Pong multiplayer help

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Summary:

i'm new, help me out

Pong multiplayer help

vikt0r 23 Jan 2013 19:46

First of all Hi! I've been around this website for some weeks now to learn TI-basic but this is the first time I actually introduce myself on the forum. My name's vikt0r and I'm 15. My main interest next to programming/webdesign is making digital music

First thing I made in TI-basic is my very own Pong program(lame I know…)
Right now I'm too make a two-calculator multiplayer mode for pong.

If i understand it correctly I have too use GetCalc( for this.
I started out with copying my original pong loop and adding a variable (codes soon) to determine wether the ball is on my screen or the other players screen. This works but the big problem is is how to make the calcs switch the ball.
I can easily make it GetCalc(X for it's position but how to determine when the ball reaches the right place?
I'll post the code i've got so far soon

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Vikt0r

I make music too: http://soundcloud.com/vikt0r

Last edited on 23 Jan 2013 19:48 by vikt0r Show more

Boba Foxx (guest) 23 Jan 2013 20:21

If you get a little more specific, I can probably help. My understanding right now is that each calculator shows its own half of the screen and once the ball is on their side, then it takes over, correct?

vikt0r 23 Jan 2013 20:53

yes, somthing like that
here's the code:
i've used a simple selection menu to differentiate the two calcs

Menu("Choose player","Player 1",P1,"Player 2",P2

Lbl P1
R=1          //determines wether the ball is on this screen, player 1 starts with the ball
Goto A

Lbl P2
R=0          //player 2 starts without it
Goto A

Lbl A           //vars for actual game, P1 and P2 have these in common
2→Y 
3→X
1→A
1→B
7→Z         

While 1         //here starts the actual loop of the pong game
getKey→K
Z-2(K=24 and Z≠1)+2(K=26 and Z≠13→Z
ClrHome
Output(8,Z,"====
If R=1 Then
Output(Y,X,"▫
If max(X={1,16
–A→A
If max(Y={1,7
–B→B
If Y=7
R=0
If (X<Z or X>Z+4) and Y=7
Stop
X+A→X
Y+B→Y
End
If R=0:Then
GetCalc(X
GetCalc(Y
If Y=7
1→R        //this part of code makes R go back to 1 
End

I think that theoretically it should work but it didn't tho' I only had 10 minutes to test it in class when i could lend someone's calc since i obviously only have 1 TI-84

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Vikt0r

I make music too: http://soundcloud.com/vikt0r

Last edited on 23 Jan 2013 20:59 by vikt0r Show more

Boba Foxx (guest) 23 Jan 2013 20:57

I'd probably write it such that one calculator 'waits' for X to be set to 1, then it starts its loop until the ball goes off the edge again, at which point it sets X to 2 and waits for it to be 1 again.
All it needs is for X to determine which calc is active, I think.

vikt0r 23 Jan 2013 21:01

well thats what i'm using R in this case for.
X is the X-coordinate which it also has to get from the other calc to know where it has to start the ball at the top line

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Vikt0r

I make music too: http://soundcloud.com/vikt0r

Roguebantha 23 Jan 2013 22:26

Right here in your code:

If Y=7
R=0
If (X<Z or X>Z+4) and Y=7

Don't you want 0→R?

And because I just love to optimize code:

Menu("Choose player","Player 1",P1,"Player 2",P2

Lbl P1
1→R?      
Goto A

Lbl P2
DelVar RGoto A (I'm assuming you're trying to assign one or zero to R?)
Lbl A           //vars for actual game, P1 and P2 have these in common
2→Y 
3→X
1→A
1→B
7→Z         

While 1         //here starts the actual loop of the pong game
getKey
Z-2(Ans=24 and Z≠1)+2(Ans=26 and Z≠13→Z
ClrHome
Output(8,Z,"====
If R=1 Then
Output(Y,X,"▫
A-max(X={1,16→A  (That's a negative sign. I think that should work.)
B-max(Y={1,7→B (Again a negative sign. And again, I hope that will work.
Rnot(Y=7→R
If (X<Z or X>Z+4) and Y=7
Stop
X+A→X
Y+B→Y
End
If not(R
Then
GetCalc(X
GetCalc(Y
If Y=7
1→R        (I'm sure this code can be optimized but I want to make sure I don't ruin the possibility of R being something other than 1 or 0.)
End

