Computers and Programming: How to Create a game using Notepad and CMD

Learn how to use the above commands. echo is a command that is used to print out text to the console. Below, the echo command prints out "Hello, world!":

echo Hello, world!

The color command is used to change the color of the text in the command line. This isn't very useful, and probably shouldn't be focused on until you have finished the game itself, but the results of the color change can be quite appealing. Colors in DOS command lines are numbered, there is a table of the colors at the end of this article. The following command will change the text color to black background with green text:

color 02

The title command simply changes the name of the window on the title bar and task bar, and is by no means useful, however, it can make your program look professional. Using it like so will change the title of the window to "Fun Program":

title Fun Program

The goto command is used to go to a certain part of the program. You will be using it to determine what will happen when certain answers are chosen from questions. To use the goto command to go to a label called "WRONG":

goto WRONG

The if command is used to determine what will happen if a certain event occurs. After the if statement (if [something]), a command follows. At the if statement, if a certain event is true, the command in the statement will be carried out. You will be using this statement to determine which goto command is to be used. This if statement will be true if the input is equal to 12:

if %input%==12 (command)

The set command is actually quite complicated, since it may be used in many ways. As for now, all you need it for is to get the computer to receive input. To do this:

set /p input=(Question)

Finally, labeling. Labeling can name certain parts of the program so that you may use the goto command. You can name certain sections of the program anything, so long as the name isn't a command. To label a section "main", type the following:

:MAIN

PLEASE NOTE! Labeled sections include the label itself and all code that follow it until another label is present or the file reaches the end! Make sure you place the label before the section being labeled, and another label following it so that the computer understands what section is labeled! Example below:

@echo off
:LABEL1
echo THIS IS A TEST OF TEXT
set/p input=THIS IS A TEST INPUT_
if %input%==1 goto LABEL1
goto LABEL2
:LABEL2
echo TEST

The first line of the above program may have been confusing to you. This line turns off the display of the code inside the file, so it doesn't look like it was all typed out on a console. As of now that is unimportant, right now you should be determining what the above program will do(ignore the first line). The program will display text saying "THIS IS A TEST OF TEXT", then it will prompt for input. If the input is "1"(meaning you typed in 1), the program will return to LABEL1 and the commands below it will repeat. If the condition in the if statement is not met, the computer will print text to the console "TEST". Copy the above program into two different windows running notepad. In one, save it as TEST1 in any folder and run it. Notice how the text is displayed. In the second window, erase the first line and save it as TEST2 and run it. Notice the difference?

Once you have a general understanding of how the above commands may be used, you may move on to the next step.

1. Start scripting your game. It is suggested that a beginner use notepad, but if you would like to use MS DOS EDIT, that's fine, too. It is also suggested to a beginner to begin with a basic quiz game, so this is what this article will show you how to do. Remember to start by turning off the echo. Then introduce your game with some text through the echo command, then use set to allow input with the goto command. This may sound confusing, so look below:

@echo off
:MAIN
echo.(This just creates an empty line)
echo.
echo.
echo Welcome to a basic quiz game.
echo.
echo To start the game, type A and press ENTER.
echo To see instructions for the game, type B and press ENTER.
echo To quit, type C and press ENTER.
set /p input=COMMAND?
if %input%==A goto GAME
if %input%==B goto INST
if %input%==C exit

2. Now work on the instructions page. At this point, you should save your file(save as something.bat), and put it in a folder that you created for the game. After saving it, run it and make sure it works.

From this point on you will be having multiple files per game(especially if you want to have ASCII graphics). You can get the batch script to print out the contents of any file on the screen with the type command. The below will print the contents of TEST.txt:

type test.txt

It's important to remember to include the file extension, or the command may not work properly. Create an instructions page in notepad. It should say something like:

This game is a basic quiz. When you are asked a question, you will be given a number of answers to choose from, lettered A, B, C or D. Make your choice, and press ENTER. Be sure to type the letter for the answer in CAPITAL LETTERS!

Save this as INST.txt in the folder of the batch file, then make it so that your game will print the text to the console on the instructions page:

Run the program and make sure it works.

