1.

Triple X Game Design Doc

Triple X Game Design Doc (GDD)
● Simple number puzzle game
● Hacking into a computer lock
● Need to find a valid combination of codes
● Starts pretty easy, becomes much harder
● Wrap in your own story.
Why Triple-X Game?
● Learn basics of C++ “syntax”
● Learn about variables and constants
● Create your own function with an argument
● Use #include ready for Unreal
● Learn the if and while structures
Why Learn C++ Programming?
● All roads lead to C++ in game development
● You’ll be learning a superpower
● It’s both high-level, and low-level
● Join a unique tribe of power users
● It’s fun and challenging
What’s Your Story
● Try and think of a unique story
● If you’re stuck, ask a kid!
● Enjoy sharing
the structure of c++ by example
● #include statements at top, before used
● PlayGameAtDifficulty() before used
● Everything inside a function indented
● while and if statements extra indented
● Colours differentiate types of text.
Explain Our main() Function
● Explain our main() function best you can
● Don’t worry how much / little you know
● The purpose is twofold
● Firstly: to be brave, it counts for a lot
● Secondly: to record your starting point
2. The Structure Of C++ By Example
int main()
{
return 0;
}
Why int main()?
● Every C++ program requires int main()
● It is the entry point of a c++ program
● Without it, your program will not build!
White Space
● Compiler ignores white space!
● Don’t be reckless with your code!
● Make the effort to make it beautiful!
Your first program!
int main()
{
return 0;
}

● It runs and then exits immediately!

White Space
● Write your program onto one line

● Try compiling

● Does it compile?
int main() & White Space
● int main() required in every c++ program
● Without int main() a c++ program will not run!
● We return 0 to signal program has run successfully
● Compiler ignores white space
● Code style improves readibility!
3. Your First Program
Preprocessor Directive
(Don’t be afraid!)

● Instruction to the compiler

● Used to include a library before compiling
● We want it to be at the start of our file
● # represents preprocessor directive in our code
 #include <iostream>

Preprocessor Directive Header File

● Instructing the compiler to copy the contents of the iostream header file into our
code before the rest of our code is compiled
Include the header file!
● Add: #include <iostream> to the first line of your file
4. Hello, World!
 std:: cout << “Hello, World!” ;

Namespace String
Scope Operator

Cout defined in std namespace

John Doe John Roe

We can tell the difference in the name!

 namespace::myfunction namespace2::myfunction

Same name!

Namespace avoids the conflict of code being the same name!

 TripleX Intro
std::cout << "You are a secret agent breaking into a secure server room";

std::cout << "You need to enter the correct codes to continue...";

● Create your own intro messages for your game across two lines of
code

● Save, Compile & Run program!

Hello World!
● # represents a preprocessor directive
● <iostream> is a header file
● cout is defined in std namespace
● “Strings are wrapped in quotation marks”
● std::cout << std::endl; for new line
5. Variables
Variables
● Used to store data
● To use variables in c++ you first must declare
them in your code
● By declaring a variable you are reserving space in
the computer's memory for it
Variable Declaration
int a = 0;

By giving a value to a variable

Data Type when it is declared, you are
Variable Name initializing it!
Variable Declaration
int a = 0; Initialized

int a; Uninitialized
Print your the value of your variable
● Print your variable onto a new line
TripleX Codes
Declare two more variables!
● Declare an integer named b.
○ Initialize it
● Declare an integer named c.
○ Initialize it
Arithmetic Operators
Addition Operator = +
Subtraction Operator = -
Multiplication Operator = *
Division Operator = /
Multiply your variables!
● Declare the product of a, b & c
● Print your product variable on a new line
Variables
● You declare variables in code
● A variable with a given value is initialized
● Declaring a variable = Reserved space in memory
● You can add/multiply with arithmetic operators
● Print to the terminal like: std::cout << a;
6. const & Assigning Values
Variables
● Variables can be changed at runtime
● After a variable has been declared, we can assign a
new value to it at any point in our code
● “A value that is subject to change”
Assigning values to variables
● We never want to assign values to variables before
the variable has been declared
● The compiler will not allow it.
● The compiler will not be aware that the variable
exists
Try this...
● Prefix all your variable declarations with: const

const int a = 4;

● Be brave and post your thoughts in the community!

