C# Tutorial Create a Rock Paper and Scissors Game

Welcome to this exciting new tutorial. Today we will create a simple rock paper and scissor game in Visual Studio and
C#. Its going to be a very straight forward tutorial for you to follow. We will be creating a simple AI Artificial
intelligence for this game which will play alongside the user and determine whether you won or lost a round.
Lesson objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Create simple GUI interface for rock, paper and scissors game
Use picture boxes to load various images for the game
Use button events
Use timer event / start and stop timer event according to the requirement
Calculating each player rounds
Determine who won the game
Input player Name
Use that name to display on the form
Use visual basic framework inside of C# - make the different programming language communicate with each
other
10. Show help screen form for user accessibility
All the images used in this game are available on MOOICT.COM and can be downloaded from there. If you want to
use your own images then feel free to use them. Make sure to follow the tutorial step by step to prevent any errors
along the way.
First lets create a new project in visual studio
C# -> Windows Form Application
Name it rockpaperscissors
Click OK

First thing to do will be we need to change the title of the form from Form1 to Rock Paper Scissors and change the
size of the form from 300,300 to 890, 350. If you cant see the properties window right click on the form and click on
properties.

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Properties window

We will need that space to make sure our user can see the AI and the labels we will place on the form.
Thing we will need for this project
2 picture boxes

4 buttons

6 labels

1 timer object

All of these components can be found in the tool box. If you cant see the tool box then go to view - > tool box or
press CTRL+W+X this will bring up the tool box.
Lets place the items on screen then change some properties.
Firstly place two of the picture boxes on screen as below

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Change the size of the picture boxes to 130, 130 meaning 130 height x 130 width
Now add the 4 buttons to the screen

Change the text accordingly

Button1 = Rock
Button2 = Paper
Button3 = Scissor
Button4 = Help

Now we will add the labels on the screen. In visual studio it has a built in setting where we can change the font,
colour and the size to make it look like the way we want to. Lets add all the labels on the screen then we will change
the settings accordingly.

Here are the 6 labels on the screen.

Now click on label1 and check the properties for the option called Font Click on the 3 dots

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Change to the following setting Font Microsoft Sans Serif Style Bold Size 14
Now do it for all of the labels on the screen

Here I have changed the text of each label. Lets discuss the purpose of them all now.
Player name label will contain the name of the player once the program asks the player to enter their names in the
box that we will sort out further down.
AI will only say AI because it doesnt need a specific name.
Win/Lose is the label which will show who won the game either the player or the AI
Label thats showing 5 on the text is going to be our count down timer. We will give the player 5 seconds to choose
rock paper or scissor. Once the countdown goes to 0 we will reveal the answer.
Rounds will only show Rounds it dont need to change at any time in the game
The label showing 1 will show how many rounds we have played so far. This game will have 3 rounds to player and
then it will determine the final winner of the game.
Now lets load the images to the project.
Here are the images I prepared for this project. You can use your own if you want.

Now click on the picturebox1 and click on the little triangle on the top right corner of it.

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Click on choose image

Click on Import to move the pictures inside the project

Select all and then click on OPEN

Now click on OK

As you can see the image is not set up properly because we cant see the question mark. We need to change the
setting on the image so we can see the whole image instead of this.
Click on picturebox1 and click on the little triangle again.

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Change the size mode to Stretch Image, this will show the image according to the size of the picture.
For picture box 2 you wont need to import them again you simply pick the question mark from the resources
window.

Click OK

Change the size to stretch image again and you are all done.
Now we will need to add the timer to this project.

Change the interval in the properties window to 1000. The timer event calculates time in the milliseconds so in order
to get the right behaviours from the program we will need the change it to 1000 so it calculates in seconds not
milliseconds.
Now we can get started on the programming on this project.
Before we get started on the programming, I briefly mentioned in the lesson objectives earlier that we will be
communicating with the Visual Basic programming directly from C#. Now although Visual Basic is an older language
and only used in the industry focused purpose we still can use for our own needs when we want to. Its a nice little
touch from Microsoft. Thank you.
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So for this project we will be adding a reference from Visual Basic programming in to C#. Here is how we do it.
Right click on the project solution folder directly on the rockpaperscissors

Click on Add Reference

Find the Microsoft.VisualBasic and click on OK.

