C# Adventure 10: Content Arrays

Now that we have covered what arrays are, and how to use them, let's integrate them into our Adventure Game. We'll use our Choice() method to handle three different scenarios. The content arrays will store pieces of text, and we'll show different ones depending on the choices the player makes.

Arrays in the Adventure Game

Content Pattern

You should have your three scenarios written out. Each scenario can be broken down into the same pattern if you followed the optional template:

1. Choice introduction and options
2. [Player makes a choice]
3. Depending on choice one of two paths is shown
4. Story continues (for both paths)
5. Player has something different happen depending on choice made and path, perhaps finding an item (like a coin)
6. Followup text that will transition to the next part of the game

We'll repeat this pattern three times, once for each scenario.

There are two areas that will show content based on player choice. We will save the option the player chooses in a variable, so that we can use a conditional statement to show the appropriate text when needed.

We could diagram the pattern like this:

Content Arrays

Translating the pattern as an array, it could look like this:

static string[] PartOne = {
    "Description of story ... and the choice A or B",
    "... what happens if A is chosen...",
    "... what happens if B is chosen...",
    "....more story....",
    "... more about what happens if A is chosen...",
    "... more about what happens if B is chosen...",
    "Transition to next part of story...."
 };

Reading through the array and matching it to the flowchart, we see this formula:

• The first part of the scenario, stored at index 0, will be shown and the player will see a choice between two options.
• Depending on which choice the player makes, only one of the next two index numbers (1 and 2) will be shown.
• Index 3 is always shown.
• Only one of index numbers 4 and 5 will be shown, again depending on player choice.
• Index 6 is always shown.

So we know that no matter what, the player will see elements at index 0, index 3, and index 6.

If the player has chosen A they will also see index 1 and index 4.

If they've chosen B, they'll see 2 and 5.

Create Arrays

At the top of your Game class, by the CharacterName declaration, build three arrays to store your scenarios. Test your application to make sure there are no errors.

Conditional Statements Pattern

Translating the flowchart to code, we can create a structure like this:

string input = "";

//write the beginning of the scenario 
//and ask for a choice between a or b
Console.WriteLine(PartOne[0]);

Console.Write("Enter your choice: ");

//read in the choice and save it
input = Console.ReadLine();

//make whatever was typed in lowercase
//    we could also use ToUpper() and then 
//    capitalize the A and B in the if statements 
//    either way it allows the player to type in lower or capital letters 
input = input.ToLower();

//if the choice was a, print out the second element in the array [1]
if (input == "a")
{
    Console.WriteLine(PartPartOne[1]);
}

//if the player types b (or anything else) we'll assume they want the second choice
    else
{
    Console.WriteLine(PartPartOne[2]);
}

//write out the next part of the story for everyone
Console.WriteLine(PartPartOne[3]);

//if the choice was a, print out the second element in the array [4]
if (input == "a")
{
     Console.WriteLine(PartPartOne[4]);

}
     else
{
      Console.WriteLine(PartPartOne[5]);
}

//write out the transition to the next part of the story for everyone
Console.WriteLine(PartPartOne[6]);

This code will be the same for all three scenarios, and is the main code that will drive the game forward.

for

We are going to surround the Choice() method statements with a for loop. This will keep our game moving forward until we run out of scenarios. We know that there are three scenarios, so we could type the number 3 in our for loop header:

for (int scenario = 1; scenario <= 3; scenario++)
{
}

However, what if we later want to add more scenarios and make the game play longer? We would need to find this loop in our code and manually update it. Since our project is so small, this isn't too much trouble. But if we keep expanding our project, or work on another project that is much larger that has several references to a number that might change later, we would want to have a better solution than having "hard coded" data.

Add another variable that will track the number of scenarios. At the top of your Game class, by the CharacterName declaration, add this line:

static int Scenarios = 3;

Then add the loop structure:

for (int scenario = 1; scenario <= Scenarios; scenario++)
{
}

switch

A switch will run statements if the value in the parentheses matches the value after "case". The keyword "break" will break the program flow out of the switch statement. The basic form we will use is:

switch (scenario)
{
      case 1:
            //if scenario equals 1, statements here run
      break;

      case 2:
            //if scenario  equals 2, statements here run
      break;
      case 3:
            //if scenario  equals 3, statements here run
      break;

      default:
            //if scenario does not match any above
      break;
}

In the example above we are using an integer (a whole number) to track what scenario we are currently in. We are initializing our counter variable "scenario" with 1 in our for loop. The first time the switch statement runs, scenario will equal 1 and the statements after "case 1:" will run.

