RealTimeBattle

RealTimeBattle is a programming game, in which robots controlled by programs are fighting each other. The goal is to destroy the enemies, using the radar to examine the environment and the cannon to shoot.

This module allows you to create robots written in BlitzMax, to compete with other robots in the RealTimeBattle arena.

Here is a list of features of RealTimeBattle:

• Game progresses in real time, with the robot programs running as child processes to RealTimeBattle.
• The robots communicate with the main program using the standard input and output.
• Robots can be constructed in almost any programming language.
• Any number of robots can compete simultaneously if allowed by your operating system.
• A simple messaging language is used for communication, which makes it easy to start constructing robots.
• Robots behave like real physical object.
• You can create your own arenas.
• Highly configurable.

Getting Started

If you don't have it already, you will need to download RealTimeBattle from http://realtimebattle.sourceforge.net. You can also find out the latest news, information and system requirements from there.

Once this has been compiled and installed (see the RealTimeBattle documentation), you are ready to start building your own your robots.

The RealTimeBattle server loads robots based on their filename, which ends with ".robot". For convenience, when creating the Max source file for your robot, you should name it with .robot.bmx as the suffix. For example, maxbot.robot.bmx. When you come to compile your robot in release mode, it will compile to maxbot.robot, saving you a step of hassle renaming it.
Note: You should always compile your robot in release mode, as it uses stdin and stdout to communicate with the RealTimeBattle server, which I believe is also used for debug mode, and therefore your mileage may vary if you decide to use debug mode. In any case, RealTimeBattle has a facility which allows you to send "debug"/messages to the server, which can be displayed on-screen.

Robot Construction

Building robots with BlitzMax is meant to be easy.
To create your own, you simply extend TRTBRobot and override whichever methods you think you need to make your robot.

The robot API is split into two main sets of methods :

• Methods for sending instructions to the server (message from robot)
• Methods for acting on messages from the server (message to robot)

Start of the Game

Running your robot couldn't be any easier...

Local bot:TMyRobot = New TMyRobot
bot.run()

Acting on Server messages

The other actions you can override are, ActionYourName, ActionYourColour, ActionGameOption, ActionGameStarts, ActionRadar, ActionInfo, ActionCoordinates, ActionRobotInfo, ActionRotationReached, ActionEnergy, ActionCollision, ActionWarning, ActionDead, ActionFinished and ActionExitRobot.

Making your robot dance

Of course, you need to be able to make your robot do things, otherwise it would be a very boring arena.

You can call the following methods to tell the server what you want your robot to do :
Accelerate, Brake, RobotOption, Rotate, RotateAmount, RotateTo, Shoot, and Sweep.

If you want to send a message, you can call the Print method.

To send debug messages, you can call Debug, DebugCircle and DebugLine.

Interesting Information

Lastly, TRTBRobot holds some details that you might find useful, these include valid ranges when performing movements, and various levels, allowing your robot to adapt to its environment and win those all important grudge matches.

You should consider the following fields "Information Only" :
debugLevel, robotCannonMaxRotate, robotEnergyLevels, robotMaxAcceleration, robotMaxEnergy, robotMaxRotate, robotMinAcceleration, robotRadarMaxRotate, robotStartEnergy, sendRobotCoordinates, shotEnergyIncreaseSpeed, shotMaxEnergy, shotMinEnergy, shotSpeed and timeout.

You can modify the following fields before the game starts :
name, homeColor and awayColor.

Example

Here is a very basic robot which simply rotates its cannon and radar from wherever it starts in the arena and shoot at any robots it happens to see (You can also open the code in the editor) :

SuperStrict

Import BaH.RealTimeBattle

Local bot:TMyRobot = New TMyRobot
bot.run()


Type TMyRobot Extends TRTBRobot

	Method InitializeRobot()
		name = "I'm Basic!"
	End Method


	Method ActionGameStarts()
		Rotate(ROT_CANNON | ROT_RADAR, 10)
	End Method
	
	Method ActionRadar(distance:Double, observedObject:Int, radarAngle:Double)
		Select observedObject
			Case OBJ_ROBOT
				Shoot(10)
		End Select
	End Method
	
End Type

Types

Module Information