Problems for Session O1: Object-Oriented Design

Problem O1-A: Describe a game

Pick a game and write a short two paragraph description of the game comparable to the description of Othello from this laboratory. Using this description, identify the objects and classes that might be used in a simulation of that game.

Problem O1-B: A simple Othello interface

We are on our way to a working Othello game. The first step is to get a working interface. You will need

• Frameworks for all the appropriate classes: Othello, Rules, Player, Board, and Piece. A framework contains only class definition, constructors (possibly empty) and methods (again, possibly empty). You may have written some of these frameworks for Experiment O1.3. When a method needs to return a value, return a ``reasonable'' default value. For example, the isLegal method of the Rules class might always return true.
• An Othello class with a main routine. You may have written this for Experiment O1.5.
• A makeMove method for the Player class that prompts for a move and returns a corresponding Move object. You may have written this for Experiment O1.5.
• A display method for the Board class. You will need to write that now.
• An initialize method for the Rules class that places pieces on the board. You will need to write that now.

By filling in the details, you should be able to get a simple working interface for the Othello game in which players can enter moves and see a board. At this point, the pieces should not flip and may not even display.

Note that as you fill in the details, you may realize that you need additional methods. For example, although we have not discussed it, the Board class will clearly need a placePiece method.

Problem O1-C: Update Board

Update the Board class so that it will remember where pieces are placed on the board and display them appropriately.

Problem O1-D: Update Rules

Finish the Rules class. You will need to ensure that it is able to

• check whether or not a move is legal;
• determine if a player has a legal move;
• determine whether the game is over;
• identify the winner when the game is over;
• place pieces in the initial configuration; and
• update the board after a move is made.

This problem is perhaps the most difficult in this assignment.

Problem O1-E: Changing Othello's board

Using your code from the previous problems, update Othello so that it is played on a rectangular 6x8 board. What classes did you need to change?

Problem O1-F: Changing Othello's rules

Using your code from the previous problems, update Othello so that the initial state of the board contains two black pieces and two white pieces on the center four squares, with the black pieces forming a row and the white pieces forming a row. What classes did you need to change?

Problem O1-G: Changing Othello's pieces

Using your code from the previous problems, update Othello so that pieces have three colors: white, black, and red. Assume that they flip in sequence: white to black, black to red, red to white. What classes did you need to change? What other questions did you need to ask in order for these updates to be successful and useful?