Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!pacbell!ames!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!gregm
From: gregm@csd4.milw.wisc.edu (Gregory Mumm)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.tech
Subject: Simple questions/Modula-2
Message-ID: <341@csd4.milw.wisc.edu>
Date: 11 Jan 89 17:38:59 GMT
Sender: news@csd4.milw.wisc.edu
Reply-To: gregm@csd4.milw.wisc.edu (Gregory Mumm)
Organization: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Lines: 57


I am a beginner when it comes to programing on the Amiga. I use Benchmark
Modula-2 (A program which I highly recommend to anyone) and have a few 
questions. I am in the process of writing a very low-level A.I. 
program which is actually a very simple game (Two opposing space
ships that shoot at each other) but have run into a few problems:

1) Question number one: how do you initialize, move, and detect collisions
   between sprites? (Geez! Is there anything ELSE you want?)


I understand that the function GetSprite (from 'Sprites' Module) will
initialize a sprite, but don't understand the details surrounding it.

If I understand correctly the sprite is moved with the MoveSprite function
(also found in the 'Sprites' Module), but again lack the details. 

Collision detection is done with the two functions SetCollision and DoCollision
found in the 'Gels' Module I think. How do you set it up? How do you read
a collision?

Could someone hack out a little example for me or supply me some technical 
details/tips? I don't even care what the sprites look like--the art work 
can come latter.



2) This question is related to the last one:

   How do you read the Joystick port? The only manual I have is the 
Intuition manual (had to divert my money to tuition and couldn't afford
the others--this is the primary reason why I don't know how to use sprites)
and it doesn't say how to read it in there. I have noticed
a module called 'GamePortDevice' in the Benchmark manual, but have
a hard time reading it. 



3) An unrelated question: Is it possible to do WriteStrings (etc) to the window
   of your choice? In the above program I open a full window (non-resizable)
   and attempt to do several WriteStrings. What happens is that they end
   up in the window the program was first run in. For example, if the
   program is started from the CLI then the CLI window gets all of the output
   while my window gets nothing printed in it. Is this an impossible task?



Thanks for the help. I posted a similar message last week but only got one
reply. (Sorry John, but I couldn't get through to you to ask you more 
questions.)

Internet: gregm@csd4.milw.wisc.edu  Uucp: uwvax!uwmcsd1!uwmcsd4!gregm 
Csnet:	  gregm%uwmcsd4@uwm	             Greg Mumm 
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Internet: gregm@csd4.milw.wisc.edu  Uucp: uwvax!uwmcsd1!uwmcsd4!gregm 
Csnet:	  gregm%uwmcsd4@uwm	             Greg Mumm