Student Runner Game

You are an intrepid student used to batting away at problems. Everyone is throwing you problems to handle and only your great skill and speed can get you through the next academic term!

Installing the Game

There are three different ways to install and run the game. Note that you need Java J2SE 5.0 or later installed to run the game.

1. To install as a full-screen application, click: Launch the Student Runner Game application
    (Since this is a digitally signed file, you will need to chose Run)
2. To play as an applet, click: Launch the Student Runner Game applet
    (Uses PNG files which may not show well in IE)
3. To download an executable JAR file, click: Download the Student Runner JAR file
    (For Windows, save to the Desktop and double-click to launch the downloaded JAR file)

Playing the Game

You can use either a keyboard or a mouse to move the player.

To use the mouse, you just move the mouse back and forth and the player will follow either left or right. To jump, you just click a mouse button.

Also, you can use these keyboard controls to play the game:

• Left-arrow key: move player left
• Right-arrow key: move player right
• Up-arrow key: jump
• Releasing either arrow key stops the player movement

The keyboard has some other game controls as well:

• Ctrl+C keys: exit game
• Esc key: exit game
• Q key: exit game
• M key: toggle music off or on
• N key: start a new game
• P key: pause the game
• S key: toggle sound effects off or on
• Any key or mouse click resumes a paused game

The game is about the problems that a student faces taking classes. A problem drops from the top of the screen at a random x-coordinate, a random speed and at a random angle. You use the player to "head-butt" the problem like you would a soccer ball. You are positioned at the bottom of the screen and moves back and forth to bat the problems away. You can jump to hit the problems as well. Clearing each level increases the number and speed of problems.

Scoring is straightforward as follows:

• The score starts at 0 points
• For every problem batted to the top of the screen, you gains points
• For every problem that reaches the bottom of the screen, except a bomb, you lose 1 "life"
• You lose a life if you hit a bomb instead of letting it drop to the bottom of the screen.

Winning and losing is also straightforward:

• If the number of lives reaches 0, you lose and the game is over
• If you successfully handles the problems without losing all of your lives, then you win!

Ed Parrish
May 24. 2006