Text-based Adventure Game : Part 1 : Algorithm Challenge 1

Text-based Adventure Game : Part 1 : Algorithm Challenge 1

1. Available Resources

   • Software
     • Notepad++, Word, etc.
       • A text editor to write the algorithm within
   • Hardware
     • Laptop
       • For synthesis, documentation and research
   • Knowledge
     • The internet
       • For research and investigation
     • The teacher
       • For questions and feedback
     • The unit content
       • On onenote, elearn, textbook and teams
       • Pseudocode conventions

2. Constraints/Limitations

   • Time
     • A full task time limit of 5 weeks
       • 2 of the 5 weeks dedicated to Part 1
   • Skill
     • Personal knowledge of pseudocode and coding conventions
     • What can be learnt in 5 weeks
   • Challenge
     • The criteria accompanying each challenge
       • Unable to do whatever one wants

3. Criteria

   • Context
     • Player begins in one of the centre squares of a 4 x 4 map grid with no equipment and 3 health points.
       • Algorithm must include 4x4 map grid
       • Player must begin in one of the centre squares
         • mapCentre[0] or [1] or [2] or [3]
       • Player must be informed of having no equipment
       • Player must be informed of having 3 points of health
   • Task
     • Write algorithm for a function that selects a centre square at random and returns the starting position.
       • The algorithm must be a function (modularisation)
       • A centre square must be chosen at random
       • The starting position must be returned
         • The player must be informed of the starting position
       • The algorithm must be written in correctly formatted pseudocode

4. Input

   • An array of all of the map areas
     • A 4x4 map grid
       • Variable name
         • mapIndex
       • Data type
         • Integer
           • Eg. mapIndex[0 - 15] (since arrays start at 0)
           • A whole number that can be negative, positive or zero.
   • A written description of each map area
     • Variable name
       • mapDesc[ ]
     • Data type
       • String
         • Use quotations " "
         • Used to represent text
   • An array of the four centre squares of the array
     • • Eg. mapIndex[5,6,9,10]
         • mapIndex corresponds directly to mapDesc
           • Eg. mapDesc[5,6,9,10]
     • Variable name
       • mapCentre
         • Eg. mapCentre[0,1,2,3]
     • Data type
       • Integer

5. Output

   • A written description of the randomly chosen map area
     • Variable name
       • mapDesc[5] or [6] or [9] or [10]
     • Data type
       • String
         • Displayed in text to the player
         • Eg. "Castle"
   • Statement of the game's initial context
     • PRINT statement
       • Text that is displayed to the player
       • Must include starting position, player status (equipment and health) and game instruction.
         • Eg. "You are at the (mapDesc) of the Kigndom of ___. You are not carrying anything. You have 3 health points."
       • Data type
         • String
   • The position of the player
     • Variable name
       • mapLoc
     • The variable stores the current position of the player
       • The variable changes as the player explores the map
       • The player's starting position corresponds to the value of the variable as the player starts the game
     • Data type
       • Integer
         • Eg. mapLoc[5] or [6] or [9] or [10]
           • mapLoc takes data from mapCentre
             • mapCentre takes data from mapIndex
               • mapIndex corresponds to mapDesc

6. Ideation/Processing

   • Define function
     • Name function getStart
       • Include input data sets of mapDesc, mapIndex and mapCentre
         • Eg. BEGIN getStart (mapDecs, mapIndex, mapCentre)
   • End
     • End function
       • END getStart
   • Define variables
     • mapDesc
       • Eg. SET mapDesc[0] = "place_1"
     • mapCentre
       • Eg. SET mapCentre[0] = mapIndex[5]
     • Starting position
       • Eg. StartPos = mapDesc[mapIndex]
   • Return starting position
     • RETURN StartPos
       • Display to player with a PRINT statement
   • Choose randomly from mapCentre
     • Eg. DECLARE i AS INTEGER SET i to (0-3)
       • Eg. SET mapLoc TO mapCentre[0] or [1] or [2] or [3]
     • Eg. DECLARE i AS INTEGER SELECT i FROM random_number_generator

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