I have just recently purchased Michael Dawson's book, "Beginning C++ Game Programming" but have come to a road block upon completing chapter two. (I have zero previous knowledge of any programming) In the end of chapter 2, one of Dawson's exercises is as follows: "3. Write a new version of the Guess My Number program in which the player and the computer switch roles. That is, the player picks a number and the computer must guess what it is." On his CD, Dawson supplies the code for the OPPOSITE program (where the user guesses the computer's number). I'm trying to rearrange steps and place the user in the computer's shoes, though I'm stumped...Here's what I _THINK_ I know... -------------------- 1. I need to have the user input an integer number to be guessed... "cin >> theNumber;" 2. I need to have the computer choose random numbers using the "rand()" 3. I need to use a 'do' accompanied by a series of 'if's...the loop must wait for the user to hit enter (or some key), then the computer will choose a random number from say...1-100. If the number is too low, it gives the computer a message saying so, same with if its too High. 4. With each new number guessed, i need to increase the number of tries by 1. ++tries; (where 'tries' is the integer value of the number of tries performed) 5. Need to end loop when computer finds number....also display a "Congrats!" or something -------------------- My biggest problem is understanding how to have the computer "guess" or choose a random number...though I'd like to view the entire program's code Any basic examples of how to accomplish this program are appreciated. This being my first post, I hope not to barge in on this new community if I'm asking too much so soon.... (this post probably could have been alot shorter too lol)

OK...thanks for all the help so far...this is where I am at the moment.
Lines marked by "*****" is where I know a problem exists...

// Guess My Number 2.0
// Have computer guess your number

#include <iostream>
#include <cstdlib>
#include <ctime>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
int theNumber;
int comGuess = rand() % 100 + 1;
int tries;

cout << "\tWelcome to Guess My Number 2.0!\n\n";

cout << "Please enter a number to be guessed: ";
cin >> theNumber;

do
{
cout << "\n\nPress Enter to see the Computer's guess...";
*****How do I get the program to wait for enter (or a key) to be pressed?*****

return comGuess;
cout << "The Computer's Guess: " << comGuess << ".\n";
++tries;

if (comGuess > theNumber)
cout << "Too high!\n\n";

if (comGuess < theNumber)
cout << "Too low!\n\n";

} while (comGuess == theNumber);

cout << "\nThat's it! The Computer got it in " << tries << " guesses!\n";

}

-----------------------------------

I doubt that's everything as I haven't had a successful run yet.
I'm pretty sure I will still have problem's getting the computer to choose a random number. Wasn't clear how to seed rand() successfully so I could be attempting some noob way to generate and return random numbers.

Any additions to making my learning program more complete are welcome :D

Quote:Original post by Stompy9999
Well, if you want to have the computer guess a random number between 1-100, you would use the rand function like so:

int com_guess = rand() % 100;

To clarify, by default, rand() chooses a random number between 0 and RAND_MAX. RAND_MAX is around 30,000 I think. Anyway, there is a way to make the random number generator pick between 0 and a number you define. If you put a % symbol, followed by the max number you want the random number generator to go up to, it will work.

I hope that answers your question.

That would give you a number from 0 to 99, not 1 to 100. As chris_bell has done, you would need:

int com_guess = rand() % 100 + 1;

Can anyone figure out what's wrong with this program? Closes immediately after user enters "theNumber".
I tried using system("pause") where i have "cout << "\n\nPress Enter to see the Computer's guess...";" but the program would just get to that new pause point and close afterward (not much further than the previous closing @ entering 'theNumber').
-----------------------------------------

// Guess My Number 2.0
// Have computer guess your number

#include <iostream>
#include <cstdlib>
#include <ctime>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
int theNumber;
int comGuess = rand() % 100 + 1;
int tries;

cout << "\tWelcome to Guess My Number 2.0!\n\n";

cout << "Please enter a number to be guessed: ";
cin >> theNumber;

do
{
cout << "\n\nPress Enter to see the Computer's guess...";
cin.get();
return comGuess;
cout << "The Computer's Guess: " << comGuess << ".\n";
++tries;

if (comGuess > theNumber)
cout << "Too high!\n\n";

if (comGuess < theNumber)
cout << "Too low!\n\n";

} while (comGuess == theNumber);

cout << "\nThat's it! The Computer got it in " << tries << " guesses!\n";

}

Your problem is the line "return comGuess" that statement causes the program to exit with comGuess as the programs return value. This is likely not what you want.

Most likely what you want is to move the line "int comGuess = ..." into the do loop in place of your "return comGuess" line.

thanks for that, i wasn't really sure what to do about obtaining a value each time for comGuess.
now for some reason, though, i'm getting an error on the 'while' line...though i see nothing wrong with it.

} while (comGuess == theNumber);

seems fine to me...