Simple Game, bugging out?

[Kimchee]

So I have only been working with AS3 for about 2 months now, but have been able to do quite a bit and almost have a math puzzle game finished. However, when I added a menu screen I started to get a lot of errors. If someone has about 10 minutes of spare time and would be willing to review some code to see why I am getting a Null reference error message I would be truly appreciative.

Again, this is a big request and I don't expect it of anyone, but I would be most appreciative. Also I have answered quite a few questions and tested quite a few games on this board already so I don't feel like I am asking without giving. Thanks for your time :D

[Mazoonist]

I don't understand the game play. What are you supposed to do after you make your selection? Just wait it out? [Edit : Okay I get it now. but I would not have known you were supposed to press the spacebar without consulting the code. By the way, I'm not getting the Null object reference error]

[Kimchee]

Opps, hit spacebar. You goal is to select the correct percentage as displayed in the right column. After you make a selection you hit spacebar and Ka Pow! According to how close you are to the correct percentage dictares how much health you loose and how many points you get. Sorry about the rushed original post.

[orange gold]

on frame 2 replace your code with this code...

import fl.transitions.Tween;
import fl.transitions.easing.*;
stop();

var level1: Array = [
[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1],
[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1],
[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1],
[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1],
[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1],
[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1],
[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1],
[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1],
[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1],
[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]
];

var level2: Array = [
[2,2,2,2,11,11,2,2,2,2],
[2,2,2,2,11,11,2,2,2,2],
[2,2,2,2,11,11,2,2,2,2],
[2,2,2,2,11,11,2,2,2,2],
[11,11,11,11,11,11,11,11,11,11],
[11,11,11,11,11,11,11,11,11,11],
[2,2,2,2,11,11,2,2,2,2],
[2,2,2,2,11,11,2,2,2,2],
[2,2,2,2,11,11,2,2,2,2],
[2,2,2,2,11,11,2,2,2,2]
];

var level3: Array = [
[3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3],
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,3],
[0,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,0,3],
[0,3,0,0,0,0,0,3,0,3],
[0,3,0,3,3,3,0,3,0,3],
[0,3,0,3,0,3,0,3,0,3],
[0,3,0,3,0,0,0,3,0,3],
[0,3,0,3,3,3,3,3,0,3],
[0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,3],
[0,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3]
];

var level4: Array = [
[4,5,6,0,6,6,0,6,5,4],
[5,6,0,0,6,6,0,0,6,5],
[6,0,0,0,5,5,0,0,0,6],
[0,0,0,0,5,5,0,0,0,0],
[6,6,5,5,4,4,5,5,6,6],
[6,6,5,5,4,4,5,5,6,6],
[0,0,0,0,5,5,0,0,0,0],
[6,0,0,0,5,5,0,0,0,6],
[5,6,0,0,6,6,0,0,6,5],
[4,5,6,0,6,6,0,6,5,4]
];

var level5: Array = [
[8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8],
[0,8,9,9,9,9,9,9,8,0],
[0,0,8,9,9,9,9,8,0,0],
[0,0,0,8,9,9,8,0,0,0],
[0,0,0,0,8,8,0,0,0,0],
[0,0,0,0,8,8,0,0,0,0],
[0,0,0,8,9,9,8,0,0,0],
[0,0,8,9,9,9,9,8,0,0],
[0,8,9,9,9,9,9,9,8,0],
[8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8]
];

var level6: Array = [
[0,0,7,7,7,7,7,7,0,0],
[0,7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7,0],
[7,7,9,7,7,7,7,9,7,7],
[7,8,9,9,7,7,8,9,9,7],
[7,7,9,7,7,7,7,9,7,7],
[7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7],
[7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7],
[7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7],
[7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7],
[7,7,0,0,7,7,0,0,7,7]
];

var level7: Array = [
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,10,0,0],
[0,0,0,0,0,0,10,10,0,0],
[0,0,00,0,0,10,0,10,0,0],
[0,0,10,0,0,0,0,10,0,0],
[0,0,10,0,0,0,0,10,0,0],
[10,10,10,10,10,0,0,10,0,0],
[0,0,10,0,0,0,0,10,0,0],
[0,0,10,0,0,0,0,10,0,0],
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,10,0,0],
[0,0,0,0,0,10,10,10,10,10]
];

