Space invaders alien loops/arrays

[oliver8765]

Been given an assignment to create a space invaders game. Although there's a long way around, is there a way to make my code smarter.

Here's the section to make a row of invaders so far:

Public Class Form1
    'number of invaders in a row (horizontal)
    Dim numberofinvaders As Integer = 11
    'set of invaders (vertical)
    Dim setofinvaders As Integer = 4
    'creates pictureboxes of the invaders
    Dim invader(numberofinvaders) As PictureBox
    'tells me how many invaderd are left (score system)
    Dim invadersspawned As Integer = 0

    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        'creates an array of pictureboxes (horizontal)
        For lc = 1 To numberofinvaders

            invadersspawned = invadersspawned + 1
            invader(lc) = New PictureBox
            invader(lc).Image = imginvader.Images(0)
            invader(lc).Height = 16
            invader(lc).Width = 16
            invader(lc).Location = New System.Drawing.Point((lc * 22) + 10, 10)
            Me.Controls.Add(invader(lc))

        Next

    End Sub

So what I want to do more precisely is have the value of setofinvaders to change how many rows of invaders vertically in a loop. I'm pretty new to programming to don't know if this is possible, and if so, don't know how to do it myself.

Thanks for reading, any tips would be greatly appreciated!

[acrym]

Hi,

Forgive me if this is not what you're asking, but couldn't you use another For Loop around "For lc = 1 to numberofinvaders" to spawn each row at a time?

For column as Short = 0 to setofinvaders - 1
       For lc = 1 To numberofinvaders
            invadersspawned = invadersspawned + 1
            invader(lc) = New PictureBox
            invader(lc).Image = imginvader.Images(0)
            invader(lc).Height = 16
            invader(lc).Width = 16
            invader(lc).Location = New System.Drawing.Point((lc * 22) + 10, 10 + column * 10)
            Me.Controls.Add(invader(lc)
        Next
Next

Changes are highlighted. Also the constants for the location may vary.

[oliver8765]

Hi,

Forgive me if this is not what you're asking, but couldn't you use another For Loop around "For lc = 1 to numberofinvaders" to spawn each row at a time?

For column as Short = 0 to setofinvaders - 1
       For lc = 1 To numberofinvaders
            invadersspawned = invadersspawned + 1
            invader(lc) = New PictureBox
            invader(lc).Image = imginvader.Images(0)
            invader(lc).Height = 16
            invader(lc).Width = 16
            invader(lc).Location = New System.Drawing.Point((lc * 22) + 10, 10 + column * 10)
            Me.Controls.Add(invader(lc)
        Next
Next

Changes are highlighted. Also the constants for the location may vary.

This is pretty much what I was asking. However, let's say if a bullet hits a invader on the first row, how would I be able to say to only hide the invader on the first row, and not second etc?

[acrym]

This is pretty much what I was asking. However, let's say if a bullet hits a invader on the first row, how would I be able to say to only hide the invader on the first row, and not second etc?

That is a bigger undertaking... you could track the position of the bullet (if it's a picturebox) with Location.Y and Location.X each time it moves and check if it is near an invader.

This is where it gets complicated - you'd need to compensate for the movement of the invaders itself, where the bullet needs to be to "hit" an invader, etc. It might be helpful to create a function that gives you the name of the nearest invader based on the bullet's position.

[con322]

hi just wondering i try to change the size of the invaders but if i change it either doesnt work or all of them disappear accept one? also do you know any threads/post about how to move invaders which are in an array and how to shoot one and make only that invader disappear? I would appreciate a quick reply as i need to do it for my ICT assignment help would be greatly appreciated.

[acrym]

hi just wondering i try to change the size of the invaders but if i change it either doesnt work or all of them disappear accept one? also do you know any threads/post about how to move invaders which are in an array and how to shoot one and make only that invader disappear? I would appreciate a quick reply as i need to do it for my ICT assignment help would be greatly appreciated.

You should post your code so people can help you. I'm not as good of a programmer as other people here, but I'm pretty sure none of us are psychic.

[con322]

Thanks for quick reply ok so here my code in the timer is how the invaders move, I used the code i found above because i am new to arrays anyways what i want to do is have to row of invaders that i can do but i dont know how to make the timer move bothe rows it only moves one can u help?

Public Class Form1
'number of invaders in a row (horizontal)
Dim numberofinvaders As Integer = 11

'set of invaders (vertical)
Dim setofinvaders As Integer = 2

'creates pictureboxes of the invaders
Dim invader(numberofinvaders) As PictureBox

'tells me how many invaderd are left (score system)
Dim invadersspawned As Integer = 0

Dim alienmove As Integer = 5

Dim invaders As Integer = 5


Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load

For column as Short = 0 to setofinvaders - 1
For lc = 1 To numberofinvaders
invadersspawned = invadersspawned + 1
invader(lc) = New PictureBox
invader(lc).Image = imginvader.Images(0)
invader(lc).Height = 25
invader(lc).Width = 25
invader(lc).Location = New System.Drawing.Point((lc * 30) + 10)
Me.Controls.Add(invader(lc))
Next

For lc = 1 To numberofinvaders
invadersspawned = invadersspawned + 1
invader(lc) = New PictureBox
invader(lc).Image = imginvader.Images(0)
invader(lc).Height = 25
invader(lc).Width = 25
invader(lc).Location = New System.Drawing.Point((lc * 30) + 10,10 + column * 10)
Me.Controls.Add(invader(lc))
Next
Next


End Sub

Private Sub tmrinvader_Tick(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles tmrinvader.Tick

For count = 1 To 11

invader(count).Left = invader(count).Left + invaders

Next count


If invader(11).Left + invader(11).Width > Me.Width - invader(11).Width Or invader(1).Left < 0 Then

invaders = -invaders

For count = 1 To 11
invader(count).Top = invader(count).Top + 10
Next
End If


End Sub

[oliver8765]

It's my understanding that you will have to create each row of invaders separately. In my code I have to have invader1, invader2, invader3, invader4 for each row.

[con322]

yeah i have done that now thanks em i know i have asked several questions but i am stuck on the collision detection between the invaders as i have created five seperate arrays, can you tell me the code for the collision detection plz

thanks

[oliver8765]

Don't have access to my code right now, but it went something like this:

For i = 1 to rowsofinvaders

if picbullet.bounds.intersectswith(invader1(i).bounds) and invader(i).visible = true then

invader1(i).visible = false
end if
next

[oliver8765]

Don't have access to my code right now, but it went something like this:

For i = 1 to rowsofinvaders

if picbullet.bounds.intersectswith(invader1(i).bounds) and invader(i).visible = true then

invader1(i).visible = false
end if
next

[con322]

thank em do i need to dim 'i' or something because when i put For i = it underlines i for some reason and also do i just duplicate the code for the other set of invaders

[oliver8765]

thank em do i need to dim 'i' or something because when i put For i = it underlines i for some reason and also do i just duplicate the code for the other set of invaders

The 'i' is the number in the loop... which in this case corresponds with a invader (assuming you have your invaders in arrays)

[con322]

i know u dont have ur code right now but em as soon as i press enter to start the game and the invader timer starts the game stop and highlighs the code above in yellow, do u know why this would happen

[shaz1]

Hi,

Am using this section of code above to help write a space invaders type game for a project. Could you give some advice on how to create each row of invaders separately? I'm a bit confused as to how to do this. Thank you heaps.