Space Invasion
Shoot down the aliens and stay alive in this easy to program game inspired by the Space Invaders classic from the 80s!
Start Coding!
Start a C# TinyCLR Application project.
Breaking Down the game
The Ship
When you finish this section, you will have a ship on the screen that can be moved using the left and right buttons.
The Main Loop
In this game, we have a loop where we process the objects we have moving on the screen, like the ship.
Once everything is processed, we RefreshScreen. As always, we need to add a minimum delay to give the system time to process any other internal tasks.
static void Main() {
while(true) {
ProcessShip();
BrainPad.Display.RefreshScreen();
BrainPad.Wait.Minimum();
}
}We also want to draw two lines to define the area of play.
static void Main() {
BrainPad.Display.DrawLine(90, 0, 90, 64);
BrainPad.Display.DrawLine(0, 0, 0, 64);
while (true) {
ProcessShip();
BrainPad.Display.RefreshScreen();
BrainPad.Wait.Minimum();
}
}Sprites
In computer programming, sprites are small pictures or objects that are shown on the screen and can be moved or manipulated as a single entity. In this game, the space ship, the bullets, and the monster are all sprites. We will create a sprite class which will be used to keep track of each sprite’s position and size. This class will also provide methods to draw it and erase it.
class Sprite {
Picture Pic;
public int X, Y;
public int Width = 8;
public int Height = 5;
public Sprite(Picture p) {
Pic = p;
Width = p.Width;
Height = p.Height;
}
public void Clear() {
BrainPad.Display.ClearPart(X, Y, Pic.Width, Pic.Height);
}
public void Draw() {
BrainPad.Display.DrawPicture(X, Y, Pic);
}
}Creating The Ship
Let’s use the Sprite class we made in the last step to create the Ship.
static Sprite Ship = new Sprite(BrainPad.Display.CreatePicture(8, 5, new byte[] {
0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,
0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,
0,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
1,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
})) { Y = 64 - 5 , X = 50};Moving The Ship
The ship will always be at the bottom of the screen. Its Y or vertical position never changes. The ship’s Y position is set at the display’s maximum height (64) minus the height of the ship (5). The ship’s Y position is set when we create it.
We now need to check the buttons and update the ship’s X (horizontal) position. We also check the X position to make sure the ship stays within the playing area.
static void ProcessShip() {
Ship.Clear();
if (BrainPad.Buttons.IsLeftPressed()) Ship.X -= 5;
if (BrainPad.Buttons.IsRightPressed()) Ship.X += 5;
if (Ship.X < 5) Ship.X = 5;
if (Ship.X > 85 - Ship.Width) Ship.X = 85 - Ship.Width;
Ship.Draw();
}Testing The Ship
[!Tip] Make sure the namespace in your program matches your project’s namespace. Your project’s namespace can be found in the BrainPad Helper file by clicking on the BrainPad1.cs tab. More Info.
Time to load the code and test it out. Here is the code so far.
using GHIElectronics.TinyCLR.BrainPad;
namespace ModifyThis {
class Sprite {
Picture Pic;
public int X, Y;
public int Width = 8;
public int Height = 5;
public Sprite(Picture p) {
Pic = p;
Width = p.Width;
Height = p.Height;
}
public void Clear() {
BrainPad.Display.ClearPart(X, Y, Pic.Width, Pic.Height);
}
public void Draw() {
BrainPad.Display.DrawPicture(X, Y, Pic);
}
}
class Program {
static Sprite Ship = new Sprite(BrainPad.Display.CreatePicture(8, 5, new byte[] {
0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,
0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,
0,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
1,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
})) { Y = 64 - 5, X = 50 };
static void ProcessShip() {
Ship.Clear();
if (BrainPad.Buttons.IsLeftPressed()) Ship.X -= 5;
if (BrainPad.Buttons.IsRightPressed()) Ship.X += 5;
if (Ship.X < 5) Ship.X = 5;
if (Ship.X > 85 - Ship.Width) Ship.X = 85 - Ship.Width;
Ship.Draw();
}
static void Main() {
BrainPad.Display.DrawLine(90, 0, 90, 64);
BrainPad.Display.DrawLine(0, 0, 0, 64);
while (true) {
ProcessShip();
BrainPad.Display.RefreshScreen();
BrainPad.Wait.Minimum();
}
}
}
}The Bullet
This section will add a bullet that shoots when the up button is pressed. The sound will be added later.
