Welcome Page

Table of Contents

  1. Project Management
    1. Team Working Agreement
    2. Individual Responsibility Agreement
    3. Project Scheduele
    4. Meeting Notes
  2. Business Plan
    1. User Identification and Interviews
    2. Electronic/Print advertisement
    3. Pitch/Video with Demonstration
  3. Software Documentation
    1. Introduction
    2. User Manual
    3. Program Description for Developers
    4. Final Algorithm, Flowchart, or Pseudocode
    5. Final Program with Comments
    6. Discussion
    7. Conclusions and Recommendations
    8. References
    9. Welcome Page

Executive Summary

Team J was required to pitch a Matlab version of a well known game to investors with the goal of receiving funding for future development. In order to do this, a program had to be brainstormed, produced, and then refined. Every step of the process was documented, and can be found within this website.

It was determined that Connect 4 would be made into a playable Matlab version. Connect 4 is a game that consists of two players competing to align four same colored pieces in a row, column, or diagonally on a 7×6 board. The first step in this process involved brainstorming. This included determining how the game would function. The next step included coding the game. This process was lengthy, and included multiple changes to the program. Finally, after completion, the game was tested repeatedly for bugs. The final result was a program that displayed a 7×6 board and placed red and black pieces in squares of the player’s choosing.

In order for the game to be playable, a game board had to be displayed and player inputs had to be recorded. This was done using sprites and commands. Multiple functions were used to check each outcome every time a coin was placed. Each time a coin was placed, the value of that spot in an array was changed based on the color of the player (red or black). These functions checked the surrounding array positions around the coin and their respective values to see if the move resulted in 4 pieces aligned in a row. If four of the same colored pieces were connected, the game displayed the winner.

The game changed multiple times as certain errors were found. These errors required high levels of problem solving. The largest error came with trying to check if there was a diagonal win on the board. After brainstorming for a lengthy period of time, it was determined that hard coding each win check would be the most successful way. After determining hard coding each outcome would create a lengthy, unorganized code, functions were then implemented to check every win. Functions reduced the overall length of the program.

The final product was a working Matlab version of Connect 4. Despite a working final product, a few changes could have been made. Functions would have been used in the beginning to cut down on production time and increase overall efficiency in the design. A few checks to limit bugs like a player placing a piece in an invalid spot and the displayed player turn switching would have been implemented rather than a rule change. Overall, the game worked effectively and has potential to draw investors.