Thread: Gaming in c

I have learned basic c now.But i want to move further and i want to create simple games using C.But i am not getting an idea where and how to start.

If you guys can create a program of a sample game in c using simple functions and explain it, it would be a great help.

This is not a state of the art code. I have it from previous assignment one of my students made. The comments are quiet explanatory.

If what you mean is graphical games, then I suggest you take a special course in computer graphics.

Code:

/ * ========================================================= 
 * This program implements the game Mines Sweeper. Its user  
 * can perform the following actions:
 * 1. choose board size
 * 2. place mines
 * 3. remove mines
 * 4. show mines
 * 5. start the game
 * 0. exit 
 * ========================================================= */ 

// preprocessing
#include <stdio.h>

#define TRUE 1
#define FALSE 0

#define N 9

// for uncoverMine() return value
#define EMPTY 1
#define MINE 0

// for printType parameter in printBoard()
#define MENU_PRINT 0	// main menu board print
#define GAME_PRINT 1	// print board after square is checked
#define WON_PRINT 2		// print board after win
#define LOST_PRINT 3	// print board after mine hit - like MENU_PRINT?

// global Var decl
	//! not alowed !//

// global function decl
int mainPlayGame(char board[N][N]); 
void mainProgram(char board[N][N]);
void printBoard(char board[N][N],int size, int printType);
void mainMenu();
int insertMine(char board[N][N],char mines[],int size);
int removeMine(char board[N][N],int size,int x,int y);
int unCover(char board[N][N],int size,int x,int y);
int checkEndOfGame(char board[N][N],int size);
int playGame(char board[N][N],int size)	;

int main()
{
	char board[N][N];

	mainProgram	(board);
	printf("press ENTER to EXIT\n");
	getchar();
	return 0;
}

void mainProgram(char board[N][N])
{
	//char* test_char_gil;

	int size_defined = FALSE;
	int size, i,  row, col, menu_choice, x, y, lost;
	int lost_times = 0;
	int won_times = 0;
	char menu_choice_buf[346], mines[40];
	char coordinates[346];
	char nothing[346];
	// 
	while (TRUE)
	{
		mainMenu();

		gets(menu_choice_buf);
		// test input is ok
		if (menu_choice_buf[0] < '0' || '5' < menu_choice_buf[0])
			continue;
		if (menu_choice_buf[1] != '\0')
			continue;

		// convert char to ints
		menu_choice = menu_choice_buf[0] - 48;

		// exit
		if (menu_choice == 0)
		{
			if (won_times+lost_times == 0)
				printf("you didn't play\n");
			else
			{
				printf("you played %d game(s):\n", won_times+lost_times);
				printf("you won %d\n", won_times);
				printf("you lost %d\n", lost_times);
			}
			printf("bye!\n");
			// print num of games
			return;
		}

		// choose board size
		if (menu_choice == 1)
		{
			size_defined = FALSE;
			printf("enter board size [1..9] (no input control is needed):\n");
			scanf ("%d", &size);
			gets(nothing);	// consuming the rest of the stdin buffer
			if (0 < size && size < 10)
			{
				// initializing board
				for (row = 0; row < size; row++)
					for (col = 0; col < size; col++)
						board[row][col] = ' ';

				size_defined = TRUE;
			}
			continue;
		}

		// place mines
		if (menu_choice == 2)
		{
			if (size_defined == FALSE)
			{
				printf("you must choose board size first!\n");
				continue;
			}
			printf ("enter x,y of the new mines (x1,y1)(x2,y2)...(xn,yn):\n");

			// initialize mins[]
			for (i=0; i<40; i++)
				mines[i]=' ';

			// user inputs mine/s coordinates
			gets(mines);

			// testing user input and applying it to the board array
			if (insertMine (board, mines, size) == FALSE)
				printf("wrong input\n");

			continue;
		}

		// remove mines
		if (menu_choice == 3)
		{
			if (size_defined == FALSE)
			{
				printf("you must choose board size first!\n");
				continue;
			}

			printf("enter x,y of the mine to remove (no input control is needed):\n");

			// get coordinates and test input
			gets(coordinates);
			if ((coordinates[0] < '0') || ('9' < coordinates[2]))
				continue;
			if (coordinates[1] != ',')
				continue;
			if ((coordinates[2] < '0') || ('9' < coordinates[2]))
				continue;

			x = coordinates[0]-48;
			y = coordinates[2]-48;

