Space Invaders Clone

Space Invaders Clone is a fast-paced arcade-style game developed in Java, inspired by the classic Space Invaders space shooting game. The game features a variety of alien enemies, a player-controlled spaceship, and challenging gameplay mechanics, including UFOs, multiple alien types, dynamic scoring, and enhanced interactive barriers for strategic gameplay.

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Java SE Development Kit (JDK) - Version 8 or above.
• Any Java IDE like IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse, or NetBeans.

Installation

1. Download the JAR file from the releases section, and run it!

   OR

2. Clone the repository or download the source code:

   git clone https://github.com/av1155/SpaceInvaders.git
   
   

3. Open the project in your Java IDE.

4. Build and run the GamePanel.java file to start the game.

Features

• Multiple types of aliens with scoring values.
• Player-controlled spaceship capable of moving left, right, and shooting.
• Explosions that graphically represent the destruction of aliens and the player's ship.
• Dynamic barriers that provide both cover and strategic gameplay elements.
• A UFO that randomly crosses the screen, providing bonus opportunities when hit.
• High score tracking with local persistence.
• Replay functionality to restart the game after a game over.
• Enhanced frame rate and movement speeds for all objects, improving game fluidity.
• Aliens can shoot two bullets at a time, increasing the game's difficulty.
• Aliens movement speed increases depending on several factors.

Controls

• Left Arrow Key/A: Move the spaceship left.
• Right Arrow Key/D: Move the spaceship right.
• Space Bar: Shoot bullets from the spaceship.

How to Play

• Destroy all aliens before they can reach the bottom of the screen.
• Avoid bullets from alien ships, or alien ships entirely.
• Score points by destroying aliens and hitting the UFO.
• Keep playing to try and beat your high score!

Scoring

• Small Alien: 30 points
• Medium Alien: 20 points
• Large Alien: 10 points
• UFO: Randomly between 50 and 300 points

Development

This game is developed using Java Swing for the GUI components and graphics handling. The main gameplay mechanics are handled in the GamePanel class, with helper classes for managing game state, alien movements, and utility functions. Recent updates have greatly improved the JavaDoc documentation and refactored the codebase for better maintainability.

Contributions

Contributions are welcome. Please fork the project and submit a pull request with your enhancements.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Acknowledgments

• Special thanks to the creators of classic arcade games for the inspiration.
• Thanks to javazoom for providing the MP3 support used in the game's music playback.