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JPanel doesn't get new values (anymore)

So, I'm trying to program a Game of Life simulation (Conway), and I want to show it in a JFrame.
For this purpose, I've created a JPanel, and it works perfectly, until I try to actually show a new generation. With prints, I've figured out, that the list is actually correct inside the newGeneration() method, but when paint(Graphics g) gets called (aka, when I try to repaint the JFrame), the list isn't updating.
I'm sure I've missed something obvious, and I'm not well versed in Java, but it's just getting so annoying. I'd really appreciate your help.
Here's my code;
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
new GameOfLife();
}
}
class GameOfLife {
// Initialising all class wide variables; sorted by type
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Game of Life");
JPanel panel;
Scanner gameSize = new Scanner(System.in);
String dimensions;
String splitHorizontal;
String splitVertical;
String confirmation;
Boolean accepted = false;
Integer split;
Integer horizontal;
Integer vertical;
Integer livingNeighbours;
int[][] cells;
int[][] newCells;
public GameOfLife() {
// Prompt for game Size
System.out.println("Please enter your game size in the following format; 'Horizontal,Vertical'");
// Run until viable game Size has been chosen
while (!accepted) {
dimensions = gameSize.nextLine();
// Check for correct format
if (dimensions.contains(",")) {
split = dimensions.indexOf(",");
splitHorizontal = dimensions.substring(0, split);
splitVertical = dimensions.substring(split + 1);
// Check for validity of inputs
if (splitHorizontal.matches("[0-9]+") && splitVertical.matches("[0-9]+")) {
horizontal = Integer.parseInt(dimensions.substring(0, split));
vertical = Integer.parseInt(dimensions.substring(split + 1));
// Check for game Size
if (horizontal > 1000 || vertical > 1000) {
System.out.println("A game of this Size may take too long to load.");
} else {
// Confirmation Prompt
System.out.println("Your game will contain " + horizontal + " columns, and " + vertical + " rows, please confirm (Y/N)");
confirmation = gameSize.nextLine();
// Check for confirmation, anything invalid is ignored
if (confirmation.matches("Y")) {
accepted = true;
System.out.println("Thank you for your confirmation. Please select live cells. Once your happy with your game, press Spacebar to start the Simulation.");
// Setting parameters depending on Size
frame.setSize(horizontal * 25 + 17, vertical * 25 + 40);
frame.setVisible(true);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
}
}
}
}
// Prompt asking for new dimensions in case of invalid dimensions or non confirmation
if (!accepted) {
System.out.println("Please enter different dimensions.");
}
}
// Creating list of cells
cells = new int[horizontal][vertical];
// Showing the empty panel for selection of live cells
panel = new PaintCells(horizontal, vertical, cells);
frame.add(panel);
// Select live cells
panel.addMouseListener(new MouseAdapter() {
#Override
