Simple NIM Game

We have provided for you most of what you need to build a graphical application to play the NIM game Lab5.zip. As always, download and unzip the files on your removable media and create/save a Dr Java Project file in your directory. Here is a summary of the names of the source files with an explanation of their purpose. The details are in the doc files.

• SimpleNIMGUI,java – the user interface to the game
• SimpleNIM.java– the game itself
• Player.java– common code for player objects (human or computer)
• HumanPlayer.java– represents the human player
• MachinePlayer.java– represents the computer player
• NIMStrategy.java- you need to write this class. This class needs only one method:
  • public int bestMove(Player player, SimpleNIM game) – returns the number of sticks the computer player takes given the current state of the game.
  • The parameters mean: player – the computer player, game – the current game.
• Try different strategies for the computer player:
  • Start by having the computer player take one stick no matter what the configuration of the game. This will allow you to play and see that the game works.
  • Have the computer play the best strategy where, if possible, take the number of sticks such that after the move, the number of remaining sticks is one more than a multiple of 4. If it is not possible to leave one more than a multiple of 4 sticks, then take one stick. For example, if there are 18 sticks remaining, the computer should take one stick.
• You will need to use at least one method of the SimpleNIM class in order to write your bestMove method.

Lab Report

Write a document describing your experiences. Your lab must be printed (not handwritten). Answer the following questions related to what you did in this week’s lab.

• What is wrong with the strategy of having the computer player always take two sticks with every move? Explain.
• What method(s) of the SimpleNIM class did you need to use in writing your method?
• Comment on the usefulness of the Javadco documentation for learning how to use a method of the SimpleNim class.
• Describe what you learned doing this lab. Explain what was difficult and what was easy.