Welcome to Multi-Threaded PAC-MAN in GLUT with Synchronization! This project aims to develop a multi-threaded version of the classic Pac-Man game using C/C++ and GLUT (OpenGL Utility Toolkit) graphics library, incorporating synchronization techniques to manage interactions between Pac-Man and multiple computer-simulated ghosts. The game ensures smooth gameplay with each entity operating on its own thread and proper synchronization to prevent data conflicts.
The objective of this project is to implement a multi-threaded Pac-Man game with the following phases:
- Game Engine Thread: Manages overall game flow, input handling, game state updating, and graphics rendering.
- User Interface Thread: Manages UI components including menus, scoreboards, and HUD elements, and communicates player input to the game engine.
- Ghost Controller Threads: Individual threads for each ghost controller, responsible for controlling ghost behavior independently.
- Game Board Initialization: Design layout for shared game board, including walls, paths, pellets, and power pellets. Initialize starting positions for Pac-Man and ghosts.
- Movement Mechanics: Implement movement logic for Pac-Man and basic AI for ghost movement.
- Eating Mechanics: Enable Pac-Man to eat pellets, update game score, and define effects of eating power pellets.
- Lives: Implement a lives system for Pac-Man.
- Ghost Movement: Ensure synchronization to prevent conflicts when ghosts read the game board while Pac-Man updates it.
- Eating Power Pellets: Synchronize power pellet eating to prevent simultaneous consumption and ensure respawn consistency.
- Ghost House: Manage resources (keys and exit permits) to prevent deadlock situations when ghosts leave the ghost house.
- Prioritizing Certain Ghosts: Implement synchronization to ensure fair distribution of speed boosts among faster ghosts.
- Separate Threads: Pac-Man and each ghost operate on separate threads for independent movement.
- Proper Synchronization: Use mutexes to ensure proper synchronization and prevent data conflicts.
- Concurrent Execution: Implement concurrent execution allowing smooth movement of Pac-Man and ghosts without lag or jitter.
- Optimal Synchronization Solutions: Choose appropriate synchronization solutions for each scenario to ensure optimal game performance and fairness.
- Compilation: Compile the code using a C compiler with proper linking to GLUT library.
- Execution: Run the compiled executable to start the game.
- Controls: Use arrow keys to control Pac-Man's movement.
- Gameplay: Eat pellets, avoid ghosts, and complete levels to win.
Contributions to enhance the game mechanics, optimize synchronization, or improve overall gameplay experience are welcome! Please follow project guidelines and submit pull requests with your changes.