java.awt.KeyboardFocusManager.getCurrentKeyboardFocusManager() .addKeyEventDispatcher(new java.awt.KeyEventDispatcher() { public boolean dispatchKeyEvent(java.awt.event.KeyEvent event) { //mine = new Bug(); String key = javax.swing.KeyStroke.getKeyStrokeForEvent(event).toString(); if(key.equals("pressed SPACE")) // mine.act(); if (key.equals("pressed UP")) //mine.moveUp(); if (key.equals("pressed RIGHT")) //mine.moveRight(); if (key.equals("pressed DOWN")) //mine.moveDown(); if (key.equals("pressed LEFT")){ //mine.moveLeft(); } return true; } });