public void mousePressed(MouseEvent e) {
if (cells[(int) Math.ceil(e.getX() / 25)][(int) Math.ceil(e.getY() / 25)] == 1) {
cells[(int) Math.ceil(e.getX() / 25)][(int) Math.ceil(e.getY() / 25)] = 0;
} else {
cells[(int) Math.ceil(e.getX() / 25)][(int) Math.ceil(e.getY() / 25)] = 1;
}
frame.repaint();
}
});
// Simulation start
frame.addKeyListener(new KeyListener() {
#Override
public void keyTyped(KeyEvent e) {
if (e.getKeyChar() == ' ') {
newGeneration();
}
}
#Override
public void keyPressed(KeyEvent e) {
}
#Override
public void keyReleased(KeyEvent e) {
}
});
}
// Generating new generations
void newGeneration() {
newCells = new int[horizontal][vertical];
// Pause inbetween generations
try {
Thread.sleep(1000);
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
/*
* Way of Life Rules:
* Living cells with 2 or 3 living neighbours live on to the next generation.
* Dead cells with exactly 3 living neighbours become living cells in the next generation.
* Every other living cell dies.
*/
// iterate through every cell
for (int l = 0; l < vertical; l++) {
for (int k = 0; k < horizontal; k++) {
livingNeighbours = 0;
// check amount of neighbours
if (k - 1 > -1) {
if (l - 1 > -1) {
if (cells[k - 1][l - 1] == 1) {
livingNeighbours++;
}
}
if (l + 1 < vertical) {
if (cells[k - 1][l + 1] == 1) {
livingNeighbours++;
}
}
if (cells[k - 1][l] == 1) {
livingNeighbours++;
}
}
if (k + 1 < horizontal) {
if (l - 1 >= 0) {
if (cells[k + 1][l - 1] == 1) {
livingNeighbours++;
}
}
if (l + 1 < vertical) {
if (cells[k + 1][l + 1] == 1) {
livingNeighbours++;
}
}
if (cells[k + 1][l] == 1) {
livingNeighbours++;
}
}
if (l - 1 >= 0) {
if (cells[k][l - 1] == 1) {
livingNeighbours++;
}
}
if (l + 1 < vertical) {
if (cells[k][l + 1] == 1) {
livingNeighbours++;
}
}
// change cell value depending on amount of neighbours
if (cells[k][l] == 1) {
if (livingNeighbours < 2 || livingNeighbours > 3) {
newCells[k][l] = 0;
} else {
newCells[k][l] = 1;
}
} else {
if (livingNeighbours == 3) {
newCells[k][l] = 1;
}
}
}
}
cells = newCells;
frame.validate();
frame.paint(frame.getGraphics());
newGeneration();
}
}
// Our canvas
class PaintCells extends JPanel {
private Integer horizontal;
private Integer vertical;
private int[][] newOriginalCells;
// Get our X and Y from the original prompts
public PaintCells(Integer originalHorizontal, Integer originalVertical, int[][] originalCells) {
this.horizontal = originalHorizontal;
this.vertical = originalVertical;
this.newOriginalCells = originalCells;
}
#Override
public void paint(Graphics g) {
for (int i = 0; i < vertical; i++) {
for (int j = 0; j < horizontal; j++) {
// Check cell value
if (newOriginalCells[j][i] == 1) {
g.setColor(Color.black);
} else {
g.setColor(Color.white);
}
// paint according to value
g.fillRect(j * 25, i * 25, 25, 25);
if (newOriginalCells[j][i] == 1) {
g.setColor(Color.white);
} else {
g.setColor(Color.black);
} // maybe change style?
g.drawRect(j * 25, i * 25, 25, 25);
}
}
}
}
I'm guessing, the problem is somewhere in newGeneration(), but other than that, I really have no idea anymore.

