Question

Hey I was wondering how I would go about coding a way to load and draw a 2d level from a 2d array in XNA 4.

Here is what I have so far.

I am loading my array like this

        mapArray = new int[,]
        {
            {0, 0, 0, 0},
            {2, 0, 0, 2},
            {0, 0, 0, 0},
            {1, 1, 1, 1}
        };

Then I get stuck I cannot seem to figure out how to draw the array, I know I need to use a for loop to check through the array but this is my first time working with 2d arrays.

Is there anyone that could explain in detail how I would go about drawing this?

Thanks

-Josh

Answer 1

You might be able to use something like this in order to check for what number is in each slot: (Note: This is untested code… but the code’s skeleton comes from a tutorial found here.)

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        mapArray = new int[,]
        {
            {0, 0, 0, 0},
            {2, 0, 0, 2},
            {0, 0, 0, 0},
            {1, 1, 1, 1}
        };

        // Get upper bounds for the mapArray.
        int bound0 = mapArray.GetUpperBound(0);
        int bound1 = mapArray.GetUpperBound(1);

        // Use for-loops to iterate over the mapArray elements.
        for (int i=0; i<=bound0; i++)
        {
            for (int j=0; j<=bound1; j++)
            {
                int value = mapArray[i, j];
                Console.WriteLine(value);
            }
        }
    }
}

Basically, this code:

• initializes your mapArray
• checks for the ends (bounds) of both dimensions of your mapArray
• loops through the first dimension of the mapArray
• then, while still looping through first dimension, there is a second loop that goes through second dimension of the mapArray
• in the middle of both of these loops, your value is found: int value = mapArray[i, j];

Here is a reference for 2D array loops for C#. And here is a reference on arrays in C#. Hope this helps a little!