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vikt0r 23 Jan 2013 22:30

damn exactly R=0 is ofc meant to be 0->R little typing mistake so theoreticaly the code should work now? Also i need to get better at optimizing soon :S

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Vikt0r

I make music too: http://soundcloud.com/vikt0r

vikt0r 23 Jan 2013 22:34

A-max(X={1,16→A  (That's a negative sign. I think that should work.)
B-max(Y={1,7→B (Again a negative sign. And again, I hope that will work.

I think that wont work,
if you look at the original code:

If max(X={1,16
–A→A
If max(Y={1,7
–B→B

when A is one and either one of the coinditions are met it should go to -1 with your code it does 1-1 which is zero
same goes for B

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Vikt0r

I make music too: http://soundcloud.com/vikt0r

Re: Pong multiplayer help

vikt0r 23 Jan 2013 22:27

Oh I almost forgot, when this works I would also like to make sure the game gives and (custom) 'error' when there's no other calc
altough i think this wont be too hard

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Vikt0r

I make music too: http://soundcloud.com/vikt0r

Re: Pong multiplayer help

Roguebantha 23 Jan 2013 22:36

Oooh…aahh…hmmm..that could be difficult but not impossible. Someone would have to back me up on this…does the TI-OS revert a number to zero if you use GetCalc( and don't get a response? I feel like it does…but somebody would need to test that. If so, then you could just make a certain variable equal 1 at the very beginning of the program on both calcs. Then, you use GetCalc(, and if the certain variable now equals zero, then the other person's calc is not plugged in. Or you could use a number like -pi, which I do as a flag, and that way, you could even tell if the calc is even running the program. Just make sure the variable defaults back to zero at the end of program execution.

And for your other 1-1 thingy…no it actually won't. Remember those are negative signs not minus signs. TI-Calcs do this weird thing in that they do multiplication fine with variable and negative signs but not with numbers. For example, assume these are all negative signs not minus signs:
A-5 (This would multiply A by -5)
5-5 (This would return a syntax error)

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Last edited on 23 Jan 2013 22:38 by Roguebantha Show more

Re: Pong multiplayer help

vikt0r 23 Jan 2013 22:46

No i think it just doesn't change the var when it doesn't find it

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Vikt0r

I make music too: http://soundcloud.com/vikt0r

Re: Pong multiplayer help

vikt0r 23 Jan 2013 22:56

And for your other 1-1 thingy…no it actually won't.

Oh I see but wouldt it muplitply by -0 when the conditions arent met and that way making A zero when it has to stay 1

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Vikt0r

I make music too: http://soundcloud.com/vikt0r

Re: Pong multiplayer help

(account deleted) 23 Jan 2013 22:40

The problem is that without ASM coding, this would be a very ugly and slow game with occasional mal-functions: the command "GetCalc(" takes a large amount of time to transfer and does not work at times, depending on what commands are being used. The only solution other than changing languages is to change the game; perhaps you could do this: make a two player style game where a user go's a level then another user go's a level with a share of "lives" that the players share, going back and forth. While they wait, a g pic could be displayed on the screen and then variables could be transfered. You could determine when level ends by sing a single "GetCalc(" to test for it. Use this:

0->L
RecallPic0
Pause
While 1
GetCalc(L  //'L' for Level
If L=1:Goto 1
End

If you need help on creating multi player games, use this page to for help.
Good Luck! :D

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Coffee + Radiohead = ^^

Last edited on 23 Jan 2013 22:52 by (account deleted) Show more

Re: Pong multiplayer help

vikt0r 23 Jan 2013 22:43

newest code, gonna test it as soon i can lend someones calc in class or something.
I also made A quick linking procedure to make sure the program only goes on when linked properly.