			// remove if possible
			if(removeMine(board, size, x, y) == FALSE)
				printf("wrong input or no mine\n");
			else
				printf("mine removed\n");

			// if not, print err msg

			continue;
		}

		// show mines
		if (menu_choice == 4)
		{
			if (size_defined == FALSE)
			{
				printf("you must choose board size first!\n");
				continue;
			}
			printBoard(board, size, MENU_PRINT);

			continue;
		}

		// start the game
		if (menu_choice == 5)
		{
			if (size_defined == FALSE)
			{
				printf("you must choose board size first!\n");
				continue;
			}
			lost = playGame(board, size);
			if (lost == TRUE)
				lost_times++;
			else
				won_times++;

			// make sure new game is to start
			size_defined = FALSE;

			continue;
		}
	}
}


void mainMenu()
{
	printf("--------------------------\n");
	printf("welcome to the game\n"); 
	printf("1. choose board size\n");
	printf("2. place mines\n"); 
	printf("3. remove mines\n"); 
	printf("4. show mines\n"); 
	printf("5. start the game\n"); 
	printf("0. exit\n");
	printf("please enter your choice (input control is needed):\n");
}



/* printType can have one of the following macros:
 * MENU_PRINT  - main menu board print
 * GAME_PRINT  - print board after square is checked
 * WON_PRINT   - print board after win
 * LOST_PRINT - print board after mine hit
 */
void printBoard(char board[N][N],int size, int printType)
{
	char square;
	int col, row;
	// print top border first row
	for (col = 0; col < size; col++)
		printf("+-");
	printf("+\n");

	for (row = 0; row < size; row++)
	{
		for (col = 0; col < size; col++)
		{
			square = board[row][col];
			if ((printType == MENU_PRINT) || (printType == WON_PRINT) || (printType == LOST_PRINT))
			{
				printf("|%c", square);
			}
			else
				if (printType == GAME_PRINT)
				{
					if ((square == '*') || (square == ' '))
						square = '?';
					printf("|%c", square);
				}
				else
					printf("something is damn wrong here\n");
		}
		printf("|\n");

		for (col = 0; col < size; col++)
			printf("+-");
		printf("+\n");
	}
}


int insertMine(char board[N][N],char mines[],int size)
{
	int i, input_ok, x, y, y_con, xy_to_input;
	int test_type = 0;

	// test for input ok
	for (i=0; i<40; i++)
	{
		if (mines[i] == '\0')
			break;
		if (mines[i] == ' ')
			continue;
		// '(' test
		if (test_type == 0)
		{
			if (mines[i]!='(')
			{
				input_ok = FALSE;
				return input_ok;
			}
			else // !(mines[i]!='(')
			{
				test_type = (test_type + 1) % 5 ;
				continue;
			}
		}

		// number test
		if ((test_type == 1) || (test_type == 3))
		{
			if ( mines[i] < 48 || 57 < mines[i] )
			{
				input_ok = FALSE;
				return input_ok;
			}
			else 
			{
				test_type = (test_type + 1) % 5 ;
				continue;
			}
		}

		// ',' test
		if (test_type == 2)
		{
			if (mines[i]!=',')
			{
				input_ok = FALSE;
				return input_ok;
			}
			else 
			{
				test_type = (test_type + 1) % 5 ;
				continue;
			}
		}

		// ')' test
		if (test_type == 4)
		{
			if (mines[i]!=')')
			{
				input_ok = FALSE;
				return input_ok;
			}
			else 
			{
				test_type = (test_type + 1) % 5 ;
				continue;
			}
		}
	}

	// test if input is complete
	if (test_type != 0)
	{
		input_ok = FALSE;
		return input_ok;
	}

	// input coordinates to board
	y_con = FALSE;
	xy_to_input = FALSE;
	i = 0;
	while  ( mines[i] != '\0')
	{
		if (48 < mines[i] && mines[i] < 57)
		{
			if (y_con == FALSE)
			{
				x = (mines[i]-48);
				y_con = TRUE;
			}
			else
			{
				y = (mines[i]-48);
				y_con = FALSE;
				xy_to_input = TRUE;
			}
		}
		
		if (xy_to_input == TRUE)
		{
			printf ("(%d,%d)",x,y);
			if ((x > size) || (y > size))
				printf (" is out of range\n");
			else
			{
				if (board[x-1][y-1] == '*')
					printf (" already full\n");
				else
				{
					board[x-1][y-1] = '*';
					printf (" mine inserted\n");
				}
			}
			xy_to_input = FALSE;
		}
		i++;
	}

	return TRUE;
}

int removeMine(char board[N][N],int size,int x,int y)
{
	// test x,y boundaries
	if ( (x<1 || size<x) || (y<1 || size<y))
		return FALSE;
	// test if mine really exists at x,y
	if (board[x][y] != '*')
		return FALSE;

