Navigate, Strategize, Dominate: Rule the Seas!

A multiplayer Battleship game implementation with advanced features.

Table of Contents

1. Overview
2. Features
3. Technologies Used
4. Prerequisites
5. Installation
6. Usage
7. Team Members
8. Acknowledgements

Overview

This project is a networked implementation of the classic Battleship game, featuring both player-vs-player and player-vs-AI modes. It includes advanced features such as an Elo ranking system, asynchronous AI processing, and a player-to-player chat system.

Features

• Multiplayer gameplay (PvP and PvAI)
• Elo ranking system for skill-based matchmaking
• Asynchronous AI processing for smooth gameplay
• In-game chat system for player communication
• Background music for enhanced user experience
• User-friendly GUI with intuitive boat placement and attack mechanics

Technologies Used

• Java 8
• JavaFX 19.0.2.1
• Maven
• SQLite
• HikariCP (Connection Pooling)
• JUnit 5 (for testing)

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed:

• Java Development Kit (JDK) 8 or later
• Maven 3.6.0 or later
• Git (for cloning the repository)

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/your-username/battleship-game.git
   cd battleship-game
   

2. Run the server:

   cd server
   mvn clean compile exec:java
   

3. Run the client (in a separate terminal):

   cd client
   mvn clean compile exec:java
   

Note: Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to execute Maven commands and that your system's PATH includes the directory containing the mvn executable.

Usage

1. Start the server: Run the server application using the command provided in the Installation section.

2. Launch the client: Start the client application for each player who wants to join the game.

3. Log in:

   • Enter a unique username when prompted.
   • The server will validate the username to ensure only one user is logged in with that name.

4. Matchmaking:

   • The game uses an Elo ranking system for matchmaking.
   • New players start with a ranking of 1300.
   • The server will wait until 4 players have joined and then match them based on their Elo rankings.

5. Boat Placement:

   • Once matched, you'll be presented with a grid to place your boats.
   • Click on the grid to select a position for each boat.
   • Choose the orientation of the boat (horizontal or vertical).
   • The game will highlight invalid placements and prevent overlapping boats.

6. Gameplay:

   • Take turns guessing the location of your opponent's boats by clicking on the opponent's grid.
   • The game will indicate hits and misses.
   • Use the in-game chat system to communicate with your opponent.

7. AI Opponent:

   • If playing against an AI, the computer will make its moves automatically.
   • The AI uses a combination of random guessing and strategic decision-making.

8. Winning the Game:

   • The first player to sink all of their opponent's ships wins.
   • Your Elo ranking will be updated based on the game outcome.

9. Post-Game:

   • After the game ends, you can choose to play again or exit.
   • Your updated Elo ranking will be displayed.

Note: The game features background music that changes with different scenes to enhance the gaming experience. However, this feature may not work on macOS due to media dependency issues.

Tips:

• Hover over grid cells to preview boat placement or potential attack positions.
• Use the chat system to engage with your opponent and add a social element to the game.
• Pay attention to your Elo ranking as it will affect your future matchmaking.

Team Members

• Mohammad Shayan Khan: Backend development, game logic, and server-side implementation
• Anupam Sai Sistla: Backend development, client-server integration, and project reporting
• Nathan Trinh: Frontend development, wireframing, and GUI design
• Rayyan Athar: Frontend implementation, GUI components, and game mechanics