Android How to Program, 3/e

G.7 Polymorphism: An Example

Space Objects in a Video Game

Suppose we design a video game that manipulates objects of classes Martian, Venusian, Plutonian, SpaceShip and LaserBeam. Imagine that each class inherits from the superclass SpaceObject, which contains method draw. Each subclass implements this method. A screen manager maintains a collection (e.g., a SpaceObject array) of references to objects of the various classes. To refresh the screen, the screen manager periodically sends each object the same message—namely, draw. However, each object responds its own way, based on its class. For example, a Martian object might draw itself in red with green eyes and the appropriate number of antennae. A SpaceShip object might draw itself as a ...