacebar to start a level

Cheat keys:

• 1, 2, 3 number keys to toggle between levels
• R to reset the ball and paddle position
• L to add lives to the user.
• I to elongate the paddle to fit screen
• P to randomly pop bricks in the 1-3rd rows of bricks (from top)

Known Bugs:

• Sometimes when ball hits the Permanent Bricks at a weird angle, it slides on them.
• [Appears to be Fixed] After winning the game, and trying to replay it, the levels appear in a minimized manner

Extra credit:

• Towards the end of each level:
  • The screen goes red
  • The paddle's controls switch (Left becomes right, right becomes left)
  • The paddle also starts to wrap around the screen
  • This resets at the completion of the level
• Sudden change in the middle of level requires user to adapt fast, and after completion of level, adapt back to the regular controls.
• Also implemented a pane that keeps track of score, level, lives, and displays powerUps when activated.
• Have really cool 'Hydra' bricks, that upon collision break into two smaller regular bricks.

Notes/Assumptions

1. The game window isn't maximised or minimized during play.
2. Java13 is used.
3. The entire game_ag468 folder, with all of it's constituent directories and files is downloaded and used.
4. game_ag468/src/breakout/Main.java is the file run.
5. Ball seems to run with stops at times, but works fine on other computers.
6. Implementing collision logic, dealing with Public static vs Private instance variables was interesting.
7. JavaFX does have some display problems (like for example only a part of the string is displayed in a label, even with correct code).
8. Paddle has following properties
   1. Corner reflect is different, ball retraces path
   2. Paddle speed changes with powerUp
   3. Paddle length changes with powerUp/cheatcode
   4. Paddle can wrap around screen in random mode.

Impressions

• Pretty intensive, really made me evaluate if class was for me
• You learn a lot, and practically revise a lot of Java programming
• Open ended nature is really enjoyable, I loved the high amount of creative liberty
• Perhaps could be better if there is a bit of guidance on how to actually adopt good practices when you begin to code (by planning/sketching or something)
• Know what bad practices are, but don't know how to properly, timely, and easily code beginning with good practices.