Creating The Bullet
The bullet’s Y position starts at -10, outside of the screen boundaries. This is done so the bullet will not be seen until the player shoots at the monster. The Y position of the bullet is also used to tell the program not to process it until it is fired at the monster.
static Sprite Bullet = new Sprite(BrainPad.Display.CreatePicture(2, 2, new byte[] {
1,1,
1,1,
})) { Y = - 10 };Moving The Bullet
The bullet will always start in the middle of the ship and will move upwards until it leaves the screen boundaries.
To generate a shooting sound, we cheat somewhat and use the Y location to generate a sweeping frequency!
static void ProcessBullet() {
if (Bullet.Y > - 5) {
Bullet.Clear();
Bullet.Y -= 5;
Bullet.Draw();
BrainPad.Buzzer.StartBuzzing(3000 - Bullet.Y * 30);
}
else {
BrainPad.Buzzer.StopBuzzing();
if (BrainPad.Buttons.IsUpPressed()) {
Bullet.X = Ship.X + Ship.Width / 2;
Bullet.Y = 55;
}
}
}Testing The Bullet
This is the game code so far. Things are getting more interesting!
using GHIElectronics.TinyCLR.BrainPad;
namespace ModifyThis {
class Sprite {
Picture Pic;
public int X, Y;
public int Width = 8;
public int Height = 5;
public Sprite(Picture p) {
Pic = p;
Width = p.Width;
Height = p.Height;
}
public void Clear() {
BrainPad.Display.ClearPart(X, Y, Pic.Width, Pic.Height);
}
public void Draw() {
BrainPad.Display.DrawPicture(X, Y, Pic);
}
}
class Program {
static Sprite Ship = new Sprite(BrainPad.Display.CreatePicture(8, 5, new byte[] {
0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,
0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,
0,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
1,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
})) { Y = 64 - 5 , X = 50};
static Sprite Bullet = new Sprite(BrainPad.Display.CreatePicture(2, 2, new byte[] {
1,1,
1,1,
})) { Y = - 10 };
static void ProcessBullet() {
if (Bullet.Y > - 5) {
Bullet.Clear();
Bullet.Y -= 5;
Bullet.Draw();
BrainPad.Buzzer.StartBuzzing(3000 - Bullet.Y * 30);
}
else {
BrainPad.Buzzer.StopBuzzing();
if (BrainPad.Buttons.IsUpPressed()) {
Bullet.X = Ship.X + Ship.Width / 2;
Bullet.Y = 55;
}
}
}
static void ProcessShip() {
Ship.Clear();
if (BrainPad.Buttons.IsLeftPressed()) Ship.X -= 5;
if (BrainPad.Buttons.IsRightPressed()) Ship.X += 5;
if (Ship.X < 5) Ship.X = 5;
if (Ship.X > 85 - Ship.Width) Ship.X = 85 - Ship.Width;
Ship.Draw();
}
static void Main() {
BrainPad.Display.DrawLine(90, 0, 90, 64);
BrainPad.Display.DrawLine(0, 0, 0, 64);
while (true) {
ProcessShip();
ProcessBullet();
BrainPad.Display.RefreshScreen();
BrainPad.Wait.Minimum();
}
}
}
}The Monster
The monster (invader) will move left and right on the screen. Every time it hits the edge of the area of play it will reverse direction and descend a little, getting closer and closer to our ship.
