need help in Power ups using Stack code

[Masky94]

hello, i understand the code for stack, but i want to implement it in a game that can use power ups, let's say my actor grab a shield power ups, it store in the inventory with 3 slots. so i will also need an actor which is shield, when pressing a key the shield will shows ups and used, so how do i implement the function in this code below? where do i place the power ups, and the key and used the power ups, also the function that grab and store into the inventory when the actor got and power ups?
need some experts' suggestion, would appreciate your help , thank you.

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#define MAX 100

int stack[MAX];
int top = 0; // first empty place

// add an element
int push (int x) {
    if (top == MAX) return 0; // stack is full, operation failed
    stack[top++] = x;
    return 1; // operation succeeded
}

// take an element
int pop () {
    int x;
    if (top == 0) return -1; // stack is empty, operation failed (return -1, or any other negative number,
                                      // or 0, if stack contains natural numbers)
    x = stack[--top];
    return x;
}

// read the top, without removing the element
int read() {
    int x;
    if (top == 0) return -1; // stack is empty, operation failed
    x = stack[top];
    return x;
}

// is stack empty
int empty() {
    if (top == 0) return 1;
    else     return 0;
}

// is stack full
int full() {
    if (top == MAX) return 1;
    else     return 0;
}

[koala]

What exactly do you need stack for? For storing shield (item) into inventory, for powering-up player, or for something else?

[Masky94]

trying to use the stack for like storing 3 power-ups, and using the last-in first-out theory, then when i press the key, the actor will use the last power-up that collected in game

[koala]

trying to use the stack for like storing 3 power-ups, and using the last-in first-out theory, then when i press the key, the actor will use the last power-up that collected in game

Well, you could make a stack of structures. For instance:

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#define MAX 3

typedef struct power_up {
    Actor *act; // points to collected item
    double power;
    // other structure fields
} powerUp;

powerUp stack[MAX];
int top = 0;

When you press the [space] key, you activate script that calls function pop(). In this case pop() will return powerUp.

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powerUp myPower = pop();

[Masky94]

thanks, but still. i am not quite understand the line
Actor *act; // points to collected item <--- is this where i place the power-up actor here?
double power; <--- what does this line do?

powerUp myPower = pop(); <--- what does the "myPower" do?

so this few lines actually already have the function of a simple stack? i thought i need to code that when the power-ups reach 3 items, so it cant pick up another power-ups

[koala]

If I understand you right, collected items go to inventory. Then, from inventory you take items by principle first-in-last-out (or last-in-first-out). So, inventory is a stack.

Actor *act; // points to collected item <--- is this where i place the power-up actor here?

Yes.

double power; <--- what does this line do?

This is where you store how much "power" collected item gives.

powerUp myPower = pop(); <--- what does the "myPower" do?

powerUp is a type. It is a structure that contains pointer to actor (item), "power" that item gives, and if you have some other values you need to save. That type is powerUp. Type of myPower is powerUp. In myPower you store item from top of the stack.

so this few lines actually already have the function of a simple stack? i thought i need to code that when the power-ups reach 3 items, so it cant pick up another power-ups

You need to write code for stack as in first post, just instead of int, functions will deal with powerUp type. Then you call those functions when you need them.

[Masky94]

so i need to write this code as the stack/inventory for the actor(playable character)?

Code: Select all

#define MAX 100

int stack[MAX];
int top = 0; // first empty place

// add an element
int push (int x) {
    if (top == MAX) return 0; // stack is full, operation failed
    stack[top++] = x;
    return 1; // operation succeeded
}

// take an element
int pop () {
    int x;
    if (top == 0) return -1; // stack is empty, operation failed (return -1, or any other negative number,
                                      // or 0, if stack contains natural numbers)
    x = stack[--top];
    return x;
}

// read the top, without removing the element
int read() {
    int x;
    if (top == 0) return -1; // stack is empty, operation failed
    x = stack[top];
    return x;
}

// is stack empty
int empty() {
    if (top == 0) return 1;
    else     return 0;
}

// is stack full
int full() {
    if (top == MAX) return 1;
    else     return 0;
}

then i add a function for collecting the power-ups separately with this one ?

