note: rtti provides some overhead. Thanks, Tyler Littlefield. Vertigo head coder "My programs don't have bugs, just randomly added features." msn: tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx email: tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx aim: st8amnd2005 web: tysdomain.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Ken Perry To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2007 12:13 AM Subject: RE: game development layout question Well this can be done several ways. You can use RTTI to check the type or you can have a function in your class that returns what it is for example the server I work on has a unit class that has a method GetType that returns four different const types. The third method is to make these true virtual classes where each type all have the same methods so that it don't matter what type you have you just use the method and it does the right thing. For example if you have a shape class and have triangle, square, and circle as sub classes. You can have a virtual function that gives you the area called Area(). It doesn't matter if you are dealing with a square or a triangle the correct Area function will get called. Ken ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Graham Hardy Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 8:14 PM To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: game development layout question Hi ken - Further to my message of a moment ago, when you say, 'as you loop through the array you check what type it is and act accordingly,' how does this type-checking work? That is, what sort of code is involved to check the type? Graham. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ken Perry Sent: October 12, 2007 7:32 PM To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: game development layout question Actually Tyler I think your missing a large part of OO programming. The point of c++ is so you can make an object and then inherit that object by other classes and then be able to make a single array of the type object that can hold all inherited types. A good example of this is in .net where you have the Control class. You can actually make an array of type control and then instantiate each control as button, Combo Box, List Box, etc. Not many people realize this because they use the GUI method of creating forms and don't do the dirty work. In the same way in C# all things are objects or are supposed to be. so you could make an array of objects and almost instantiate any variable into it using the new operator. The then as you loop through the array you check what type it is and act accordingly. Ken ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Littlefield, Tyler Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 6:39 PM To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: game development layout question I could use void*, but I would have to cast the pointers--there should be a cleaner way. :( Thanks, Tyler Littlefield. Vertigo head coder "My programs don't have bugs, just randomly added features." msn: tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx email: tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx aim: st8amnd2005 web: tysdomain.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Jim To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 7:31 PM Subject: Re: game development layout question Hi Tyler, In Monopoly, I can have a racecar or a shoe on a square. Shouldn't you be able to just make a square and then point to the object that is supposed to be on it or can you somehow just put an object on it? I thought OOP was supposed to be able to represent the real world. Thanks. Jim __________ Take back your shopping life at http://tinyurl.com/32rsxz ----- Original Message ----- From: Littlefield, Tyler To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 7:37 PM Subject: Re: game development layout question Hello jim, It might, but if I have an array of objects, the objects would need to be of mixed-type so I'm able to maybe manage more than one object. E.g, a vehicle will be a different object from a player, etc. Thanks, Tyler Littlefield. Vertigo head coder "My programs don't have bugs, just randomly added features." msn: tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx email: tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx aim: st8amnd2005 web: tysdomain.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Jim To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 5:34 PM Subject: Re: game development layout question Hi Tyler, Unless I am missing something, you could maybe make the squares on the board objects so that they could be different from one-another. Would that work? Thanks. Jim __________ Take back your shopping life at http://tinyurl.com/32rsxz ----- Original Message ----- From: Littlefield, Tyler To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 4:47 PM Subject: game development layout question Hello list, I've got a question. I'm thinking of writing a game in c++. I want to find a way to make the board and map. I thought about using an array, but then that would require that all objects are the same... Any ideas? Also, how are race tracks built? I want to do a bit of racing in the game, just not sure how to lay those out. Thanks, Tyler Littlefield. Vertigo head coder "My programs don't have bugs, just randomly added features." msn: tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx email: tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx aim: st8amnd2005 web: tysdomain.com