Creating The Monster
static Sprite Monster = new Sprite(BrainPad.Display.CreatePicture(8, 8, new byte[] {
0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,
0,0,1,1,1,1,0,0,
0,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,
1,1,0,1,1,0,1,1,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
0,0,1,0,0,1,0,0,
0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,
1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,
})) { X = 41 };Moving The Monster
static int MonsterDelta = 5;
static void ProcessMonster() {
Monster.Clear();
Monster.X += MonsterDelta;
if (Monster.X < 5 || Monster.X > 85-Monster.Width) {
MonsterDelta *= -1;// Reverse
Monster.Y += 10;
}
Monster.Draw();
}Testing The Monster
The monster will move down and go out of view off the bottom of the screen. We are not checking for collisions yet. You have to reset the BrainPad to see the monster again.
using GHIElectronics.TinyCLR.BrainPad;
namespace ModifyThis {
class Sprite {
Picture Pic;
public int X, Y;
public int Width = 8;
public int Height = 5;
public Sprite(Picture p) {
Pic = p;
Width = p.Width;
Height = p.Height;
}
public void Clear() {
BrainPad.Display.ClearPart(X, Y, Pic.Width, Pic.Height);
}
public void Draw() {
BrainPad.Display.DrawPicture(X, Y, Pic);
}
}
class Program {
static Sprite Ship = new Sprite(BrainPad.Display.CreatePicture(8, 5, new byte[] {
0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,
0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,
0,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
1,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
})) { Y = 64 - 5 , X = 50};
static Sprite Bullet = new Sprite(BrainPad.Display.CreatePicture(2, 2, new byte[] {
1,1,
1,1,
})) { Y = - 10 };
static Sprite Monster = new Sprite(BrainPad.Display.CreatePicture(8, 8, new byte[] {
0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,
0,0,1,1,1,1,0,0,
0,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,
1,1,0,1,1,0,1,1,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
0,0,1,0,0,1,0,0,
0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,
1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,
})) { X = 41 };
static void ProcessBullet() {
if (Bullet.Y > - 5) {
Bullet.Clear();
Bullet.Y -= 5;
Bullet.Draw();
BrainPad.Buzzer.StartBuzzing(3000 - Bullet.Y * 30);
}
else {
BrainPad.Buzzer.StopBuzzing();
if (BrainPad.Buttons.IsUpPressed()) {
Bullet.X = Ship.X + Ship.Width / 2;
Bullet.Y = 55;
}
}
}
static void ProcessShip() {
Ship.Clear();
if (BrainPad.Buttons.IsLeftPressed()) Ship.X -= 5;
if (BrainPad.Buttons.IsRightPressed()) Ship.X += 5;
if (Ship.X < 5) Ship.X = 5;
if (Ship.X > 85 - Ship.Width) Ship.X = 85 - Ship.Width;
Ship.Draw();
}
static int MonsterDelta = 5;
static void ProcessMonster() {
Monster.Clear();
Monster.X += MonsterDelta;
if (Monster.X < 5 || Monster.X > 85-Monster.Width) {
MonsterDelta *= -1;// Reverse
Monster.Y += 10;
}
Monster.Draw();
}
static void Main() {
BrainPad.Display.DrawLine(90, 0, 90, 64);
BrainPad.Display.DrawLine(0, 0, 0, 64);
while (true) {
ProcessShip();
ProcessBullet();
ProcessMonster();
BrainPad.Display.RefreshScreen();
BrainPad.Wait.Minimum();
}
}
}
}Checking for Collisions
Finally, we want to see if the bullet has hit our monster or if the monster has hit the player. In both cases, we want to play some cool sound effects.
Check to see if the bullet has hit the monster:
if (Bullet.X >= Monster.X && Bullet.X <= Monster.X + Monster.Width &&
Bullet.Y >= Monster.Y && Bullet.Y <= Monster.Y + Monster.Height) {
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
for (int f = 1000; f < 6000; f += 500) {
BrainPad.Buzzer.StartBuzzing(f);
BrainPad.Wait.Minimum();
}
}
BrainPad.Buzzer.StopBuzzing();
Bullet.Clear();
Monster.Clear();
Monster.Y = 0;
Bullet.Y = -5;
}Or, if the monster has hit us:
if (Monster.Y > 40) {
if (Ship.X > Monster.X && Ship.X < Monster.X + Ship.Width) {
for (int f = 2000; f > 200; f -= 200) {
BrainPad.Buzzer.StartBuzzing(f);
BrainPad.Wait.Minimum();
}
BrainPad.Wait.Seconds(1);
BrainPad.Buzzer.StopBuzzing();
Monster.Clear();
Monster.Y = 0;
}
}The Complete Project!