3. Work on the contents of the game itself. This is where most of your creativity/research, work, and time is spent working on the game, as well as where most of the game's scripting should be. There should be a place that you go when you get an answer wrong, and a way to advance to the next question when you get the answer right. The below will have three basic questions about the exterior of a car. You may replace them with what you like.

@echo off
:MAIN
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo Welcome to a basic quiz game.
echo.
echo To start the game, type A and press ENTER.
echo To see instructions for the game, type B and press ENTER.
echo To quit, type C and press ENTER.
set /p input=COMMAND?
if %input%==A goto GAME
if %input%==B goto INST
if %input%==C exit
:INST
type INST.txt
echo.
echo.
echo To start the game, type A and press ENTER.
echo To return to the main screen, type B and press ENTER.
echo To quit, type C and press ENTER.
set /p input=COMMAND?
if %input%==A goto GAME
if %input%==B goto MAIN
if %input%==C exit
:GAME
echo In most cars, the engine is located under the...
echo A. Trunk
echo B. Hood
echo C. Roof
echo D. Wheel
set /p input=ANSWER?
if %input%==B goto 2
goto WRONG
:WRONG
echo Sorry, that is incorrect. Press any key to return to the main screen.
pause(this pauses the program until a key is pressed)
goto MAIN
:2
echo The taillights are located on the BLANK end of the car.
echo A. Rear
echo B. Front
echo C. Left
echo D. Right
set /p input=ANSWER?
if %input%==A goto 3
goto WRONG
:3
echo Windshield wipers do what?
echo A. Serve as ballast on submersible cars
echo B. Remove dust from the car by using little fans
echo C. Wipe the windshield of water and/or dirt
echo D. Serve as decoration
set/p input=ANSWER?
if %input%==C goto WIN
goto WRONG

Run the program and make sure it works.

4. Create a winning screen. Creating a winning screen is as simple as the instructions screen. Create a text document with praise for winning and save it as WIN.txt in the batch folder. Add the following lines to the end of your game for the winning screen:

:WIN
type WIN.txt
echo.
echo.
set/p input=RETURN TO MAIN SCREEN(Y/N)?
if %input%==Y goto MAIN
if %input%==N exit

5. Your game should now look like the code below:

Run the program and make sure it works.

6. Touch up your file. Start by going to each label and placing the cls command after it. This will clear the screen at each label so you don't have a screen full of unnecessary information.

:MAIN
cls

Then correct grammar where appropriate. If you want, make all of the answers on the list complete sentences. NOTE THAT YOU SHOULD AVOID CONTRACTIONS IN THE BATCH SCRIPT ECHO COMMAND! You should also avoid slashes and greater than/less than symbols, stars, percent symbols, and any other unusual symbols. These symbols will create a syntax error that causes the program to stop, lag, or crash.

Create graphics for the game if you would like. Generate ASCII art in separate text documents and use the type command to display them in the program:

:3
cls
type WINDWIPEASCII.txt
echo Windshield wipers do what?
echo A. Serve as ballast on submersible cars
echo B. Remove dust from the car by using little fans
echo C. Wipe the windshield of water and/or dirt
echo D. Serve as decoration
set/p input=ANSWER?
if %input%==C goto WIN
goto WRONG

Then correct any typing errors that you can find. Think of your own things to correct. Then add your color with the color command. It is suggested that you place it at the beginning of the program so that the whole program is of this color. Here is the explanation of how to use it directly from the command line:

Sets the default console foreground and background colors.

COLOR [attr]

 attr        Specifies color attribute of console output

Color attributes are specified by TWO hex digits -- the first corresponds to the background; the second the foreground. Each digit can be any of the following values:

   0 = Black       8 = Gray
   1 = Blue        9 = Light Blue
   2 = Green       A = Light Green
   3 = Aqua        B = Light Aqua
   4 = Red         C = Light Red
   5 = Purple      D = Light Purple
   6 = Yellow      E = Light Yellow
   7 = White       F = Bright White

If no argument is given, this command restores the color to what it was when CMD.EXE started. This value either comes from the current console window, the /T command line switch or from the DefaultColor registry value.

In other words, if you wanted a bright white background and black text:

@echo off
color f0
:MAIN
cls
echo.

7. Congratulations, you have just created a basic computer game with batch script

Computers and Programming

Thursday, 8 September 2011

How to Create a game using Notepad and CMD

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