public void moveForward() {
        if (onBoard) {
            // store the last upper right & lower left; i use this in barrier
            // conflicts to tell which way I hit the barrier
            Rectangle bulletBox = getBoundingBox();
            lastUpL = bulletBox.getLocation();
            lastLowR = new Point(lastUpL.x + bulletBox.width, lastUpL.y + bulletBox.height);

            // get the direction of the sprite to find what is foreward;
            int dir = image.getDirection();

            // now check to see which way to move
            switch (dir) {
                case (1):
                    image.translate(0, -step);
                    break;
                case (2):
                    image.translate(step, -step);
                    break;
                case (3):
                    image.translate(step, 0);
                    break;
                case (4):
                    image.translate(step, step);
                    break;
                case (5):
                    image.translate(0, step);
                    break;
                case (6):
                    image.translate(-step, step);
                    break;
                case (7):
                    image.translate(-step, 0);
                    break;
                case (8):
                    image.translate(-step, -step);
                    break;
                default:
            }

            // register my move with the board
            board.registerMove(image, this);
        }
    }