Moving player in semi cardinal directions using Java Canvas

Question

I am trying to create a game so that the player can move in all directions (N,NW,W,SW,S,SE,E,NE) although when I capture the key strokes it will move me once in one of the diagonal directions then, but if I hold them down it switches to one of the cardinal directions(N,W,S,E).

Main Class Key Listener

    private class MultiKeyPressListener extends KeyAdapter {

    private final Set<Character> pressed = new HashSet<Character>();

    @Override
    public synchronized void keyPressed(KeyEvent e) {       
        pressed.add(e.getKeyChar());
        if(pressed.size() > 1){

            System.out.println(pressed);
            //LEFT UP PRESSED
            if (e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_LEFT && e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_UP
                    || e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_A && e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_W) {
                player.direction = "NW";
            }
            //UP RIGHT PRESSED
            if (e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_UP && e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_RIGHT
                    || e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_W && e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_D) {
                player.direction = "NE";

            }
            //RIGHT DOWN PRESSED
            if (e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_RIGHT && e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_DOWN
                    || e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_S && e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_D) {
                player.direction = "SE";
            }
        }else{
            //DOWN LEFT PRESSED
            if (e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_LEFT && e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_DOWN
                    || e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_S && e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_A) {
                player.direction = "SW";
            }
            //LEFT PRESSED
            if (e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_LEFT || e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_A) {
                player.direction = "W";
            }
            //DOWN PRESSED
            if (e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_DOWN || e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_S) {
                player.direction = "S";
            }
            //RIGHT PRESSED
            if (e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_RIGHT || e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_D) {
                player.direction = "E";
            }
            //UP PRESSED
            if (e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_W || e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_UP) {
                player.direction = "N";
            }
        }
        player.move();
    }

    @Override
    public synchronized void keyReleased(KeyEvent e) {
        pressed.remove(e.getKeyChar());
    }
}

Player Class

        public void move(){
    if(direction.equals("N")){
        y-= moveRate;
    }else if(direction.equals("NW")){
        y-= moveRate;
        x-= moveRate;
    }else if(direction.equals("W")){
        x-= moveRate;
    }else if(direction.equals("SW")){
        x-= moveRate;
        y+= moveRate;
    }else if(direction.equals("S")){
        y+= moveRate;
    }else if(direction.equals("SE")){
        y+= moveRate;
        x+= moveRate;
    }else if(direction.equals("E")){
        x+= moveRate;
    }else if(direction.equals("NE")){
        x+= moveRate;
        y-= moveRate;
    }
    //System.out.println("Moving " + direction);
}

score 0 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 10:31

You're not going to receive two events simultaneously, that is you won't receive KeyEvent.VK_LEFT AND KeyEvent.VK_UP, you'll only receive one after the other.

What you should try and do, is each time a key is pressed, raise a flag or add it to some kind of List, when a key is released, reset the flag or remove it from the List.

When you want to determine which direction the character is moving, you would inspect each of these flags and make your decision about the movement...

I would also recommend the use of Key Bindings over KeyListener, as it does not suffer from the same focus related issues...

For example

Problems with Java's Paint method, ridiculous refresh velocity (this is quite interesting, as it I'll accelerate the object while the key is pressed (to a maximum speed) and will decelerate the object after you release it, but that's just me)
How can i make multiple Key Bindings work at the same time?
Detecting multiple keypresses in java

Could you possibly give me some sample code, or links? Thanks! — EricHansen, Jan 20 '14 at 19:25

Moving player in semi cardinal directions using Java Canvas

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