continuously updating timer on console display

i need to figure out a way to show a timer on screen that keeps updating every second (heh), and goes all the way to a selected time, then is able to send a message back to terminate the current function or something

any ideas how to start this?
(no, i dont want code or anything, but maybe some sites or what functions i need or something, i've tried searching, and nothing's really come up)

thanks

in windows:

SetTimer(), KillTimer(), WM_TIMER, GetSystemTime()

you can use GetSystemTime() in a console app also. so if you _sleep() for 1000 msec and GetSystemTime() in a loop you should be able to do the same thing

i need to be doing things at the same time as the timer is going on. this is for a game im writing. the timer needs to be updating in the corner, but at the same time, still allow keyboard usage. i dunno if _sleep allows that or not

I assume you have a "game loop" then. This is where you can check the timer. The game loop is a place where rendering and input usually is handled. timers can be handled there too

thank you

one more n00b question
is there any way to go to a specific location on the console screen? something like gotoxy() with borland?
im using devc++

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