public static void step(){ int x,y,offsetX,offsetY,row,colm; int red=0 ,green = 0; Color tempCol;// = Color.gray; cell [][] newGrid = new cell[size][size]; //temporary array of cells for(x = 0; x < size;x++){//row in grid being examined for(y = 0; y < size; y++){//column in grid being examined //set red and green equal to zero again red=0 ; green=0; for(offsetX=-1; offsetX<2;offsetX++ ){//offsets are -1 to 1 so in the case of x, left centre and right for(offsetY=-1; offsetY<2; offsetY++){ if (!(offsetX==0 && offsetY==0)){//not the square being examined row = x + offsetX;//row is the row of the surrounding cell being examined if (row == -1){//catch array out of bounds row = 39; } else if (row == 40) { row = 0; } colm = y + offsetY;//colm is the column of the surrounding cell being examined if (colm == -1){//catch array out of bounds colm = 39; } else if (colm == 40) { colm = 0; } tempCol = grid[row][colm].getBackground(); //tempCol refers to the colour of the surrounding cell if(tempCol == Color.red){//if it is red increment the amout of reds red++; } if(tempCol == Color.green){//if it is green increment the greens green++; } if(red>green){//of there are more reds switch(red){//how many reds case 2 : //if tehre are 2 keep the colour the same newGrid[x][y] = new cell(grid[x][y].getBackground()); break; case 3 ://if there are 3 create a cell newGrid[x][y] = new cell(Color.red); break; default: //else cell dies and is gray newGrid[x][y] = new cell(Color.gray); break; } }else if (green>red){//if there are more greens switch(green){ case 2 : newGrid[x][y] = new cell(grid[x][y].getBackground()); break; case 3 : newGrid[x][y] = new cell(Color.green); break; default: newGrid[x][y] = new cell(Color.gray); break; } }else{//if tehre are equal amounts keep the cell the same colour if (red==0){ newGrid[x][y] = new cell(Color.gray); }else{ newGrid[x][y] = new cell(grid[x][y].getBackground()); } } } } } } }//update the grid for(x = 0; x < size;x++){ for(y = 0; y < size; y++){ grid[x][y].setBackground(newGrid[x][y].getBackground()); } } stages.setText(Integer.toString(Integer.parseInt(stages.getText())+1)); }