○ How do you think this affects our code?
Assigning values to variables
● We cannot assign a value to a variable before the
variable has been declared
● The compiler will not be aware that the variable
exists if you try assigning to it before it’s declaration
● The compiler will not allow this!
const
(Short for constant)

● With the const keyword, we signal our intentions to

ourselves and to anybody who reads our code:
● “We never want this variable to change it’s value
after it’s declaration!”
● Compiler = best friend! It protects our code!
const & assigning values
(Short for constant)

● Assignment Operator =
● We can assign values to variables like: a = 4;
● Cannot assign before a variable has been declared!
● const keyword to mark your variables as constant
● The compiler will protect const variables!
7. Statements & Comments
Expression Statements
std::cout << “Hello, World!”;

myvariable = 5;

An expression followed by a semicolon is an expression statement!

Explain these! Post in the community forum!
Comments
● Commenting code can be used to make your code
more easily understood by yourself or others!

// This is a single line comment!

Comment your code!
● // We use a double forward slash to comment
● Add a comment to the start of your main function
● What do the first few lines of your main function do
in the vision of your game?
● Comment wisely!
Statements & Comments
● Expression statements:
○ Expressions that end with a semicolon
● Declaration statements:
○ Statements where we declare ‘something’
● Comment like: // This is a single line comment
8. Naming & Self Documenting Code
Your turn!
● Print a message about the product
○ “The codes multiply to give: ”

● Take a screenshot of your terminal to showcase

your TripleX game in the community!
Variable Naming
● Important to give your variables good names!
● Must begin with a letter or an underscore
○ Cannot start with a number!
● You must not use a reserved keyword
Keywords
● Reserved keywords are to be used by the C++ language only
● Over 90 keywords
Examples:

auto bool break case

const int friend return

Self Documenting Code
● Makes our code easier to read and understand
● If we give a variable a good name, we don’t have to
use a comment to explain what it does!
 Unreal Coding Standard
● Unreal Engine 4 uses an UpperCamelCase naming
convention

myVariable MyVariable

The start of each word is capitalized!

https://docs.unrealengine.com/en-us/Programming/Development/CodingStandard
Rename your variables!
● Rename your a, b & c variables:
○ CodeA, CodeB, CodeC
● Rename sum and product:
○ CodeSum, CodeProduct
○ Make sure they are initialized correctly!
● Follow Unreal Engine 4’s naming convention
Naming & Self Documenting Code
● Self document code with good naming!
● Must begin with a letter or an underscore
● You must not use a reserved keyword
● Unreal’s naming convention UpperCamelCase
● Right click and “change all occurances” in VS code
to rename and replace variable everywhere in file
9. Getting User Input
 std::cout << “Hello, World!”;

Insertion Operator
Character Output
 std::cin >> PlayerGuess;

Character Input

Extraction Operator Extract from input

stream and assign to
variable: PlayerGuess
Store the players guess!
● Make use of std::cin
● Store the PlayersGuess
● Print a message and the value of PlayerGuess
○ Example: “You entered: 512”
TripleX as a Player
● As a player you have to guess a 3 number code
● 234 will be treated as “two hundred and thirty four”
● What if the code was multi digit?
○ Example: 8 12 24
Answers Guesses
CodeA GuessA

CodeB GuessB

CodeC GuessC
 234

std::cin >> GuessA; std::cin >> GuessB; std::cin >> GuessC;

Your program will only ask for more input when cin is called
IF the input stream is empty!
What’s relevant?
● We want the players to enter numbers only
● They can enter numbers on seperate lines
● Or the same line separated by spaces
● We need to add a fix later! Incase anything other
than a number gets entered & for replayability
Declare Guess Sum & Products
● Declare GuessSum
○ Initialize it by adding GuessA, GuessB & GuessC
● Declare GuessProduct
○ Initialize it by multiplying GuessA, GuessB &
Guess C
Getting User Input
● cout = Character Output
○ Insertion Operator = <<
● cin = Character Input
○ Extraction Operator = >>
● Characters like ‘x’ get converted to 0 with integers
● Chars like ‘x’ will halt cin from working until reset
10. Using if and else in C++
if statements
if (condition)
{

