🧱 Breakout Game – Java Application

A simple Breakout game developed as part of the CI401 module coursework during my first year at university (2020). This was my first hands-on experience with Java, where I learned the basics of object-oriented programming and graphical user interface development. The game allows players to bounce a ball using a paddle to break rows of bricks, complete with scoring and pause/resume functionality.

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🎮 Description & Aims

This project is a classic Breakout game where the player:

• Controls a bat (paddle) to keep the ball in play.
• Aims to destroy all bricks by bouncing the ball.
• Gains points for each brick destroyed.

Initial game state included a working scoreboard, bat, and ball. Enhancements aimed to:

• ✅ Add rows of bricks
• ✅ Fix bat from moving outside the window
• ✅ Add Pause and Resume functionality

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✨ Features

🔷 Add Rows of Bricks

• Dynamically generated bricks using nested loops for rows and columns.
• Each row is assigned a different color for better visual clarity using a predefined color array.

⏸️ Add Pause and Resume Function

• Implemented keyboard controls:
  • P → Pause
  • C → Continue
• Ball and bat motion are controlled by setting their movement units to 0 during pause.

🚫 Prevent Bat From Leaving the Window

• Added if condition to constrain bat movement within screen borders.
• Movement direction and bat position are checked and adjusted accordingly.

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🛠 Technologies Used

• Java
• Java Swing (GUI)
• MVC Architecture
• Object-Oriented Programming principles

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🎯 How to Play

1. Run the application.
2. Use arrow keys (or specified controls) to move the bat.
3. Hit the ball to break the bricks.
4. Press P to pause and C to continue.
5. Prevent the ball from falling and try to clear all bricks!

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👨‍💻 Developed By

Vickshan Vicknakumaran
University of Brighton
First-year university project (2020)

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