var level8: Array = [
[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1],
[0,2,0,0,0,0,0,0,2,0],
[0,2,3,3,3,3,3,3,2,0],
[0,2,0,4,0,0,4,0,2,0],
[0,2,0,4,0,5,4,0,2,0],
[0,2,0,4,5,0,4,0,2,0],
[0,2,0,4,0,0,4,0,2,0],
[0,2,3,3,3,3,3,3,2,0],
[0,2,0,0,0,0,0,0,2,0],
[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]
];

var level9: Array = [
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]
];

var level10: Array = [
[Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random( )*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.r andom()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil( Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math .ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14 ),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14)],
[Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random( )*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.r andom()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil( Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math .ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14 ),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14)],
[Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random( )*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.r andom()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil( Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math .ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14 ),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14)],
[Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random( )*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.r andom()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil( Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math .ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14 ),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14)],
[Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random( )*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.r andom()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil( Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math .ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14 ),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14)],
[Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random( )*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.r andom()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil( Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math .ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14 ),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14)],
[Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random( )*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.r andom()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil( Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math .ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14 ),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14)],
[Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random( )*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.r andom()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil( Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math .ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14 ),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14)],
[Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random( )*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.r andom()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil( Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math .ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14 ),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14)],
[Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random( )*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.r andom()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil( Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14),Math .ceil(Math.random()*14),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14 ),Math.ceil(Math.random()*14)]
];

var upComing: int = 1;
var spheres: Array = new Array();
var i: int;
var target: int;
var health: int;
var score: int;
var itemsTotal: int;
var percentage: int;
var itemsSelected:int;
var selectionSprite:Sprite;
var startX:Number;
var startY:Number;
var myTimer:Timer = new Timer(10000, 0);
var timer:int;
var tween1:Tween;




/*--------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------*/
level(level1);
init();



function level (currentlevel){
for(var i:int = 0; i < 10; i++){
for(var j:int = 0; j < 10; j++){
if(currentlevel[i][j]==1){
var blue:blueSphere = new blueSphere();
blue.x = 25 +j*35;
blue.y = 30 + i*35;
addChild(blue);
spheres.push(blue);
}
else if (currentlevel[i][j] ==2){
var red:redSphere = new redSphere()
red.x = 25 +j*35;
red.y = 30 + i*35;
addChild(red);
spheres.push(red);
}
else if (currentlevel[i][j] ==3){
var green:greenSphere = new greenSphere();
green.x = 25 +j*35;
green.y = 30 + i*35;
addChild(green);
spheres.push(green);
}
else if (currentlevel[i][j] ==4){
var orange:orangeSphere = new orangeSphere();
orange.x = 25 +j*35;
orange.y = 30 + i*35;
addChild(orange);
spheres.push(orange);
}
else if (currentlevel[i][j] ==5){
var yellow:yellowSphere = new yellowSphere();
yellow.x = 25 +j*35;
yellow.y = 30 + i*35;
addChild(yellow);
spheres.push(yellow);
}
else if (currentlevel[i][j] ==6){
var brown:brownSphere = new brownSphere();
brown.x = 25 +j*35;
brown.y = 30 + i*35;
addChild(brown);
spheres.push(brown);
}
else if (currentlevel[i][j] ==7){
var purple:purpleSphere = new purpleSphere();
purple.x = 25 +j*35;
purple.y = 30 + i*35;
addChild(purple);
spheres.push(purple);
}
else if (currentlevel[i][j] ==8){
var black:blackSphere = new blackSphere();
black.x = 25 +j*35;
black.y = 30 + i*35;
addChild(black);
spheres.push(black);
}
else if (currentlevel[i][j] ==9){
var white:whiteSphere = new whiteSphere();
white.x = 25 +j*35;
white.y = 30 + i*35;
addChild(white);
spheres.push(white);
}
else if (currentlevel[i][j] ==10){
var multi:multiSphere = new multiSphere();
multi.x = 25 +j*35;
multi.y = 30 + i*35;
addChild(multi);
spheres.push(multi);
}
}
}
for(i = 0; i < spheres.length; i++) {
spheres[i].glow=false;
}
itemsTotal = 0;
for(i = 0; i < spheres.length; i++) {
if(spheres[i].alpha ==1){
itemsTotal++;
}
}
target = 100*Math.ceil((Math.random()*itemsTotal))/itemsTotal;
percentage_txt.text = String(target) + "%";
items_txt.text = String(itemsSelected + "/" + itemsTotal);
for(i = 0; i < spheres.length; i++) {
spheres[i].addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK,select);
}
}







