Scribd
Upload
265 views

Creation of A Pong Game Through Visual: Antony Gardner May 27, 2014

This document summarizes Antony Gardner's attempt to create a simple Pong game over six days as a learning experience in programming. Gardner started with JavaScript but faced difficulties debugging on an iPad. He then switched to his familiar Visual Basic.NET language. While the full game was never completed, Gardner learned the value of using object-oriented programming with multiple classes to represent game elements like the paddle, ball, and bricks. He also gained a better understanding of efficient programming practices and preparation for his computer science studies.

Uploaded by

Kazuto Furukawa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
265 views

Creation of A Pong Game Through Visual: Antony Gardner May 27, 2014

This document summarizes Antony Gardner's attempt to create a simple Pong game over six days as a learning experience in programming. Gardner started with JavaScript but faced difficulties debugging on an iPad. He then switched to his familiar Visual Basic.NET language. While the full game was never completed, Gardner learned the value of using object-oriented programming with multiple classes to represent game elements like the paddle, ball, and bricks. He also gained a better understanding of efficient programming practices and preparation for his computer science studies.

Uploaded by

Kazuto Furukawa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Creation of a Pong Game Through Visual

Basic.NET
Antony Gardner
May 27, 2014

Abstract
This is the trials of creating a simple Pong game in six days time.
there were severak errors along the way, and the game itself was never
actually completed, but it was a fantastic learning experience that will
prepare me for future programming courses.

1 Introduction
I started this project thinking that it would be a rather easy way of getting
the project dome while still having fun with it. But I soon found out that
programming is much more complex that I had originaly remembered it to be.

2 The Tribulation of Finding a Programing Lan-


guage
2.1 JavaScript
My first attempts at creating this game were done with JavaScript programming.
I slowly incorporated OOP, VMC, and UML programming systems in my work
while going through a Java lesson at codecadamy.com. I found this very helpful,
but when I tried to apply these concepts on my own, I ran into difficulties.
During all this time, I was attempting to use an Apple Ipad do complete the
project, unaware that it does not actually support JavaScript debugging. Try
as I might, there was no application or pair of Apps that would allow me to
easlily write the code AND debug it. It was clear that I needed to find an easier
way to complete the assignment.

2.2 Reunion with VB.NET


During my Freshman year, I took a very basic web design course with Mr.
Reblin. I was learning very basic HTML, CSS, and Java, but I loved it so much
that I immediatly signed up for the remaining Computer Science classes that
were avaliable. This introduced me to Visual Basic.Net. I spent the entirty of
my Sophomore year programing in this language.
Needless to say, when my Java programming was turning out to be more
stress than programming, I readily turned to the familiar for a solution. I got
onto my hom computer that night and started coding.

1
3 The Code
3.1 First Attempt
My first attempt at creating the walls and paddle for this pong game was ... less
than stellar. I origionally thought that it was simple enough to draw each shape,
with certain variables set for the paddle in place of numbers, and then have a
KeyDown Sub linked to to an update function that would show the movement
of the paddle when the user pressed either the left or right arrow keys. This
ended up being a problem, because in order to do that, you would have to call
the variables used in the paint sub again in the update funtion. Since these
variables are services and aspects of the system itself, the program would crash
when the variable was called a second time in the same class.

3.2 The Learning Curve


The solution, as later discovered, was multiple classes. It was much easier to
create the walls in one class, the ball in another class, and the paddle in a
third class. Each could then have it’s own paint fucntion, while still relying on
a universal paint sub. I also learned that, through this method, many other
aspects of the game can be controled. For example, when a brick is destroyed,
the brick can run a checkForPowerUp fuction, and if there is a powerup there, it
can transfer the data to the createPowerUp class to decide what kind of power
up it is, and where it would fall from and what speed it is falling. Furthermore,
if the powerup hits the paddle, it can determine the affects of the power up and
if it, say, makes the paddle bigger, the paddle class can use the data to enlarge
the paddle.
Lastly, I leared much more detailed and decorative ways to create my games.
Each object could have properties that changed the visual data only during the
game. A brick that takes more than one hit to destroy may have a special
craking affect when numberOfHits is less that the breakingPoint of the brick.
Parts of the wall may light up depending on where it is hit and the ferocity that
it is hit with. The paddle may begin to shake when the ball hits it off-ballance.
There are countless other examples that could be stated in place of these, all to
be considered if there would be a final product.

4 Final Thoughts
This project, if anything, has taught me that it takes consitency to be not just
good, but efficent in your programming. You are always finding better ways
to do things. Would it be better to use and if ... then statment or a select ...
case form? What about for loops? Is there a specific exception to be noted?
All steps taken in the condesation and easy execution of the code. Not only
is it less haphazard, it is easier to find when and where you made a mistake.
Furthermore, it has given me enlightment as to what the next four years will be
like at Champlain. I fell better prepared to tackle the more complex aspects of
programming in the future.

You might also like