	// remove mine
	board[x][y] = ' ';

	return TRUE;
}


int playGame(char board[N][N],int size)	
{
	int x, y, lost = FALSE;
	char coordinates[346] = {0};

	while ( (checkEndOfGame(board, size) == FALSE) && (lost == FALSE))
	{
		// enter x,y
		printf("enter a squre x,y to uncover (no input control is needed):\n");
		
		// get coordinates and test input
		gets(coordinates);
		if ((coordinates[0] < '0') || ('9' < coordinates[2]))
			continue;
		if (coordinates[1] != ',')
			continue;
		if ((coordinates[2] < '0') || ('9' < coordinates[2]))
			continue;

		x = coordinates[0]-48;
		y = coordinates[2]-48;

		// test square
		if (unCover(board, size, x, y) == MINE)
			lost = TRUE;

		// print result
		if (lost == FALSE)
			printBoard(board, size, GAME_PRINT);
	}

	// print win/loose
	if (lost == TRUE)
	{
		printf("you lost\n");
		printBoard(board, size, LOST_PRINT);
	}
	else
	{
		printf("all mines were uncovered - you won\n");
		printBoard(board, size, WON_PRINT);
	}

	return lost;
}

int checkEndOfGame(char board[N][N],int size)
{
	int row, col;

	// counting empty, non checked squares
	int empty_square = 0;
	for (row = 0; row < size; row++)
		for (col = 0; col < size; col ++)
			if (board[row][col] == ' ') 
				empty_square++;

	if (empty_square == 0)
		return TRUE;
	else
		return FALSE;
}

int unCover(char board[N][N],int size,int x,int y)
{
	int sum, row, col;

	// turning user input [1..9] to array index compatible [0..8]
	x--; 
	y--;

	if (board[x][y] == '*')
	{
		board[x][y] = 'X';
		return MINE;
	}

	// count neighbor squares for mines
	sum = 0;
	for (row = 0; row < size; row++)
		for (col = 0; col < size; col ++)
			if ((x-1 <= col) && (col <= x+1) && (y-1 <= col) && (col <= y+1))
				if (board[row][col] == '*')
					sum++;

	// put in board
	board[x][y] = sum+48;

	return EMPTY;
}

Thx for such quick help.I will definately go through the program.

Elysia,Thx for advice.I am seriously considering learning c++.I have learned C but i want to move ahead.But i am not able to understand where to start from.Which book would be the best and the best way to learn c++?Also please answer how easy learning c++ will be after learning c.I donn't want to waste my holidays.

Your advice is very valuable to me.Please suggest what to do...

A complete c++ reference by herbert schlidt is a good book to start with in my view.u can check other buks also on C++ board.after learning C it becomes a easy task to learn c++.

Originally Posted by laserlight

I hope that you are not the one teaching students to use unsafe functions like gets() and to have many rather long functions.

Fear not. I'm a private teacher who is bound to the constraints of a (to my opinion) not too sharp professor that teaches this subject to one of my students. gets() is long out of my own functions arsenal.
I guess that what you call long functions refers to their verbosity, which in my opinion is crucial for students first programming assignments ever.

Laserlight means "bad" vibes, or at least not good vibes regarding books by Herbert Schlidt.

His books in the past have contained several rather blatant errors.

Quake 3 Arena seems all in C to me, not C++. If they could make such a successful game just using C means it's possible.
Use C since you know it already, there are articles and ebooks on how to use C as a OO language on the net if you wish.
Then again learning C++ won't hurt. I'm no expert.

Originally Posted by Elysia

Also note that for professional games, C++ is used, because it has a big advantage there.
That is not to say C does not work for games, but if you are intending to learn writing big games or getting a job, you should concentrate on learning C++.

Could you care to provide arguments for that? In fact, I'm quite sure most games are made in C, not C++, because many of the C++ concepts (virtual functions, classes over functions) have some overhead, which takes some of the so-important processor power...