Now there is a reference to visual basic has been added inside this project.
Why are we doing this?
Well we need to capture the user name for this project, In C# there is no easier way to do this except creating several
different forms and then getting them to communicate with other. In overall terms thats a very good way to do it,
but we are looking for an easier way and a way that we can learn something new in this concept.
With that being done now we can continue with programming. Right click on the Form and click on View code or
Press F7.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
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using
using
using
using
using

System.Data;
System.Drawing;
System.Linq;
System.Text;
System.Windows.Forms;

namespace rockpaperscissor
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
}
}

This is the code you will see inside the code view.
Everything we are going to input will go under the line public partial class Form1: Form makes sure you dont delete
any of the curly brackets because those are important.
Now the first line we will input in this program will be under the line InitializeComponent();
using
using
using
using
using
using
using
using

System;
System.Collections.Generic;
System.ComponentModel;
System.Data;
System.Drawing;
System.Linq;
System.Text;
System.Windows.Forms;

namespace rockpaperscissor
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
String input = Microsoft.VisualBasic.Interaction.InputBox("Enter Your Name", "Rock Paper
and Scissor Game", "..", 0, 0);
}
}
}

We are declaring a String called input. Which will contain the reference from Visual basic and this will show a input
box asking the player to enter their name. Here is the break down of the code
Microsoft.VisualBasic.Interaction.InputBox() this part is calling the visual basic input box to
appear on screen.

Inside the brackets we enter the question first which is Enter your name
After the comma we enter the title of the dialog box which is Rock Paper And Scissor Game
After the second comma we enter the default place holder inside the box which is 2 dots ..
After the third comma we put the X and Y position of the box in this case its 0 for both.
Now lets run the program to see if it works.

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Click on start debugging or Press F5

Nice its working

Once you click OK the full form shows up on the screen. Excellent.
Now we need to show the player name somewhere on the screen. Lets do that.
using
using
using
using
using
using
using
using

System;
System.Collections.Generic;
System.ComponentModel;
System.Data;
System.Drawing;
System.Linq;
System.Text;
System.Windows.Forms;

namespace rockpaperscissor
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
String input = Microsoft.VisualBasic.Interaction.InputBox("Enter Your Name", "Rock Paper
and Scissor Game", "..", 0, 0);
label1.Text = input;
}
}
}

The new line is label1.text here we will view the value from the input string we captured before. Lets try it out.
Run the program, enter the name MOOICT and click OK

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Hooray its working. Feeling good aye, well you should.

So to sum it up for now we used the Visual Basic Reference to allow us to use that input form where in C# we would
have to create it ourselves. Do anything that makes your life easier, even if that mean we work hard now to enjoy
later.
Lets get going with rest of the programming now.
using
using
using
using
using
using
using
using

System;
System.Collections.Generic;
System.ComponentModel;
System.Data;
System.Drawing;
System.Linq;
System.Text;
System.Windows.Forms;

namespace rockpaperscissor
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
//declaring the variables for this game
public int rounds = 3; // 3 rounds per game
public int timePerRound = 6; // 5 seconds per rounds
string[] AIchoice = { "rock", "paper", "scissor", "rock", "scissor", "paper" }; //enemy
choice options stored inside an array for easy access
public int randomNumber;
string command;
Random rnd = new Random();
string playerChoice;
int playerWins = 0;
int AIwins = 0;
// end of declaring variables

public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
String input = Microsoft.VisualBasic.Interaction.InputBox("Enter Your Name", "Rock Paper
and Scissor Game", "..", 0, 0);
label1.Text = input;
}
}
}

Notice the highlighted code above.

First we are declaring a public integer called rounds which holds the value 3 inside it. Basically this will determine
which round are we playing in this game.
Second integer we will be declaring is the timePerRound which will hold the number 6 inside it. Basically when the
time starts it will reduce it by one straight away so we gave it a value of 6 to make start from 5.
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3rd variable is a string ARRAY which holds multiple values inside it. Im sure you are wondering why am I inputting the
values multiple times. This is a small hack to make sure that the AI makes different choices. Since we will choose a
Random number from 1 and 3 it will most likely make the same choice over and over so to overcome that system we
need to add more values to the array and it will chose different one each time.
In this case we are stating string[] AIchoice = {rock, paper, scissor , rock, scissor, paper};
0
1
2
3
4
5
Rock
Paper
Scissor
Rock
Scissor
Paper
When we randomize this index it will show different ones instead of the same one multiple times.
Public int randomNumber will hold the random value inside it.
String command will be used as the AI final choice in the game
Random rnd = new Random() will generate the random number for us.
String playerChoice is where we make the choice between rock, paper and scissor.
Integer player wins is where we add how many rounds the player won.
Integer AIwins is where we declare how many rounds the AI won.