You have a common problem which I had myself a few months ago.
Java Swing GUI system works in thread called Event Dispatch Thread (EDT). This thread handle events like mouse clicks, typing etc. and paint the components to the screen. You should use this thread not as your main thread, but as sub-thread which working only once a certain time/when event happens, and not let him run continuously. In your code, since the user choose the cell to live, this thread run non-stop (because you started the program inside a listener, which is part of the EDT), and your GUI stuck, because it's updating only at the end of the thread.
You can solve this by using javax.swing.Timer. Timer is an object that allows you do tasks once a while, and it is perfect to this problem.
Use code like this:
ActionListener actionListaner = new ActionListener(){
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){
//Put here you ne genration repeating code
}
};
int delay = 1000;//You delay between generations in millis
Timer timer = new timer(delay, actionListener);
The code in the actionPerformed method will repeat every second (or any other time you want it to repeat), and every operation of the timer will recall EDT instead of let it run non-stop.

Memory game does not call compare function correctly

I have coded a simple memory game. Card values are added to two arrays and after that, a compare function is called. But there is a problem with the logic of the compare function.
The specific problem seems related to the fact that the compare function is called on the third button click. So on first click it adds first value to first array , on second click second value to second array. But I must click for yet a third time to call the compare function to compare the match of two arrays.
The main problem is that after all cards are inverted (10 matches in 5x4 memory game), it does not show the result.
I have uploaded full code here : http://uloz.to/xcsJkYUK/memory-game-rar .
public class PEXESO5x4 extends JFrame implements ActionListener {
private JButton[] aHracieTlactika = new JButton[20];
private ArrayList<Integer> aHodnoty = new ArrayList<Integer>();
private int aPocitadlo = 1;
private int[] aTlacitkoIden = new int[2];
private int[] aHodnotaTlac = new int[2];
private JButton aTlacitkoExit;
private JButton aTlacitkoReplay;
private JButton[] aHracieTlacitko = new JButton[20];
private int aPocetTahov = 0;
public void vkladanieHodnot() {
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
for (int j = 1; j < (this.aHracieTlactika.length / 2) + 1; j++) {
this.aHodnoty.add(j);
}
}
Collections.shuffle(this.aHodnoty);
}
public boolean zhoda() {
if (this.aHodnotaTlac[0] == this.aHodnotaTlac[1]) {
return true;
}
return false;
}
public void zapisCislaDoSuboru() {
try(PrintWriter out = new PrintWriter(new BufferedWriter(new FileWriter("Semestralka.txt", true)))) {
out.println("haha");
//more code
out.println("hahahahha");
//more code
}catch (IOException e) {
//exception handling left as an exercise for the reader
}
}
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
int match = 0;
if (this.aTlacitkoExit == e.getSource()) {
