I need some help with my java game using applets, CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP

Question

Hi,
I am in the process of creating a RPG program using Java. I am not very experienced with java, however the problem i am currently facing is something i can't seem to figure out. I would like to draw a simple grid where a character (indicated by a filled circle) moves around this grid collecting items (indicated by a red rectangle). When the character moves on top of the grid with the item, i would like it to disappear. Right now i am not worrying about the fact that the item will reappear after the character moves away again, because sometimes, when the character moves over the item, nothing happens/another item disappears. i have been at this for 4 days and still cannot figure out what is goign on. can somebody please help me? it would be most appreciated.
Thanks
PS if i needed to send you my code, how do i do it?

Answer 1

Thank you for replying.
The thing is, I am taking java as a course, and it is necessary for me to start off this way (this is for my summative evaluation). i agree with you on the fact, however, that i should go in small steps. i have been doing that until this point, and my frustration caused me to jump around randomly for an answer. I also think that it may just be a bug, but i have no clue as to how to fix it, as i need to show my teacher at least a part of what i was doing by sometime next week. Here is my code for anybody willing to go through it:
// The "Keys3" class.
import java.applet.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.Event;
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.applet.AudioClip;
public class Keys3 extends java.applet.Applet
    char currkey;
    int currx, curry, yint, xint;
    int itmval [] = new int [5],
        locval [] = new int [5],
        tempx [] = new int [5], tempy [] = new int [5],
        tot = 0, score = 0;
    boolean check = true;
    AudioClip bgSound, bgSound2;
    AudioClip hit;
    private Image offscreenImage;
    private Graphics offscreen;     //initializing variables for double buffering
    public void init ()  //DONE
        bgSound = getAudioClip (getCodeBase (), "sound2_works.au");
        hit = getAudioClip (getCodeBase (), "ah_works.au");
        if (bgSound != null)
            bgSound.loop ();
        currx = 162;
        curry = 68;
        setBackground (Color.white);
        for (int count = 0 ; count < 5 ; count++)
            itmval [count] = (int) (Math.random () * 5) + 1;
            locval [count] = (int) (Math.random () * 25) + 1;
        requestFocus ();
    public void paint (Graphics g)  //DONE
        resize (350, 270);
        drawgrid (g);
        if (check = true)
            pickitems (g);
            drawitems (g);
        g.setColor (Color.darkGray);
        g.fillOval (currx, curry, 25, 25);
        if (currkey != 0)
            g.setColor (Color.darkGray);
            g.fillOval (currx, curry, 25, 25);
        if (collcheck () != true)
            collision (g);
        else
            drawitems (g);
    } // paint method
    public void update (Graphics g)  //uses the double buffering method to overwrite the original
                                     //screen with another copy to reduce flickering
        if (offscreenImage == null)
            offscreenImage = createImage (this.getSize ().width, this.getSize ().height);
            offscreen = offscreenImage.getGraphics ();
        } //what to do if there is no offscreenImage copy of the original screen
        //draws the backgroudn colour of the offscreen
        offscreen.setColor (getBackground ());
        offscreen.fillRect (0, 0, this.getSize ().width, this.getSize ().height);
        //draws the foreground colour of the offscreen
        offscreen.setColor (getForeground ());
        paint (offscreen);
        //draws the offscreen image onto the main screen
        g.drawImage (offscreenImage, 0, 0, this);
    public boolean keyDown (Event evt, int key)  //DONE
        switch (key)
            case Event.DOWN:
                curry += 46;
                if (curry >= 252)
                    curry -= 46;
                    if (hit != null)
                        hit.play ();
                break;
            case Event.UP:
                curry -= 46;
                if (curry <= 0)
                    curry += 46;
                    if (hit != null)
                        hit.play ();
                break;
            case Event.LEFT:
                currx -= 66;
                if (currx <= 0)
                    currx += 66;
                    if (hit != null)
                        hit.play ();
                break;
            case Event.RIGHT:
                currx += 66;
                if (currx >= 360)
                    currx -= 66;
                    if (hit != null)
                        hit.play ();
                break;
            default:
                currkey = (char) key;
        repaint ();
        return true;
    public boolean collcheck ()  //DONE
        if (((currx == tempx [0]) && (curry == tempy [0])) || ((currx == tempx [1]) && (curry == tempy [1])) || ((currx == tempx [2]) && (curry == tempy [2])) || ((currx == tempx [3]) && (curry == tempy [3])) || ((currx == tempx [4]) && (curry == tempy [4])))
            return false;
        else
            return true;
    public void collision (Graphics g)
        drawgrid (g);
        for (int count = 0 ; count < 5 ; count++)
            if ((currx == tempx [count]) && (curry == tempy [count]))
                g.setColor (Color.darkGray);
                g.fillOval (currx, curry, 25, 25);
            else if ((currx != tempx [count]) && (curry != tempy [count]))
                g.setColor (Color.red);
                g.fillRect (tempx [count], tempy [count], 25, 25);
    public void drawitems (Graphics g)
        for (int count = 0 ; count < 5 ; count++)
            g.setColor (Color.red);
            g.fillRect (tempx [count], tempy [count], 25, 25);
    public void pickitems (Graphics g)
        check = false;
        for (int count = 0 ; count < 5 ; count++)
            if (locval [count] <= 5)
                tempy [count] = 22;
            else if (locval [count] <= 10)
                tempy [count] = 68;
            else if (locval [count] <= 15)
                tempy [count] = 114;
            else if (locval [count] <= 20)
                tempy [count] = 160;
            else if (locval [count] <= 25)
                tempy [count] = 206; //this determines the y-position of the item to be placed
            if (locval [count] % 5 == 0)
                tempx [count] = 294;
            else if ((locval [count] == 1) || (locval [count] == 6) || (locval [count] == 11) || (locval [count] == 16) || (locval [count] == 21))
                tempx [count] = 30;
            else if ((locval [count] == 2) || (locval [count] == 7) || (locval [count] == 12) || (locval [count] == 17) || (locval [count] == 22))
                tempx [count] = 96;
            else if ((locval [count] == 3) || (locval [count] == 8) || (locval [count] == 13) || (locval [count] == 18) || (locval [count] == 23))
                tempx [count] = 162;
            else if ((locval [count] == 4) || (locval [count] == 9) || (locval [count] == 14) || (locval [count] == 19) || (locval [count] == 24))
                tempx [count] = 228;
    public void drawgrid (Graphics g)  //DONE
        g.drawRect (10, 10, 330, 230); //draws the outer rectangular border
        int wi = 10; //width of one square on the board
        int hi = 10; //height of one square on the board
        for (int height = 1 ; height <= 5 ; height++)
            for (int row = 1 ; row <= 5 ; row++)
                if (((height % 2 == 1) && (row % 2 == 1)) || ((height % 2 == 0) && (row % 2 == 0)))
                    g.setColor (Color.gray);
                    g.fillRect (wi, hi, 66, 46);
                else /*if (((height % 2 == 0) && (row % 2 == 1)) || ((height % 2 == 0) && (row % 2 == 0)))*/
                    g.setColor (Color.lightGray);
                    g.drawRect (wi, hi, 66, 46);
                    g.setColor (Color.lightGray);
                    g.drawRect (wi, hi, 66, 46); //drawn twice to make a shadow effect
                wi += 66;
            wi = 10;
            hi += 46;
        } //this draws the basic outline of the game screen
} // Keys3 class