vb animation background

Question

I'm trying to write some basic maze games and got to the point where I'm doing the graphics.
What I'd like to do is draw a random maze (add a bunch of 'wall' bitmaps to a graphics object, or similar), then 'save' the image I've just created and use it as the background for playing the game.
Effectively, the image would have three 'layers'; a basic background, then the maze, then the things moving around the maze.
Saving the multiple 'drawn' images and using the save as a single background image for a graphics object would be much more efficient than re-drawing the maze every move, but I can't see how to do it at all.
I've chased down various rabbit holes on this site, but they all seem to start off very 'Janet and John' and the suddenly switch to a bunch of impenetrable jargon....
Any help /ideas will be much appreciated

Answer 1

Hi, my apologies for not being clear. Yes, you're correct, the code for things would look something like this;

g = Graphics.FromImage(Back_Bitmap)

For loop1 as Int16 = 0 to Num_Wide
For loop2 as Int16 = 0 to Num_Across
If Rand.Next(0,4) = 3 Then g.DrawImage(Wall_Bitmap, loop1 * Wall_Bitmap.Width, loop2 * Wall_Bitmap, r, GraphicsUnit.Pixel)
Next
Next

' Save image in g as 'Background' <= This is the bit I have a problem with

Do Until End_of_Game
Calculate(Player_Pos)
Calculate(Enemy_Pos)
g = Graphics.FromImage(Background)
g.DrawImage(Player_Bitmap, Player.X_Pos, Player.Y_Pos, r, GraphicsUnit.Pixel)
g.DrawImage(Enemy_Bitmap, Enemy.X_Pos, Enemy.Y_Pos, r, GraphicsUnit.Pixel)
Loop

I have all the basic 'mechanics' (how things move, start and end conditions, etc.) worked out, but it's (only :) !) the graphics I'm having trouble with. If I can separate the 'fixed' parts of the maze from the moving things, it will (obviously) be a lot more efficient.
Thank you for your interest

Answer 2

Hi @PhilH ,
You can define a new bitmap to store the drawn maze.

Dim Background As New Bitmap = Back_Bitmap  

Then use it when drawing in the game.
Best Regards.
Jiachen Li

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Answer 3

Hi, My apologies, I'm apparently still not being clear.

I'm aware that I could (theoretically) use a bitmap, save it, etc., etc..

However, I don't know how to get the image held in 'g' (the picture I've built up of the basic background and the maze) into the bitmap called Background.

There isn't an 'image' property on g, or 'contents', so it's not obvious (*to me) how to do it).

That is what my issue is, please.

Thank you for your time (so far) on this

Answer 4

Are you using e.Graphics in the Paint event to do your drawing?

in the paint event : -
e.Graphics.DrawImage(Back_Bitmap, 0, 0)

' then draw on the moving sprites