The for loop will increment the counter, and the next time the switch statement runs scenario will be 2.

Add a switch inside your for loop. Inside the switch add your scenario content.

Test your game and make sure everything is working. If you have errors, try to fix them on your own before you look at the example code. Troubleshooting code can be frustrating sometimes, but experimenting and fixing bugs helps you learn the language.

for (int scenario = 1; scenario <= 3; scenario++)
{
	string input = "";

	switch (scenario)
	{
	    case 1:
		//Part One

		//same pattern for each of the sections. 1) print the first part of the section
		Console.WriteLine(PartOne[0]);

		//2)read in player's choice (a or b)
		Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.Green;
		
		Console.Write("Enter your choice: ");
		input = Console.ReadLine();
		input = input.ToLower();
		Console.ResetColor();

		//3) if a print the next part of the array, otherwise skip next and print 3rd
		if (input == "a")
		{
		    Console.WriteLine(PartOne[1]);

		}
		else
		{
		    Console.WriteLine(PartOne[2]);
		}

		//4) print next part of the section
		Console.WriteLine(PartOne[3]);

		//5) again if a print next, otherwise skip ahead
		if (input == "a")
		{
		    Console.WriteLine(PartOne[4]);

		}
		else
		{
		    Console.WriteLine(PartOne[5]);
		}

		//6) print last piece of the section
		Console.WriteLine(PartOne[6]);



		break;

	    case 2:
		//Part Two
		
		Console.WriteLine(PartTwo[0]);
		Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.Green;
		Console.Write("Enter your choice: ");
		input = Console.ReadLine();
		input = input.ToLower();
		Console.ResetColor();
		if (input == "a")
		{
		    Console.WriteLine(PartTwo[1]);

		}
		else
		{
		    Console.WriteLine(PartTwo[2]);
		}
		Console.WriteLine(PartTwo[3]);
		if (input == "a")
		{
		    Console.WriteLine(PartTwo[4]);

		}
		else
		{
		    Console.WriteLine(PartTwo[5]);
		}
		Console.WriteLine(PartTwo[6]);

		break;

	    case 3:
		//Part Three
		Console.WriteLine(PartThree[0]);
		Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.Green;
		Console.Write("Enter your choice: ");
		input = Console.ReadLine();
		input = input.ToLower();
		Console.ResetColor();
		if (input == "a")
		{
		    Console.WriteLine(PartThree[1]);

		}
		else
		{
		    Console.WriteLine(PartThree[2]);
		}
		Console.WriteLine(PartThree[3]);
		if (input == "a")
		{
		    Console.WriteLine(PartThree[4]);

		}
		else
		{
		    Console.WriteLine(PartThree[5]);
		}
		Console.WriteLine(PartThree[6]);
		break;

	    default:
		//default if section number does not match one of the above
		break;
	}

//let player advance when ready, then clear the screen
Console.WriteLine("Press enter to continue...");
Console.ReadKey();
Console.Clear();

}

If you haven't backed up your project in awhile, do it now.

Quick Quiz

Example Code Progress

If you'd like to see an example code structure, expand the toggle box below.

To Do: Practice, Play Test, and Utility Class Creation

Assignments

1. Create another version of your Madlib that uses arrays to store variables: Simple C# Madlib (Part Three)
2. Play test your game.
3. Create utility class.

Play Test

Watch someone play your game. See if there are any points where they are confused or unsure how to proceed. A great rule for play testing is for you as the developer to remain silent as much as possible. Don't guide them through the game - you will get more information about how to improve it if you stay quiet and observe.

If your tester asks what they should do next, ask them what they think the options are. This can give you valuable insight on what they are thinking as they are playing. Something may be obvious to you as the creator because you already know how the game works. It might not be as obvious to your player. If they are truly stuck, help them out to move forward and be sure to take notes on what isn't clear for them.

Utility Class

Identify supportive methods that can help you in more than one project. Create a class for the utilities and add it to the current version of your adventure game (example utility class).

Code Files

If you have errors, or just want to check how your code compares in terms of progress, the code examples for this chapter are linked below.

• 10.1 Framework Progress
• 10.2 Framework Progress with Utility Class

Next Step

We've almost reached the end of this adventure series. In the last two sections we'll use lists to track items that have been found by the player, discuss objects (instances of a class), and look at an alternative way to work with content in our game.