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#define MAX 3

typedef struct power_up {
    Actor *act; // points to collected item
    double power;
    // other structure fields
} powerUp;

powerUp stack[MAX];
int top = 0;

and then the last thing is add an event for [space] key

Code: Select all

powerUp myPower = pop();

so are my steps going right? and thanks for your guidance till now

[koala]

That is code for stack that stores integers. You will use that code, but instead of int type it will deal with previously defined type powerUp.

GlobalCode:

Code: Select all

#define MAX 3

typedef struct power_up {
    Actor *act; // points to collected item
    double power;
    // other structure fields
} powerUp;

powerUp stack[MAX];
int top = 0;
powerUp error = { NULL; } // returns when operation fails, fills only the first field (act)

// add an element
int push (powerUp x) {
    if (top == MAX) return 0; // stack is full, operation failed
    stack[top++] = x;
    return 1; // operation succeeded
}

// take an element
powerUp pop () {
    powerUp x;
    if (top == 0) return error;

    x = stack[--top];
    return x;
}

// read the top, without removing the element
powerUp read() {
    powerUp x;
    if (top == 0) return error; // stack is empty, operation failed
    x = stack[top];
    return x;
}

// is stack empty
int empty() {
    if (top == 0) return 1;
    else     return 0;
}

// is stack full
int full() {
    if (top == MAX) return 1;
    else     return 0;
}

Let's say player's character collides with an item. To add it to inventory, call function push(collected_item) in script editor. When you want to activate the last collected item press [space] and it will activate another script editor that calls function pop(). Of course, you will need to store somewhere item returned by that function, so you can use its power-up:

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myPower powerUp = pop();

[koala]

Hey, Masky94!

Examine this: powerUp source (ged and data files)
You collect items, store them in inventory and use them. It uses stack.
However, for some reason this doesn't work when run as Windows executable. To be more precise, there are no items and no grass. I've made those as clones and I suppose that is the problem. Someone else, who knows GE better, should explain you (us) this.
But it is a good example of what you've asked.

Don't forget to use Script Reference.

[Masky94]

hey koala,
that is what i wanted to do, do you understand how it actually work?
i do really need to know how that work...

[koala]

hey koala,
that is what i wanted to do, do you understand how it actually work?
i do really need to know how that work...

I understand, I've made it. Maybe first you examine it a little bit, and ask me if something's unclear?

[koala]

However, for some reason this doesn't work when run as Windows executable. To be more precise, there are no items and no grass. I've made those as clones and I suppose that is the problem. Someone else, who knows GE better, should explain you (us) this.

I've solved this problem by adding one big Activation Region.

[Masky94]

yes the part that i am unclear is the collecting item.

let's say i have a car, then collide with the power-ups (named shield_item), and where is the line of the code that store the power ups? let's say i wanted to know where do i place the actor named (shield_item) in the code?

also i need help when i press the key and activate the shield aka pop() function, then another actor named "shield" will surround the car and follow the car everywhere until it destroyed, can you tell me how to code that? also should i make it "dont appear at startup" on the shield? if i did that i cant parent it with the car.

another thing is, there is 3 boxes under the screen that let you see the power-ups, since i only have one, what if i dont want to make that boxes in my game, does the stack will still work?

or.....i can send you my game, i already have all the items in the game, just having a slight problem with the stack, could you help me check for it, and refine it? it would be much help for me if you can do that

[Masky94]

hey i got it done! thanks for the help all the time!

[koala]

hey i got it done! thanks for the help all the time!

I am glad to hear that.
Sorry I didn't reply, I was working on powerUp Tutorial and I wanted to finish that first and then answer you here, but you've done it.