Re: [pygame] My first game; the design of pacman

[Farai Aschwanden <fash@xxxxxxxxxx>]

> Hi Kai

See inside ...
> On 3/20/06, Farai Aschwanden <fash@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > Hi Kai
> > See inside...
> >
> > > [ Moving, Blitting]
> > => What you probably want to say is that you would like to work in
> > the pure OO way, like in Java or C/C++. Python is highly dynamic and
> > easy to use. You don't need to care about creating new instances of
> > the same object like you do in the mentioned OO languages, Python
> > references to the newly created objects (ghosts), you don't need to
> > create an expl
>
> Hmm, i don't know what you mean.
> Do you mean "new instances of the same class"?
=> No, creating new instance of object "Ghost"
> > If you want to make it more complicated, check the class Thread. ;)
> > The Ghosts are all of the same type of object, they only differ in
> > their coordinates. So why making it more complicated?
>
> I don't know how to make it easier.
> When i hit a 'G' in the List, i replace it with a Ghost-Object:
>
> if c == 'G':
>     c = Ghost()
=> Its turns too complicated to scan the whole list to check what  
type of object to display. Well it's a way...
How about to work with a list or a dictionary? Like
monster_list = [(color_a, x_coordinate, y_coordinate, ), color_b,  
x_coordinate, y_coordinate, ), ...]
This list repesents 2 ghosts in 2 tuples that you only have to go  
through and read out the coordinaties for blitting them by their  
coordinates (you need another routine updating those coordinates  
depending on the movement of the ghosts). You also can add more  
tuples (more ghosts) or creating a new list for the non moving big  
pills that the Pacman can eat to catch the ghosts for a certain time.  
If a ghost is caught you can reset is coordinates at his revival  
coordinates. The small pills needs to be displayed as well.

> > => There is no right and wrong way, its all up to you and how much
> > work you want to spend into it to finish it. Some ways needs of
> > course more time than others.
>
> Hm, i think I will make a master-class.
> Otherwise every object have to know where the other objects are.
=> You have to create a master class, like any program got it. Just a  
very draft "doing" list inside this master class (independent if  
there are called functions/other classes in it):

start loop main_class:
  - check player input (keyboard, joystick, ...)
  - repaint Pacman depending on players moving direction (update new  
coordinates of Pacman)
  - Move Ghosts (here you need a "stupid" or smart (AI) function to  
move the ghosts around)
    Keep in mind to add a move delay routine in here (how fast the  
ghosts are moving around). The
    higher the level there might come more ghosts and/or they move  
faster (just as an idea).
  - Check: Pacman got hit by a ghost (Pacman's coordinates are close  
to a ghost's coordinates from
                   previous described list or easier: Pacman and  
ghosts are sprites -> collision detection)
 stop loop main_class

This was just a brainstorming to give you some ideas how it could be  
done. Of course there are other ways to do it.

As mentioned in some other mails adressed to you there are many, many  
examples and descriptions around.

Regards
Farai

> > > Second question:
> > > [How about a background list?]
> > => You always know the positions of the ghosts and also of the Pacman
> > (f.e. in a list) . The only thing you have to do is to use collision
> > detection or to ask if the coordinates of the Pacman is close or
> > equal to any other existing ghost. This can be done very easily in
> > Python.
>
> Ok, that's a great thing. Thank you.
>
>
> > => Good luck on working it. Sure there would be easier games as for
> > the first project but people need challenges. ;) And its also
> > interesting to walk into to the steps of minds who created such games
> > 20 or 30 years ago. ;)
>
> Thanks for you answer.
> Kai