using GHIElectronics.TinyCLR.BrainPad;
namespace ModifyThis {
class Sprite {
Picture Pic;
public int X, Y;
public int Width = 8;
public int Height = 5;
public Sprite(Picture p) {
Pic = p;
Width = p.Width;
Height = p.Height;
}
public void Clear() {
BrainPad.Display.ClearPart(X, Y, Pic.Width, Pic.Height);
}
public void Draw() {
BrainPad.Display.DrawPicture(X, Y, Pic);
}
}
class Program {
static Sprite Ship = new Sprite(BrainPad.Display.CreatePicture(8, 5, new byte[] {
0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,
0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,
0,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
1,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
})) { Y = 64 - 5 , X = 50};
static Sprite Bullet = new Sprite(BrainPad.Display.CreatePicture(2, 2, new byte[] {
1,1,
1,1,
})) { Y = - 10 };
static Sprite Monster = new Sprite(BrainPad.Display.CreatePicture(8, 8, new byte[] {
0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,
0,0,1,1,1,1,0,0,
0,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,
1,1,0,1,1,0,1,1,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
0,0,1,0,0,1,0,0,
0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,
1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,
})) { X = 41 };
static void ProcessBullet() {
if (Bullet.Y > - 5) {
Bullet.Clear();
Bullet.Y -= 5;
Bullet.Draw();
BrainPad.Buzzer.StartBuzzing(3000 - Bullet.Y * 30);
}
else {
BrainPad.Buzzer.StopBuzzing();
if (BrainPad.Buttons.IsUpPressed()) {
Bullet.X = Ship.X + Ship.Width / 2;
Bullet.Y = 55;
}
}
}
static void ProcessShip() {
Ship.Clear();
if (BrainPad.Buttons.IsLeftPressed()) Ship.X -= 5;
if (BrainPad.Buttons.IsRightPressed()) Ship.X += 5;
if (Ship.X < 5) Ship.X = 5;
if (Ship.X > 85 - Ship.Width) Ship.X = 85 - Ship.Width;
Ship.Draw();
}
static int MonsterDelta = 5;
static void ProcessMonster() {
Monster.Clear();
Monster.X += MonsterDelta;
if (Monster.X < 5 || Monster.X > 85-Monster.Width) {
MonsterDelta *= -1;// Reverse
Monster.Y += 10;
}
Monster.Draw();
}
static void ProcessCollisions() {
// Check the bullet
if (Bullet.X >= Monster.X && Bullet.X <= Monster.X + Monster.Width &&
Bullet.Y >= Monster.Y && Bullet.Y <= Monster.Y + Monster.Height) {
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
for (int f = 1000; f < 6000; f += 500) {
BrainPad.Buzzer.StartBuzzing(f);
BrainPad.Wait.Minimum();
}
}
BrainPad.Buzzer.StopBuzzing();
Bullet.Clear();
Monster.Clear();
Monster.Y = 0;
Bullet.Y = -5;
}
// Did we lose?
if (Monster.Y > 40) {
if (Ship.X > Monster.X && Ship.X < Monster.X + Ship.Width) {
for (int f = 2000; f > 200; f -= 200) {
BrainPad.Buzzer.StartBuzzing(f);
BrainPad.Wait.Minimum();
}
BrainPad.Wait.Seconds(1);
BrainPad.Buzzer.StopBuzzing();
Monster.Clear();
Monster.Y = 0;
}
}
}
static void Main() {
BrainPad.Display.DrawLine(90, 0, 90, 64);
BrainPad.Display.DrawLine(0, 0, 0, 64);
while (true) {
ProcessCollisions();
ProcessShip();
ProcessBullet();
ProcessMonster();
BrainPad.Display.RefreshScreen();
BrainPad.Wait.Minimum();
}
}
}
}So… What Is Next?
In the area on the right, we need to show how many lives are left. Perhaps we could draw three ships at the upper right of the screen to represent three lives?
We also need to show the score. Would the lower right corner be a good place?
Just like before, add ProcessLives() and ProcessScore() methods. This should be a fun exercise!
Need more of a challenge? Make the monster move faster as the score increases.
Another Remake
Few years ago, we had pong running on the original BrainPad classic. We have even made a video. History repeats itself?!