Lbl M
Menu("Choose player","Player 1",P1,"Player 2",P2

Lbl P1
1→R          //determines wether the ball is on this screen, player 1 starts with the ball
1→X          
GetCalc(X     //testing wether the other calc is connected and chosen player 2
If X=1:Then
Pause "Link failed...
Goto M
End
Goto A

Lbl P2
0→R          //player 2 starts without it
2→X
GetCalc(X 
If X=2:Then
Pause "Link failed...
Goto M
Goto A

Lbl A       

2→Y         //vars for actual game, P1 and P2 have these in common
3→X
1→A
1→B
7→Z         

While 1         //here starts the actual loop of the pong game
getKey→K
Z-2(K=24 and Z≠1)+2(K=26 and Z≠13→Z
ClrHome
Output(8,Z,"====
If R=1 Then
Output(Y,X,"▫
If max(X={1,16
–A→A
If max(Y={1,7
–B→B
If Y=7
0→R
If (X<Z or X>Z+4) and Y=7
Stop
X+A→X
Y+B→Y
Else
GetCalc(X
GetCalc(Y
If Y=7
1→R        //this part of code makes R go back to 1 
End
End

---

Vikt0r

I make music too: http://soundcloud.com/vikt0r

Last edited on 23 Jan 2013 22:44 by vikt0r Show more

Re: Pong multiplayer help

vikt0r 23 Jan 2013 22:50

I also understand that GetCalc(R,1 would be faster since it only uses the usb port and doesn't need to check wether it's connected

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Vikt0r

I make music too: http://soundcloud.com/vikt0r

Re: Pong multiplayer help

(account deleted) 23 Jan 2013 23:09

It is faster but still is futile to try; look at this (at the very bottom). I am afraid it may spoil the whole program.

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Coffee + Radiohead = ^^

Re: Pong multiplayer help

(account deleted) 23 Jan 2013 23:12

If you cannot find it, read this:

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Coffee + Radiohead = ^^

Re: Pong multiplayer help

vikt0r 23 Jan 2013 23:17

Hmm so probably my program wont work, can't wait to actually try it to see for myself.
I hope it does because this pong multiplayer would be fricking awesome no matter how inefficient and slow it works

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Vikt0r

I make music too: http://soundcloud.com/vikt0r

Re: Pong multiplayer help

(account deleted) 23 Jan 2013 23:19

Did you see my http://tibasicdev.wdfiles.com/local--files/forum%3Athread/Screen%20Shot%202013-01-23%20at%206.19.57%20PM.png post above ? It may still be salvageable!

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Coffee + Radiohead = ^^

Last edited on 24 Jan 2013 12:04 by (account deleted) Show more

Re: Pong multiplayer help

vikt0r 23 Jan 2013 23:30

Yes if this project doesn't seems to work i'll deffo try to implement multiplayer in another way.
I was thinking in the form of surviving as long as possible and then the other player has to do even better until one of them doesn't do better and loses. I might do this with a lot of random numbers influencing the ball to make the game a lot trickier (my singleplayer version already has some randoms and the paddle goes from ==== to just == after a certain amount of points)

But your idea seems cool too

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Vikt0r

I make music too: http://soundcloud.com/vikt0r

Re: Pong multiplayer help

(account deleted) 24 Jan 2013 23:21

I hope you can get it to work!

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Coffee + Radiohead = ^^

Re: Pong multiplayer help

vikt0r 25 Jan 2013 10:03

me too

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Vikt0r

I make music too: http://soundcloud.com/vikt0r

Re: Pong multiplayer help

(account deleted) 25 Jan 2013 12:14

I just made my own game of "Pong" called "BOP." It is a spin off of the original pong game except it has a paddle on all four sides, no walls and no bricks to break. You have 3 lives and once you die, the game starts over. At the beginning of each game, it has "BOP", "[PRESS ANY KEY] and in the background, it has a computer playing the game where you can watch until you press a key and begin. It is pretty fun! :D

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Coffee + Radiohead = ^^