Super Mario Clone ... Getting Started

[BramVandenbon]

Hi

I am new to java.
That is I had 3 lessons so far.
- I know what Swing is and can make swing windows, ...
- I have a big C# background

For a schoolproject I will make a Super Mario game clone.
I do not have the time to use special classes like Direct Draw, OpenGL, ... The project needs to be finished within about 2-3 weeks
I have not started yet and I am allready stuck with 4 questions.

My vision:
I need a level: small images in a kind of table.?!

and

I need a player class:

public class Player extends ?...? {
   public Player(){
      ...loadimages in array;
   }
   left {
      ...change the position in the frame that contains this object;
      ... change image;
      ... change it back;
   }
   right{
   }
   jump{
   }
   crough{
   }
}

Note that the Player visual object needs to move on top of the level ...

So here are my 4 questions:
(1) What class should I extend with my Player class. Should I extend the JPanel class?

(2) What is the best way to load my images. (depends on the answer of question 1 I guess)

(3) How do I change the position of a class in the containing class.

(4) What about my level images ... is there a kind of table class in Swing ?


Can anybody give me a clear answer on my questions ?
(please do not post codelistings of more than 50 lines ^^.)

Thank you in advance