function init(){
target = Math.round(Math.random()*100+1);
health = 100;
score = 0;
percentage = 0;
itemsSelected = 0;
selectionSprite = new Sprite();
addChild(selectionSprite);
timer = 5;
stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, down);
stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, up);
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN, kaPow);

myTimer.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, countDown);
myTimer.start();
gameOver_txt.text = "";
endScore_txt.text = "";
playAgain_txt.text = ""
playAgain_mc.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, again);

//fill in text box.
score_txt.text=String(score);
percentage_txt.text = String(target);
health_txt.text=String(health);
timer_txt.text = String(timer);

}





function countDown(event:TimerEvent):void {
timer -=1;
timer_txt.text = String(timer);
if(timer==0){
endGame();
}
}







continued in the next post.... too long of code for this post

[orange gold]

continued code....


//function ends the game
function endGame(){

upComing = 1;
percentage_txt.text = "";
timer_txt.text = "0";
health_txt.text = "0";
items_txt.text = "";
score_txt.text= "";
gameOver_txt.text = "Game Over";
endScore_txt.text = "Total Score: " +score;
playAgain_txt.text = "Play Again"
stage.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, down);
stage.removeEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN, kaPow);
myTimer.removeEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, countDown);
playAgain_mc.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, again);

for(i = spheres.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
trace(10);
removeChild(spheres[i]);
spheres.splice(i, 1);
}
gotoAndPlay(5);
}
function again(evtent:MouseEvent): void{
level(level1);
init();

}



//Function for calculating score.
function scoreTotal (){
health -= Math.abs(percentage - target);
minusHp_txt.text = "-" + String(Math.abs(percentage - target));
health_txt.text = String(health);
tween1 = new Tween(minusHp_txt, "alpha", None.easeNone, 1, 0, 2
, true);
if(health<1){
endGame();
}
if(percentage-target >=0 && percentage - target<21 ){
score += 20-(percentage-target);
score_txt.text=String(score);
plusScore_txt.text = "+" + String(20-(percentage-target));
tween1 = new Tween(plusScore_txt, "alpha", None.easeNone, 1, 0, 2, true);
}
if(percentage-target <0 && percentage - target>-21 ){
score += 20+(percentage-target);
score_txt.text=String(score);
plusScore_txt.text = "+" + String(20+(percentage-target));
tween1 = new Tween(plusScore_txt, "alpha", None.easeNone, 1, 0, 2, true);
}
setChildIndex(advice_txt,numChildren - 1);
setChildIndex(percentageGot_txt,numChildren - 1);
percentageGot_txt.text = String(percentage) + "%";
tween1 = new Tween(percentageGot_txt, "alpha", None.easeNone, 1, 0, 1, true);
if(percentage - target == 0){
advice_txt.text = "PERFECT!";
tween1 = new Tween(advice_txt, "alpha", None.easeNone, 1, 0, 1, true);
}
else if(3>= Math.abs(percentage-target)){
advice_txt.text = "Great!";
tween1 = new Tween(advice_txt, "alpha", None.easeNone, 1, 0, 1, true);
}
else if(6>= Math.abs(percentage-target) ){
advice_txt.text = "Good!";
tween1 = new Tween(advice_txt, "alpha", None.easeNone, 1, 0, 1, true);
}
}

//Function when you click the mouse
function down(event:MouseEvent):void {
itemsTotal = 0;

for(i = 0; i < spheres.length; i++) {
if(spheres[i].alpha ==1){
itemsTotal++;
}
spheres[i].picked=false;
}

itemsSelected = 0;
selectionSprite.graphics.clear();
startX = this.mouseX;
startY = this.mouseY;
stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_MOVE, select);
}