System.exit(0);
}
if (this.aTlacitkoReplay == e.getSource()) {
}
for (int i = 0; i < this.aHracieTlactika.length; i++) {
if (this.aHracieTlactika[i] == e.getSource()) {
this.aHracieTlactika[i].setText("" + this.aHodnoty.get(i));
this.aHracieTlactika[i].setEnabled(false);
this.aPocitadlo++;
this.aPocetTahov += 1;
if (this.aPocitadlo == 3) {
if (this.zhoda()) {
match+=1;
if (match==10)
{
System.out.println("You win");
}
this.aHracieTlactika[this.aTlacitkoIden[0]].setEnabled(false);
this.aHracieTlactika[this.aTlacitkoIden[1]].setEnabled(false);
} else {
this.aHracieTlactika[this.aTlacitkoIden[0]].setEnabled(true);
this.aHracieTlactika[this.aTlacitkoIden[0]].setText("");
this.aHracieTlactika[this.aTlacitkoIden[1]].setEnabled(true);
this.aHracieTlactika[this.aTlacitkoIden[1]].setText("");
}
this.aPocitadlo = 1;
}
if (this.aPocitadlo == 1) {
this.aTlacitkoIden[0] = i;
this.aHodnotaTlac[0] = this.aHodnoty.get(i);
}
if (this.aPocitadlo == 2) {
this.aTlacitkoIden[1] = i;
this.aHodnotaTlac[1] = this.aHodnoty.get(i);
}
}
}
}
}

How to create a GUI grid and place every single results in each grid?

I am trying to create a grid (5*5) size like GUI. I tried and made a very basic grid, which is working quite fine, but I am trying to change the background colour of each JPanel when user click and drop over it. But I am not aware of the GUI in Java yet. So wondering if someone could help me please.
This my code to the grid and matching the both files(Sentiment word analyzing)
public static TwitterSystem getObject()
{
if (Object==null)
Object = new TwitterSystem();
return Object;
}
long startTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
long endTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
long totalTime = endTime - startTime;
//read jason from file into String
//create a lot of tweet objects
//run the tweetSystem
public void Run()
{
double r;
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++)
for (int j = 0; j < 5; j++)
DataGrid[i][j] = 0.0;
// trying to load the wordlist and tweets
try
{
WordList = new Sentiment_Analysis("E:\\JAVA\\src\\wordlist.txt");
Tweet = new Tweet_Reader("E:\\JAVA\\tweets.json");
}
catch(Exception e)
{
System.out.println(e.getMessage());
}
tweets = Tweet.getTweets();
// for each tweet, we getting the rating and working out where it is in the grid.
for(Tweet t : tweets) {
r = WordList.getRating(t);
if((int)t.getCoordinate().getLatitude() == 24 && (int)t.getCoordinate().getLongitude() == 54 ) {
DataGrid[2][2] += r;
}
if((int)t.getCoordinate().getLatitude() == 25 && (int)t.getCoordinate().getLongitude() == 54 ) {
DataGrid[0][1] += r;
}
}
// printing out the score for each square.
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i ++)
for (int j = 0; j < 5; j++)
System.out.format("[%4d][%4d] = %.4f\n", i, j, DataGrid[i][j]);
System.out.println("Finish calculating");
System.out.println("STATS - TIME: Analysis took "
+ TimeUnit.SECONDS.convert(totalTime, TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS)
+ " seconds");
}
}
Thank you in advance! i'm quite new to Programming
So far got the grid working but i want make the grid in GUI
HELP PLEASE!!!!

