Asteroids (Part 1)

In this assignment we will start to replicate the old video game Asteroids. You will write a program that has a space ship that can be controlled with the keyboard. You will need to write a Spaceship class. Your Spaceship class will extend the Floater class, an abstract class that represents all things that float in space.

An abstract class is an "incomplete" class. It has abstract methods--incomplete methods that have no body. When your class extends an abstract class, you typically write the methods that are needed to "complete" the class. Note: To complete this assignment you will be writing two classes Spaceship and Star. Do not modify the Floater class.

Suggested steps to complete this assignment

1. Fork this repository.
2. Open the program by opening AsteroidsGame.pde in Processing or opening the AsteroidsGame folder in Sublime.
3. Uncomment the extends floater on Line 1 of Spaceship.pde
4. Complete the 10 abstract set and get functions that the Spaceship class inherits from Floater
5. Write the Spaceship constructor. Make sure you initialize all 9 of the inherited protected member variables. You may find slides #1 - 58 on the Asteroids PowerPoint and the Spaceship design worksheet helpful. You may also find this sample Spaceship program helpful in understanding how the protected Floater variables affect the Spaceship's movement.
6. At the top of AsteroidsGame.pde, declare a variable of type Spaceship
7. Initialize the Spaceship as a new instance of the class
8. In draw() in AsteroidsGame.pde call the Spaceship's show() function
9. When you are happy with appearance of the Spaceship, add a public void keyPressed() function in AsteroidsGame.pde
10. Write code in keyPressed that allows you to control the spaceship with the keyboard. You must include the ability to turn left, turn right, accelerate, and enter "hyperspace." (There is no requirement for any fancy visual effects, hyperspace just needs to stop the ship, and give it a new random position and direction.)
11. Add code to the draw() in AsteroidsGame.pde to move() the Spaceship
12. Finish the Star class in Star.pde
13. Finally, add code to AsteroidsGame.pde that declares and initializes an array of instances of the Star class to create a number of stars in random positions
14. Note that for full credit, you MUST include instructions on how to operate your Spaceship in the index.html file
15. OPTIONAL: If you have extra time and are looking for a challenge, you might try to add an animation of "rockets" that appear from the back of the ship when you accelerate, simliar to the this sample Spaceship program. The best way to do this is to override show() by copying the show() function from Floater into your Spaceship class. Then add an if statement in your Spaceship show() function right after endShape(CLOSE);. If your rockets are firing, draw additional shapes just behind your Spaceship. You can sketch out the shapes on graph paper with the ship centered at (0,0) and pointing right. The show() function will rotate and translate the rocket shapes to the correct position on the screen.

These steps are only a suggestion. Your Asteroids game doesn't have to work or act like any other. Have fun and be creative.

Some important things to keep in mind

1. Abstract classes are "unfinished"
2. Abstract classes are one way that programmers can collaborate and divide up the work of a large program
3. You're collaborating! Some of the work for the Ship class has already been done in the Floater class. Don't change it! Your job is to extend the Floater class to "build on top of it" to make a Ship class.
4. To create the Ship class you need to write a constructor and finish the "unfinished" abstract functions in Floater.
5. When you are sketching out your ship on th Spaceship design worksheet make sure the ship is centered at (0,0) and pointing to the right
6. Don't declare any duplicate variables in your Ship class. You are inheriting all the variables you need from Floater
7. Make sure your Spaceship constructor initializes all 9 of the protected variables it inherits from Floater

Samples of Student Work

Jack
Erica
Wilson
Elton
Kenneth
Hannah
Joshua
Steven
Silas
Ben
Sam
Karen
Andrew
Thanawat
Jenna
Katie
Michael
Olivia
Eric
Joanna
Emily
Kirby
Dean
Ben
Maxwell
Andrea
Yev
Garvin
Aaron
Michael
Jenny
Erica
Edmund
Schuyler
Bryan
Emma
Kenny
Brandon
Nicholas
Raymond
Nathan
Steven
Brandon
Preston
Tatiana
Karen
Kyle
Michelle
Jayden
Kevin
Kyle
Lydia
Jenna
Otto
Brandon
Andrew
Darya
Felix
Elton
Robert
Skyler
Desmond
Amanda
Eric
Hannah
Kendra
Colin
Edmund
Andrew
Winfield
Jun
Steven
Conna
Hannah
Wilsom
Bryce
Eric
Maxwell
Kirby
Garvin
Aaron
Joshua
Sam
Otto
Steven
Makoi
Brandon
Kenneth
Sophie
Nicholas
Jessica
Kenny
Vivian
Conna
Janet
Emma
Katie
Nghi
Bryan
Erica
Joanna
Jonathan
Derek
Mi-Kaela

This assignment was selected as a "Nifty CS Assignment" in 2008 by Nick Parlante @ Stanford