//Function when you move the mouse
function select(event:MouseEvent):void {
itemsSelected = 0;

for(var i:int = 0; i < spheres.length; i++){
if(spheres[i].glow == true){
itemsSelected++;
}
}

selectionSprite.graphics.clear();
selectionSprite.graphics.lineStyle(1);
selectionSprite.graphics.beginFill(0xCCCCCC, 0.1);
selectionSprite.graphics.drawRect(startX, startY, mouseX - startX, mouseY - startY);

for(i = 0; i < spheres.length; i++) {
if(selectionSprite.hitTestObject(spheres[i]) && spheres[i].alpha ==1) {
if(spheres[i].picked ==false){
//makes sphere glow
if(spheres[i].glow ==false){
spheres[i].picked=true;
spheres[i].glow = true;
spheres[i].gotoAndPlay(6);
itemsSelected++;
items_txt.text = String(itemsSelected + "/" + itemsTotal);
}
else{
//if spheres is already glowing when selected makes it not glow.
spheres[i].picked = true;
spheres[i].gotoAndPlay(1);
spheres[i].glow = false;
itemsSelected--;
items_txt.text = String(itemsSelected + "/" + itemsTotal);
}
}
}
else {
//Unselects spheres as you roll off of them.
if(spheres[i].picked == true){
if(spheres[i].glow == true){
spheres[i].gotoAndPlay(1);
spheres[i].glow = false;
spheres[i].picked = false;
itemsSelected--;
items_txt.text = String(itemsSelected + "/" + itemsTotal);
}
else{
spheres[i].glow = true;
spheres[i].picked = false;
spheres[i].gotoAndPlay(6);
itemsSelected++;
items_txt.text = String(itemsSelected + "/" + itemsTotal);
}
}
}
}
}

//function when you let go fo the mouse button.
function up(event:MouseEvent):void {
selectionSprite.graphics.clear();
stage.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_MOVE, select);
}



//When the play hits space bard it sets the glowing spheres;
//alph to 0, calculates the percentage you selected and displays
//that number and then gives you a score and a new target.

function kaPow(event:KeyboardEvent): void {
if(event.keyCode ==32){
for(i = 0; i < spheres.length; i++) {
if(spheres[i].glow ==true){
spheres[i].alpha = 0;
spheres[i].glow = false;
}
}
percentage=100*itemsSelected/itemsTotal
//items_txt.text = String(percentage);
itemsTotal=0;
for(i = 0; i < spheres.length; i++) {
if(spheres[i].alpha ==1){
itemsTotal++;
}

}
items_txt.text = "0/" + String(itemsTotal);
}
scoreTotal();
target = 100*Math.ceil((Math.random()*itemsTotal))/itemsTotal;
percentage_txt.text = String(target) + "%";
timer = 5;
timer_txt.text = String(timer);
if( itemsTotal==0){
upComing++;
switch(String(upComing)){
case "1":
level(level1);
break;
case "2":
level(level2);
break;
case "3":
level(level3);
break;

case "4":
level(level4);
break;
case "5":
level(level5);
break;

case "6":
level(level6);
break;
case "7":
level(level7);
break;
case "8":
level(level8);
break;
case "9":
level(level9);
break;
case "10":
level(level10);
upComing = 1;
break;
}

}

}


glad i could help

[Kimchee]

Thanks, I guess a simple "add gotoandPlay (5); in the function end game" would have worked too ;)

Still throws a

TypeError: Error #1009: Cannot access a property or method of a null object reference.
at almost_fla::MainTimeline/kaPow(

Message though, and I have looked and looked again at the kaPow function and don't see when it would ever be called after ending the game. So if anyone has insight to this it would help.

[Mazoonist]

Here's a hint: You have to remove listeners when you are done with them. Once you add an event listener, they remain active throughout a timeline unless you remove them. Going to another frame does not remove the listener. But, when you go to another frame, now maybe the listener function refers to an object which is no longer present on the stage, and you get null object reference errors.

[Kimchee]

Hahaha! I got it! With much thanks to both of you of course.

Okay this was the bug and I should have known, Order matters.

I was calling a function in the middle of a function that would end the game, but then the rest of the function tried to run, thus throwing the error. I am so jazzed, that took like 10 hours to find! Hahahaha! :o:)