Enhanced Map Tiles

Enhanced Map Tiles

What is an enhanced map tile?

An enhanced map tile (represented by the EnhancedMapTile class in the Level package) is a MapEntity subclass. The idea behind this class is that it acts just like a MapTile does in every way, but with the ability to define its own update and draw logic instead of just going with the MapTile's default logic. This allows a map tile to essentially do whatever it wants while still being counted as a map tile, meaning the Player will still consider it during its collision checks based on the EnhancedMapTile's tile type. Like every MapEntity subclass, an EnhancedMapTile during its update cycle will be given a reference to the Player instance, so it is able to interact with the player directly.

And yes, I know the name “enhanced map tile” is dumb, I couldn’t think of a better name to describe these at the time and now I’m over it.

Enhanced Map Tile Subclass

In the EnhancedMapTiles package, there is currently two subclasses of the EnhancedMapTile class – HorizontalMovingPlatform and EndLevelBox. Both classes define an enhanced map tile in the game, which can be seen in the TestMap map.

Adding a new enhanced map tile to the game

This is simple – create a new class in the EnhancedMapTiles package, subclass the EnhancedMapTile class, and then just implement desired logic from there. I recommend copying an existing enhanced map tile class as a “template” of sorts to help set up and design the enhanced map tile.

Adding an enhanced map tile to a map

In a map subclass’s loadEnhancedMapTiles method, enhanced map tiles can be defined and added to the map’s enhanced map tile list. For example, in TestMap, both a HorizontalMovingPlatform and EndLevelBox are created and added to the enhanced map tile list:

@Override
public ArrayList<EnhancedMapTile> loadEnhancedMapTiles() {
ArrayList<EnhancedMapTile> enhancedMapTiles = new ArrayList<>();
    HorizontalMovingPlatform hmp = new HorizontalMovingPlatform(
            ImageLoader.load("GreenPlatform.png"),
            getMapTile(24, 6).getLocation(),
            getMapTile(27, 6).getLocation(),
            TileType.JUMP_THROUGH_PLATFORM,
            3,
            new Rectangle(0, 6,16,4),
            Direction.RIGHT
    );
    enhancedMapTiles.add(hmp);

    EndLevelBox endLevelBox = new EndLevelBox(getMapTile(32, 7).getLocation());
    enhancedMapTiles.add(endLevelBox);

    return enhancedMapTiles;
}

Enhanced map tiles currently in game

Horizontal Moving Platform

This enhanced map tile is defined by the HorizontalMovingPlatform class. It represents a platform that moves horizontally back and forth. The class is designed to allow any image to be used as the platform. The level currently uses the above simple green platform image.

For this class, two locations are given to its constructor, and the platform will just continually move back and forth between those two points. The platform in game is set to a tile type of JUMP_THROUGH_PLATFORM which allows the player to stand on it but also allows the player to jump through it from below.

If the player is standing on the platform, the HorizontalMovingPlatform class will perform special logic in its update method that will adjust the player’s x position to move along with the platform.

Also, if the platform’s tile type is changed to NOT_PASSABLE, it will push the player if the player is in the way of it while it moves.

The image file for the green platform is GreenPlatform.png.

End Level Box

This enhanced map tile is defined by the EndLevelBox class. Its job is simple: upon being touched by the player, it will set the player’s “level state” to LEVEL_COMPLETED. This tells the player to do its win animation and whatever else may follow the level being completed.

if (intersects(player)) {
    player.setLevelState(LevelState.LEVEL_COMPLETED);
}

The image file for the end level box is GoldBox.png.

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