using
using
using
using
using
using
using
using

System;
System.Collections.Generic;
System.ComponentModel;
System.Data;
System.Drawing;
System.Linq;
System.Text;
System.Windows.Forms;

namespace rockpaperscissor
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
//declaring the variables for this game
public int rounds = 3; // 3 rounds per game
public int timePerRound = 6; // 5 seconds per rounds
string[] AIchoice = { "rock", "paper", "scissor", "rock", "scissor", "paper" }; //enemy
choice options stored inside an array for easy access
public int randomNumber;
string command;
Random rnd = new Random();
string playerChoice;
int playerWins = 0;
int AIwins = 0;
// end of declaring variables

public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
String input = Microsoft.VisualBasic.Interaction.InputBox("Enter Your Name", "Rock Paper
and Scissor Game", "..", 0, 0);
label1.Text = input;
timer1.Enabled = true;
playerChoice = none
}
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}
}

Add the line that says timer1.enabled = true. The timer added before we want to start it when we have entered our
name into the game.
We are also setting up the playerChoice as none is beginning of the game.
Go back to the design view of the game and double click on the timer1 icon
Double click on this
private void timer1_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
}

Visual studio will automatically create this event for the timer. Everything we want the time to do will be included
inside this event.
Here is the final timer 1 tick function
private void timer1_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
timePerRound--; // reduce the time by 1
label4.Text = Convert.ToString(timePerRound); // show the time on the screen
if (timePerRound < 1) // if the time is less then one second
{
timer1.Enabled = false; // we disable the timer if less then one second left
timePerRound = 6; // set the timer back to 6 seconds
randomNumber = rnd.Next(0, 5); // randomize the number again
command = AIchoice[randomNumber]; // we set up the AI choice according to the random
number
// the switch statement below will show the AI choice and change the picture box
images
switch (command)
{
case "rock":
pictureBox2.Image = Properties.Resources.rock;
break;
case "paper":
pictureBox2.Image = Properties.Resources.paper;
break;
case "scissor":
pictureBox2.Image = Properties.Resources.scissors;
break;
default:
break;
}
// if we have more rounds to the play then we run the check game function
if (rounds > 1)
{
checkGame();
}
// if we dont have any more rounds to play then we go to the final decision engine
else
{
decisionEngine();
}
}
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The comments are self-explanatory.

We havent created the checkGame or the decisionEngine function yet. Make sure you enter the code above exactly
as they are.
Lets create the checkGame() function now
private void checkGame()
{
if (playerChoice == "rock" && command == "paper")
{
MessageBox.Show("AI Wins");
AIwins++;
rounds--;
nextRound();
}
else if (playerChoice == "paper" && command == "rock")
{
MessageBox.Show("player Wins");
playerWins++;
rounds--;
nextRound();
}
else if (playerChoice == "paper" && command == "scissor")
{
MessageBox.Show("AI Wins");
AIwins++;
rounds--;
nextRound();
}
else if (playerChoice == "scissor" && command == "paper")
{
MessageBox.Show("player Wins");
playerWins++;
rounds--;
nextRound();
}
else if (playerChoice == "scissor" && command == "rock")
{
MessageBox.Show("AI Wins");
AIwins++;
rounds--;
nextRound();
}
else if (playerChoice == "rock" && command == "scissor")
{
MessageBox.Show("player Wins");
playerWins++;
rounds--;
nextRound();
}
else if (playerChoice == "none")
{
MessageBox.Show(label1.Text + " Make a choice");
nextRound();
}
else
{
MessageBox.Show("Draw");
nextRound();
}
}

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As you can see this function deals with the player and AI choice. Since the rule of the game is very simple we can use
if and else if statements to ensure who won the game.
We are using multiple conditions in the if statements. In a normal is statement you have only 1 condition for example
If (doorOpen = true)
{
//go through the door
}
Else
{
//open the door etc
}
In this case we are using multiple values because this game doesnt just depend on the player choice it also depends
on the AI choice so we need to determine how the player or the AI will win the game.
if (playerChoice == "rock" && command == "paper")
{
MessageBox.Show("AI Wins");
AIwins++;
rounds--;
nextRound();
}

If the player chose rock and (&&) AI chose paper

Message box will show AI Wins
Add one to the AIwins variable
Deduct one from the rounds variable
Run the nextRound() function.
When the AI wins the game we are invoking the command AIwins++ this means that each time the AI wins a round
over the player we add 1 to its winning list. So if it won 1 round and then another we will add 1 to the existing 1
which will be 2.
Also we will deduct 1 from the rounds which means they can only play for 3 rounds each time.
We also needed to have a default operation because if they player doesnt make a choice in this game then we need
to feedback to the player to make a choice.
else if (playerChoice == "none")
{
MessageBox.Show(label1.Text + " Make a choice");
nextRound();
}

If the player didnt make a choice then the default choice will be none. Once the program sees none it will just call
the players name and ask them to make a choice to play the game.
Right under the checkGame function make the decision engine function
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private void decisionEngine()

