NetLogo User Community Models

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Mick Censored

WHAT IS IT?

Asteroid Belt is a game based off of an old arcade game of the same name. The objective of the game is to destroy all asteroids in the way of a spaceship, and to avoid getting hit by one. When all the asteroids are destroyed, the game is won. But when a spaceship is hit by an asteroid, the game is lost. Levels depend on the number of asteroids, which is left for the user to decide. There is only one life in each game which must be used wisely.

HOW TO USE IT

Buttons:
NEW GAME - Resets the area on the playing field, which includes setting up the asteroids, stars, and spaceship;
START - A Forever button that begins the game by moving the asteroids, allowing the spaceship to change its heading, and allowing the spaceship to fire missiles. It MUST be pressed in order for many of the widgets to work;
FIRE MISSILES - Shoots missiles from the spaceship.

Monitors:
NUMBER OF ASTEROIDS REMAINING - Counts the number of asteroids remaining throughout the game.
POINTS - Records how amny points was won from destroying and asteroid.

Sliders:
NUMBER-OF-ASTEROIDS - Allows the user to choose the amount of asteroids in the game (Note: DON'T move the slider in the middle of the game. It may result in a runtime error);
HEADING-ANGLE - Allows the user to choose the direction of the spaceship. It will only work if the Start button is pressed.

Switches:
MOUSE-CONTROL? - Allows the user to use the mouse in the game.

Turtles:
SPACESHIP - That thing in the middle? That's you.
ASTEROIDS - The turtles that do all the moving. They're the things you need to shoot at and destroy.
MISSILES - Turtles that fire out of the spaceship in a varying heading. It will work if the Start button is down and the Fire Missiles button is pressed.
STARS - Used solely for decorative purposes; for that "outer space" feel. No profound importance whatsoever.

(Instructions are written in the Interface Tab)

THINGS TO TRY

It will take a lot of energy to destroy the asteroids, because of it's ability to move away from the missiles. Try to shoot directly at the "heart" of the asteroid. You must use a rapid fire for it to be quickly destroyed. It also works well if you shoot at it head on (i.e. at the pointed end.)

Before or after a game, try changing the number of turtles to set the difficulty higher of lower. Again, make sure not to do it in the middle of a game.

EXTENDING THE MODEL

Size of the asteroids can be altered, as well as the missile speed using sliders. The spaceship can also be programmed to move.

CHEAT: You can change the Fire Missiles button into a Forever button. This will make several missiles shoot out and destroy the asteroids very quickly. Moving the heading-angle slider can make the spaceship destroy many asteroids in one rotation. It's only recommended if the number of asteroids is very high, but other than that, it should be avoided. (Note: Extensive use of this cheat may result in boredom.)

NETLOGO FEATURES

The primitive "in-radius" is a major asset to this model. This model also makes usage of user messages, which pop up at the end of a game.

CREDITS AND REFERENCES

http://www.panix.com/~pbrooks/servers/class/spring2007/materials/mcs1/Techniques-gun.html

Was helpful in teaching how to create guns and bullets, or in this case, spaceships and missiles.