The colours of success

Well now that the level design is complete I will be beginning the colourization of the game. The level is the first task, colouring the walls etc. Then pak_man will be next and the ghosts. After this has been completed, I will be working with Nate to integrate them into the game. The next task will be to make the interface menu. The decision whether or not to make the menu graphical or text has not been reached, but the latest polls indicate a majority towards graphical, which in turn will be a burden. Morale is good, and so I continue...
~fruitsnacks

Double-time the threadhood.

So I am currently attempting to work on two different classes.

I began one, being the playerConnection class, which is to act as the thread with which each player is to connect into the game. Then I realized how much longer that part was going to be, and switched over to ConnectionManager, which is to handle the sockets being used and manage the input and output to the player. Essentially the playerConnection (or thread) is to work through the ConnectionManager in order to interact with the other terminals.

This task is proving to be rather challenging, as sockets and threads are a whole new ordeal for me. I admit... I plan on poring over code and analysing it in order to find solutions and breakthroughs during the prom itself.

*flies away into the purple skies and through the candy clouds*

~Genome

Level Complete

I have finally completed the detailed draft drawing of the level, all dimensions are exact and size of blocks are all worked out. Tomorrow the draft will be put into a vector format and digitized. Further research will ensue for level 2 along with the client's perspective and take on the design. I hope not too much repremanding will need to be done.
~fruitsnacks

Level Design

I am having some troublesome obstacles with the level as I still try to find the correct dimensions through trial and error. I am near completion though of level 1. The pak_men and level 2 will hopefully ensue.
~fruitsnacks

Networking of the Masses

BwaHA! I hath returned.

So, I spoke with said l33t programmer friend a number of days ago, and he sent me a couple classes that work with sockets and networking and the like. So I have been spending the past few days just reading them and analysing them, and I have now completed the act.

I plan on reading them again, quicker this time, just to get a better understanding. But I believe that it is about the time for me to start working out the code required to interact the five computers in the network. Interacting with two will be relatively simple, and in supposed foreknowledge it does not appear as though five computers will be much more difficult.

So, I have yet to actually hardcode anything, and I likely won't have a chance tonight because of another final project, but the source for networking should be started very soon, I believe.

*falls into a mysterious hole*
~Genome

One More Time

It has come to my attention that I am the only group member that has not yet posted on here. So here it is, folks. Savour the moment.

I'm doing the general code. Right now, my main goal is to get an image to appear without using applets, so I'm learning the swing command. This should let me learn the things I need to. Yes. So I am learning it. Unfortunately, the Java Short Course is not short by any meaning of the word. Yeah...So I'm going to be reading through that and learning the swing command, and I'm going to start with a program to put an image on the screen, than I'll alter the code to make the image move, then I'll add boundaries for the image, then I'll have it so that the image changes as it moves. Thus is my plan.

And thus have I posted.

Until next time,
KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!
~Kataron

Graphic Desgin

Today I have started to make the first level of the game in vector format along with some concept art of the pak_man characters. Level creation will be at a speedier process in the future once the grid is complete and block sections have been allocated size on the grid along with pak_man himself.

And thus, it begins.

After over six hours of persisting and prancing about in such a confined realm of electrons and images, I have completed the most difficult task of all those ahead of us. Lo and behold! for before you there can be found the fruits of my labour.

I suppose there is a very small something to give credit to tonight, as otherwise I will have nothing more to write into this post. :)

We have, this evening, taken the general workload of conceiving and creating this project and divided it into four major section: GUI/graphics, network interface source, AI source, and interaction source.

1) Ben Mossman is going to be taking on the role of graphics designer, as he has the most experience and skill in this field. He is going to draw each sprite for Pak-man's movement, as well as the maps for various levels, the Ghosts, etc. Ben is also likely going to be our humour-provider in times of dire need.

2) The network interface is going to be coded by none other than myself, Jared Tyler. I plan on using the resources of the Internet, and potentially a hardcopy manual or two, in order to better understand the inner complexities of transfering data between two or more computers in a network. Along with this, I will also be learning from a l33t programmer friend of mine, as he has had much experience in the world of Threads. Then... I will put my newfound knowledge to work and unprecedented beauty shall unfold!

3) Mitch Pippard, known in some circles as "That ADD Kid", will be gracing us with his ingenuity with Artificial Intelligence. Rather than the presently well-known use of "sectors" to create the illusion of a Ghost's AI, That ADD Kid is going to make use of his mathematical skillz. He is going to implement Pythagorean's Theorem, comparing the coordinates of both Ghost and Pak-Man. Using this, the Ghosts will have an all-new form of AI, and he may also give each Ghost a different level of intelligence, thus deciding how difficult it will be to escape said Ghost's lengthy arm of swirling spirit. Mitch will also eat. We have a genius on our hands, and he must be fed.

4) And lastly, as always, is Nate Morse. Our ever-present and eternally wired colleague, who likes to call himself "Kataron", will be slipping himself into the pools of intermediacy. Nate is going to program the unbearably essential functions that are to interact networking with graphics, graphics with AI, and so forth. He must delve into the depths of discovery in order to learn what is necessary to print images onto the screen, allow the images to interact with one another, and force the various other functions, such as those pertaining to the networked systems, to immediately control what sorts of graphical beings that must be controlled by opponent players. Kataron's duty in this undertaking, although seems to be basic at first glance, is actually one of the most important, and possibly most time-consuming. But we all know Nate, and we all know that he can discpline himself to get it done... Maybe.

And that, dear reader, is what is currently going on with Team Awesome in the ICS4M class of John F. Ross. Check in often to stay up to date on our findings and accomplishments, as we are being held under lock and key, threatened with ball and chain or sometimes lance, until we have fulfilled the wish for a massive amount of documentation and understanding. Please send for help.

And for future notice, not all posts will be this long. :) This one was just the beginning, and therefore had a lot to cover.

I fare thee well!
~vanishes~