{
if (playerWins > AIwins)
{
label3.Text = label1.text + " Wins the game";
}
else
{
label3.Text = "AI Wins the game";
}
}

This function only runs when we have played the all 3 rounds in the game. So if the player won more rounds then AI
we will show the player has won. If that isnt true then the only logical choice is the AI won.
Simple and straight to the point.
Now lets create the next round function
private void nextRound()
{
playerChoice = "none";
pictureBox1.Image = Properties.Resources.qq;
timer1.Enabled = true;
pictureBox2.Image = Properties.Resources.qq;
}

This function will reset the player choice to none, reset the player/AI image to question mark and start the timer
again.
Note double the code so far in order to move to the next part.
Now lets add events to the buttons Rock paper and scissor
Double click on the rock button

private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

{
playerChoice = "rock";
pictureBox1.Image = Properties.Resources.rock;
}

Add the highlighted code inside the function. We are giving the player choice to rock and changing the image to the
picture of rock.
Now double click on the paper button.

private void button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

{
playerChoice = "paper";
pictureBox1.Image = Properties.Resources.paper;
}

Add the highlighted code inside the function. We are changing the player choice to paper and also changing the
image to paper from the resources.
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Now double click on the button scissor

private void button3_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

{
playerChoice = "scissor";
pictureBox1.Image = Properties.Resources.scissors;
}

Add the highlighted code inside the function. Its the same as before only with the new scissors
Now then we can test the program to see if its running
Click on Debug -> start debugging or press F5.

The game seems to be working so far. However we need to link the rounds labels to the rounds integer and we need
to add something for the help screen.
Rounds text
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Inside the timer1 tick function add the following

private void timer1_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
label6.Text = Convert.ToString(rounds);
timePerRound--; // reduce the time by 1
label4.Text = Convert.ToString(timePerRound); // show the time on the screen
if (timePerRound < 1) // if the time is less then one second
{
timer1.Enabled = false; // we disable the timer if less then one second left
timePerRound = 6; // set the timer back to 6 seconds
randomNumber = rnd.Next(0, 5); // randomize the number again
command = AIchoice[randomNumber]; // we set up the AI choice according to the random
number
// the switch statement below will show the AI choice and change the picture box
images
switch (command)
{
case "rock":
pictureBox2.Image = Properties.Resources.rock;
break;
case "paper":
pictureBox2.Image = Properties.Resources.paper;
break;
case "scissor":
pictureBox2.Image = Properties.Resources.scissors;
break;
default:
break;
}
// if we have more rounds to the play then we run the check game function
if (rounds > 1)
{
checkGame();
}
// if we dont have any more rounds to play then we go to the final decision engine
else
{
decisionEngine();
}
}
}

As you can see our rounds label is called label6 now this labels will show how many rounds we have left once the
timer starts. So each time the timer starts it will show the number of rounds left to play. Try it out.

Sorted now for the Help button.

Now its important as software developers we make sure we know how to support our end user now im sure you
have seen this image on the internet

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Source
http://imgur.com/gallery/jlUAnFb

Although its a joke we should always think how we can make the end user understand the software and use it
efficiently without any errors.
This is why its always a good idea to create Help Window.
Now lets once again right click on the rockpaperscissors inside the solution explorer

Add -> Windows Form

Name it helpScreen

Click OK.

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Now we can add any information which the user will find useful and will aid them in
using this application / game.
Drag and drop a text box in this form

click on that small triangle on the right corner and select multi line.
Add the following sentences in the text box
Welcome to the rock paper and scissor game create by (your name here)
Enter your name in the beginning
Select the option for rock, paper or scissor
The countdown goes from 5 to 1
Once its completed the AI will show its choice to you
Rules of the game are
Rock beats scissor
Paper covers rock
Scissor cuts paper
You have 3 rounds of game play
Good Luck and Enjoy

Once you have entered the text inside the text box now look into the properties window for a option called enabled.
Change it false. If its set to true then the user can change the text or even delete them. Since its set to false it will be
disabled they will only be able to read the whole text not edit it in any way.

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Now lets do the following code for the help screen.

Double click on the help button

private void button4_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

{
helpScreen help = new helpScreen();
help.Show();
}

Since we called the windows form helpScreen its classified as its own class so we can simply call the helpScreen
directly. We are giving the helpScreen class a new instance of help and then we are linking it.
Since help is the new instance of the helpScreen class now we can access all of its properties through the code.
We are now able to call the help.Show() function and once this runs it will display the help form on screen.
Test it out.

Success
Well done following this tutorial thus far. Now you can add your own features to it. Good luck.
For the full code check the page 2 of this tutorial post on mooict.com

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