Starting from this complete example, I've added an ActionListener to each ButtonPanel in the grid. The listener updates the enclosing panel's background color. Note that each button uses its own instance of the same anonymous class. Comment out the timer's start() invocation to see the effect better. As an exercise, try changing class ButtonPanel to a factory method such as createButtonPanel(), as shown here for createGridPanel().
private static class ButtonPanel extends JPanel {
public ButtonPanel(int i) {
this.setBackground(new Color(rnd.nextInt()));
JButton b = new JButton("Button " + String.valueOf(i));
b.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
JButton b = (JButton) e.getSource();
ButtonPanel.this.setBackground(new Color(rnd.nextInt()));
}
});
this.add(b);
}
}

Updating JButton on a timer in a do-while loop

I'm having some trouble getting a JButton to update repeatedly (used with a timer) in a do-while loop. I'm working on a simple game, played on a 10 * 10 grid of tile objects which correspond to a JButton arrayList with 100 buttons.
This part of the program handles simple pathfinding (i.e. if I click on character, then an empty tile, the character will move through each tile on its way to the destination). There is a delay between each step so the user can see the character's progress.
In the current state of things, the movement is correct, but the JButton is only updated when the character reaches the destination, not on intermediate steps.
public void move(int terrainTile)
{
int currentPosition = actorList.get(selectedActor).getPosition();
int movementValue = 0;
int destination = terrainTile;
int destinationX = destination / 10;
int destinationY = destination % 10;
do
{
currentPosition = actorList.get(selectedActor).getPosition(); // Gets PC's current position (before move)
System.out.println("Old position is " + currentPosition);
int currentX = currentPosition / 10;
int currentY = currentPosition % 10;
if(actorList.get(selectedActor).getCurrentAP() > 0)
{
movementValue = 0;
if(destinationX > currentX)
{
movementValue += 10;
}
if(destinationX < currentX)
{
movementValue -= 10;
}
if(destinationY > currentY)
{
movementValue += 1;
}
if(destinationY < currentY)
{
movementValue -= 1;
}
int nextStep = currentPosition + movementValue;
myGame.setActorIdInTile(currentPosition, -1); //Changes ActorId in PC current tile back to -1
scrubTiles(currentPosition);
actorList.get(selectedActor).setPosition(nextStep); // Sets new position in actor object
System.out.println("Actor " + selectedActor + " " + actorList.get(selectedActor).getName() + " position has been updated to " + nextStep);
myGame.setActorIdInTile(nextStep, selectedActor); // Sets ActorId in moved to Tile
System.out.println("Tile " + nextStep + " actorId has been updated to " + selectedActor);
buttons.get(nextStep).setIcon(new ImageIcon(actorList.get(selectedActor).getImageName()));
// If orthagonal move AP-4
if(movementValue == 10 || movementValue == -10 || movementValue == 1 || movementValue == -1)
{
actorList.get(selectedActor).reduceAP(4);
}
// If diagonal move AP-6
else
{
actorList.get(selectedActor).reduceAP(6);
}
System.out.println(actorList.get(selectedActor).getName() + " has " + actorList.get(selectedActor).getCurrentAP() + " AP remaining");
try
{
Thread.sleep(500); // one second
}
catch (Exception e){}
buttons.get(nextStep).repaint();
}
else
{
System.out.println(actorList.get(selectedActor).getName() + " has insufficient AP to move");
break;
}
}while(destination != (currentPosition + movementValue));
What I've tried:
buttons.get(nextStep).repaint(); (Tried putting a command to repaint the button after setting the imageIcon. No change.
buttons.get(nextStep).revalidate(); (No 100% sure what this does - it came up as a potential solution, but doesn't work.
Steps 1 & 2 combined
Looked into the swing timer class - movement doesn't occur everytime an actionEvent is fired, (only if character is selected and target tile is empty) so not sure how I could get this to work
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I really dont' know exactly what you wanted to know in your comments, though +1 to the answer above, seems to me that's the real cause. Have a look at this example program, simply add your call to the move(...) method inside the timerAction, seems like that can work for you. Here try this code :
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class GridExample
{
private static final int SIZE = 36;
private JButton[] buttons;
private int presentPos;
private int desiredPos;
private Timer timer;
private Icon infoIcon =
UIManager.getIcon("OptionPane.informationIcon");
private ActionListener timerAction = new ActionListener()
{
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae)
{
buttons[presentPos].setIcon(null);
if (desiredPos < presentPos)
{
presentPos--;
buttons[presentPos].setIcon(infoIcon);
}
else if (desiredPos > presentPos)
{
presentPos++;
buttons[presentPos].setIcon(infoIcon);
}
else if (desiredPos == presentPos)
{
timer.stop();
buttons[presentPos].setIcon(infoIcon);
}
}
};
public GridExample()
{
buttons = new JButton[SIZE];
presentPos = 0;
desiredPos = 0;
}
private void createAndDisplayGUI()
{
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Grid Game");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
JPanel contentPane = new JPanel();
contentPane.setLayout(new GridLayout(6, 6, 5, 5));
for (int i = 0; i < SIZE; i++)
{
final int counter = i;
buttons[i] = new JButton();
buttons[i].setActionCommand("" + i);
buttons[i].addActionListener(new ActionListener()
{
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae)
{
desiredPos = Integer.parseInt(
(String) buttons[counter].getActionCommand());
timer.start();
}
});
contentPane.add(buttons[i]);
}
buttons[presentPos].setIcon(infoIcon);
frame.setContentPane(contentPane);
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationByPlatform(true);
frame.setVisible(true);
timer = new Timer(1000, timerAction);
}
public static void main(String... args)
{
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable()
{
public void run()
{
new GridExample().createAndDisplayGUI();
}
});
}
}

