Tiles, educational systems and the meaning of life

[MidgetsBro]

I have decided to learn how to create a tile based game like Zelda for my Senior Project. I have to make it good, or I won't pass English, therefore I won't pass my Senior year of high school. I want to start with basics of BitBlt, and move on from there. Is anyone willing to help me learn how to do this? I want to do the following things:

• BitBlt a background map using a map file like the one below(like water and trees, etc)
• Create a masked player icon
• Move the player around on the screen, keeping him in the middle and letting the screen scroll
• Keep the person out of water and trees, and allow them to walk on grass and roads
• And maybe add more. This is just the beginning, and I have until April 2002.

//Map File
/*
0=grass
1=water
2=road
3=house
4=tree etc...
*/

Level=1
4444400001104444
4444000011100434
2222000011000020
0002222222222220
0000000011000000
4400440011100444
4000044001104444
4400444001104444
4444440011104444
4444000011004044
//etc.

Thanks for any help
-Joey