.: Game Aesthetics

This theme change was implemented with the following code in the Graphics Module:

'Sub that selects the pictures used
Public Sub SelectTheme()
Dim x As Integer = RandomizePub.Next(1, 4)

Select Case x
Case Is = 1
ThemeTex = Texture2D.FromFile(Device, "../../images/Earth.png", NonBallTexCreationParams)
RoofTex = Texture2D.FromFile(Device, "../../images/RoofTexEarth.png", NonBallTexCreationParams)
BallLauncherTex = Texture2D.FromFile(Device, "../../images/BallLauncherEarth.png", NonBallTexCreationParams)
BackgroundTex = Texture2D.FromFile(Device, "../../images/BackGroundEarth.png", NonBallTexCreationParams)
Case Is = 2
ThemeTex = Texture2D.FromFile(Device, "../../images/Sun.png", NonBallTexCreationParams)
RoofTex = Texture2D.FromFile(Device, "../../images/RoofTexSun.png", NonBallTexCreationParams)
BallLauncherTex = Texture2D.FromFile(Device, "../../images/BallLauncherSun.png", NonBallTexCreationParams)
BackgroundTex = Texture2D.FromFile(Device, "../../images/BackGroundSun.png", NonBallTexCreationParams)
Case Is = 3
ThemeTex = Texture2D.FromFile(Device, "../../images/Mars.png", NonBallTexCreationParams)
RoofTex = Texture2D.FromFile(Device, "../../images/RoofTexMars.png", NonBallTexCreationParams)
BallLauncherTex = Texture2D.FromFile(Device, "../../images/BallLauncherMars.png", NonBallTexCreationParams)
BackgroundTex = Texture2D.FromFile(Device, "../../images/BackGroundMars.png", NonBallTexCreationParams)
Case Is = 4
ThemeTex = Texture2D.FromFile(Device, "../../images/Uranus.png", NonBallTexCreationParams)
RoofTex = Texture2D.FromFile(Device, "../../images/RoofTexUranus.png", NonBallTexCreationParams)
BallLauncherTex = Texture2D.FromFile(Device, "../../images/BallLauncherUranus.png", NonBallTexCreationParams)
BackgroundTex = Texture2D.FromFile(Device, "../../images/BackGroundUranus.png", NonBallTexCreationParams)
End Select
x = Nothing
End Sub

This sub is called during the GameState = "Loading" section of the Render loop.

In the last tutorial I did not include the complete wavebank as it included a large wav file. This wav file made the wavebank 45 Mb and hence I chose to have the file removed from the source code. Having done a little research, I have found that the entire wavebank or an individual file can be compressed using the XACT tool, however the wavebank was still 9Mb and still too big. The XACT tool only uses wav files and the music I have are Midi files.

So, until the XACT tool supports Midi files, I will be using DirectX to play the background music. This code was added in the sound class as follows:

Module SoundModule
Public AudioEngine As AudioEngine
Public WaveBank As WaveBank
Public SoundBank As SoundBank
' Thread and Sound to be used for playing the background music
Public MusicThread As Thread
Public MusicTrack As New Sound

'Temporary DirectX Audio object to play Midi files
Public DirectXAudio As New Microsoft.DirectX.AudioVideoPlayback.Audio("..\..\Audio\Sonic.mid")

'Sub that selects which music to play
Public Sub SelectMusic()
DirectXAudio.Volume = -3000
Dim x As Integer = RandomizePub.Next(1, 4)
Select Case x
Case Is = 1
DirectXAudio.Open("..\..\Audio\GoldenAxe.mid", True)
Case Is = 2
DirectXAudio.Open("..\..\Audio\Sonic.mid", True)
Case Is = 3
DirectXAudio.Open("..\..\Audio\StarFox-Corneria.mid", True)
Case Is = 4
DirectXAudio.Open("..\..\Audio\Zelda.mid", True)
End Select
x = Nothing
End Sub

End Module

As you can see the new code is actually in the sound module and not the sound class. The DirectXAudio object is initialized using one of the midi files that are included with the project, when the SelectMusic sub is called, the next Midi file is randomly chosen. This sub is called from the Render loop as its last operation:

'Check if Audio is playing
If DirectXAudio.CurrentPosition >= DirectXAudio.Duration Then
SelectMusic()
End If

End Sub

As you can see this sub comes right before the render loop ends. Please note that this new code requires that you add the Microsoft.DirectX.AudioVideoPlayback reference in the project properties. The SelectMusic sub is initially called from the Form1_Load sub as shown below:

'Play Background Music
SelectMusic()

New code has also been added to the Form1_KeyDown event:

Case Is = Keys.Pause
If GameState = "Playing" Then ' If a game is in progress
GameState = "Paused"
'Check if Audio is playing
If DirectXAudio.Playing = True Then
DirectXAudio.Pause()
End If
GameStopWatch.Reset()
GameStopWatch.Start()
ElseIf GameState = "Paused" Then ' If a game is in Paused
GameState = "Playing"
'Check if Audio is playing
If DirectXAudio.Paused = True Then
DirectXAudio.Play()
End If
GameStopWatch.Reset()
GameStopWatch.Start()
End If

'Pause the background music with the enter key
Case Is = Keys.Enter
If DirectXAudio.Playing = True Then
DirectXAudio.Pause()
ElseIf DirectXAudio.Paused = True Then
DirectXAudio.Play()
End If

This ensures that when the game is paused, the music stops playing too. A new key has also been added, the enter key gives the player the option to turn the music on and off, just in case they don't like it.

With the exception of a few changes that affect game play , that's all the code changes for this tutorial, the rest of the time was spent in Paint.NET. Feel free to create your own theme or to use mine. When you play the game you should see this:

and lastly

Doesn't it look nice :)

That's basically the game finished, with the exception of the content pipeline. The content pipeline is something that is built-in to Game Studio Express and hence I don't know how easy it's going to be to incorporate it into our project. However, on the plus side, I do enjoy a challenge and will give it a shot. I don't know how long this will take, but as usual when I'm done, I'll upload it to the tutorial page, Enjoy.

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