This is because you are doing your do { } while in the UI thread. To solve this, you should use a SwingWorker, or a javax.swing.Timer

Java exception handling with multiple classes

I need to make the following exceptions: NoSuchRowException if the row is not between 1 and 3, IllegalSticksException if the number of sticks taken is not between 1 and 3, and NotEnoughSticksException if the number of sticks taken is between 1 and 3, but more than the number of sticks remaining in that row. My issue is I really don't understand the syntax. If someone could help me get started with one exception, I think I can figure the others out.
So far I have the main class:
/*
* To change this template, choose Tools | Templates
* and open the template in the editor.
*/
package nimapp;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
/**
*
* #author jrsullins
*/
public class NimApp extends JFrame implements ActionListener {
private static final int ROWS = 3;
private JTextField[] gameFields; // Where sticks for each row shown
private JTextField rowField; // Where player enters row to select
private JTextField sticksField; // Where player enters sticks to take
private JButton playButton; // Pressed to take sticks
private JButton AIButton; // Pressed to make AI's move
private NimGame nim;
public NimApp() {
// Build the fields for the game play
rowField = new JTextField(5);
sticksField = new JTextField(5);
playButton = new JButton("PLAYER");
AIButton = new JButton("COMPUTER");
playButton.addActionListener(this);
AIButton.addActionListener(this);
AIButton.setEnabled(false);
// Create the layout
JPanel mainPanel = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
getContentPane().add(mainPanel);
JPanel sticksPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(3, 1));
mainPanel.add(sticksPanel, BorderLayout.EAST);
JPanel playPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(3, 2));
mainPanel.add(playPanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
// Add the fields to the play panel
playPanel.add(new JLabel("Row: ", JLabel.RIGHT));
playPanel.add(rowField);
playPanel.add(new JLabel("Sticks: ", JLabel.RIGHT));
playPanel.add(sticksField);
playPanel.add(playButton);
playPanel.add(AIButton);
// Build the array of textfields to display the sticks
gameFields = new JTextField[ROWS];
for (int i = 0; i < ROWS; i++) {
gameFields[i] = new JTextField(10);
gameFields[i].setEditable(false);
sticksPanel.add(gameFields[i]);
}
setSize(350, 150);
setVisible(true);
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
nim = new NimGame(new int[]{3, 5, 7});
draw();
}
// Utility function to redraw game
private void draw() {
for (int row = 0; row < ROWS; row++) {
String sticks = "";
for (int j = 0; j < nim.getRow(row); j++) {
sticks += "| ";
}
gameFields[row].setText(sticks);
}
rowField.setText("");
sticksField.setText("");
}
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
// Player move
if (e.getSource() == playButton) {
// Get the row and number of sticks to take
int row = Integer.parseInt(rowField.getText())-1;
int sticks = Integer.parseInt(sticksField.getText());
// Play that move
nim.play(row, sticks);
// Redisplay the board and enable the AI button
draw();
playButton.setEnabled(false);
AIButton.setEnabled(true);
// Determine whether the game is over
if (nim.isOver()) {
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "You win!");
playButton.setEnabled(false);
}
}
// Computer move
if (e.getSource() == AIButton) {
// Determine computer move
nim.AIMove();
// Redraw board
draw();
AIButton.setEnabled(false);
playButton.setEnabled(true);
// Is the game over?
if (nim.isOver()) {
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "You win!");
playButton.setEnabled(false);
}
}
}
/**
* #param args the command line arguments
*/
public static void main(String[] args) {
NimApp a = new NimApp();
}
}
The support class:
package nimapp;
import java.util.Random;
import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
import java.io.*;
import java.lang.*;
public class NimGame {
int x = 1;
int[] Sticks; //creating an array of sticks
int totalSticks = 0;
public NimGame(int[] initialSticks){
Sticks = initialSticks;}
public int getRow(int r){
return Sticks[r];}
public void play(int r, int s) throws IllegalSticksException {
try {
Sticks[r]=Sticks[r]-s;
if(s < 0 || s > 3)
throw new IllegalSticksException();
} catch (IllegalSticksException ex){
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "Not a valid row!");
} catch (IndexOutOfBoundsException e){
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "Too Many Sticks!");
}
}
public boolean isOver(){
int theTotal = 0;
for (int i = 0; i< Sticks.length; i++){
theTotal = Sticks[i];
System.out.println(Sticks[i]);
System.out.println(theTotal);
}
totalSticks = theTotal;
if (totalSticks <= 0){
return true;
}
else return false;
}
public void AIMove(){
Random randomInt = new Random ();
boolean tryRemove = true;
while(tryRemove && totalSticks >= 1){
int RandomRow = randomInt.nextInt(3);
if(Sticks[RandomRow] <= 0)//the computer can't remove from this row
continue;
//the max number to remove from row
int size = 3;
if( Sticks[RandomRow] < 3)//this row have least that 3 cards
size = Sticks[RandomRow];//make the max number to remove from the row be the number of cards on the row
int RandomDiscard = randomInt.nextInt(size) + 1;
Sticks[RandomRow] = Sticks[RandomRow] - RandomDiscard;
//I don't know if this is needed, but since we remove a RandomDiscard amount lest decrease the totalSticks
totalSticks = totalSticks - RandomDiscard;
//exit loop
tryRemove = false;
}
if(totalSticks <= 1){
int RandomRow = 0;
Sticks[RandomRow] = Sticks[RandomRow]-1;
isOver();
}
}
}

My issue is I really don't understand the syntax.
There is nothing wrong with the syntax as you have written it.
The problem is that you are catching the exception at the wrong place. You are (apparently) intending play to propagate the IllegalSticksException to its caller. But that won't happen because you are catching it within the play method.
There are two possible fixes depending on what you actually intent to happen.
You could remove the throws IllegalSticksException from the play signature.
You could remove the catch (IllegalSticksException ex){ ... } in play and catch/handle the exception at an outer level.