}
if statements
if (condition)
{
std::cout << “you win!”;
}
if statements
if (true)
{
std::cout << “you win!”;
}
if statements
if (false)
{
std::cout << “you win!”;
}
Implement your if statement
● Implement an if statement
● Enter true as the condition
● Add a code block that prints a win message
● Play TripleX and see what happens if you win
● Play again and see what happens if you lose
if statements
if (condition)
{
std::cout << “you win!”;
}
if (GuessSum == CodeSum && GuessProduct == CodeProduct)
{
std::cout << “You win!”;
}
else
{
std::cout << “You lose!”;
}
You win...you lose...
● Print a win message if the player enters the
correct code
● Print a lose game message if the player enters
an incorrect code
● Share your work so far in the community!
Using if and else in C++
● == Equality operator
● && Logical “and” operator
● if (condition)
○ Executes the code block below if condition is met
● else
○ Executes code block below if condition is not met
11. Functions
std::cout << “Hello, World!” << std::endl;

Not the only way to end the line!

Escape sequences
● Used to represent different characters within a
string
● Escape sequences modify the format of a string
He said: “Hello, World!”
 std::cout << “He said: ”Hello, World!”;

std::cout << “He said: \“Hello, World!\“”;

Double quote escape sequence

std::cout << “Hello, World!” << std::endl;

std::cout << “Hello, World!\n”;

New line
(Line feed)
Escape sequence
Make use of: \n
● Modify your strings to use \n escape sequence
○ Remove std::endl where necessary
Function
● A function is a group of statements that together,
performs a task and is given a name
● Every C++ program must have at least one function
○ main()
int main()
{
std::cout << “Hello, World!”;
return 0;
}
Let’s create a function!
● Our function will return no value
● The name of our function is going to be PlayGame
● The function will contain no parameters
● The function body will contain the code for playing
our game
Your first function!
● Return type: void
● Name the function PrintIntroduction
● PrintIntroduction() at the start of PlayGame()
● Create some cool ASCII art to share in the
community!
Functions
● \n new line escape sequence in strings
● A function is a group of statements that is named
and performs a task
● You must specify the return type of a function
● void to return no data
● Must be implemented before it is executed!
12. Returning Data From Functions
while loop
while (condition)
{
PlayGame();
}

Code block executes repeatedly until the condition is not met

while you’re here...

● Pause the lesson and implement a while loop into your

main function
● Hard code the condition as true
● Add a code block for the while loop to execute PlayGame()
Fix the issue!

● After PlayGame() in your while loop, add these lines:

● std::cin.clear(); // Clears any errors
● std::cin.ignore(); // Discards the buffer
● Want to discuss in detail? Post in the community and chat
with your fellow students!
Has the player completed the level?
● Currently PlayGame returns no data
○ It’s data type is void
● We want to return if the player has completed the
current level
● To do this, we are going to work with Booleans
Boolean
● A boolean is a value that is true or false
bool PlayGame()

● Change the data type for PlayGame from void to bool

● Compile your code and see what happens...
Initializing bLevelComplete
● bLevelComplete = PlayGame();

Initialize bLevelComplete with the

result of PlayGame
Returning Data From Functions
● while loop to execute a code block repeatedly
● CTRL + C to exit program
● Functions that are not of type void must contain a
return statement for all exit paths of the function
● bool = true or false value
13. Function Parameters
++LevelDifficulty

LevelDifficulty + 1

4 + 1 =5
Variable Scope
● A variable declared inside a code block has scope
● It is local to where it is declared
● Cannot be accessed or used outside of its ‘scope’
Create a parameter for PlayGame()

● Pause here and create a parameter for PlayGame()

● The data type should be int
● The parameter should be named Difficulty
Function Parameters
● Increment variables like: ++MyVariable;
● Think about where you declare your variables
○ Because of the variables scope!
● Function parameters allow us to pass values into it
● Passing values is known as passing an argument
14. Comparing Values
Declare a new variable!

● Declare a variable for storing the maximum difficulty/level

○ MaxLevel or MaxDifficulty
● Make it a constant by declaring with the keyword const
● Initialize it with the amount of levels you want in your game
● In scope within our main function
○ Declare it above the while loop
while loop condition
● LevelDifficulty should never become larger than
MaxDifficulty
● Our while loop condition should check to see if the
value of the LevelDifficulty is lower or equal to
MaxDifficulty
Comparison operators
Equal to ==
Not equal to !=
Greater than >
Less than <
Greater than >=
or equal to
Less than or <=
equal to
Update your strings to reflect the game!

● When our PlayGame function returns true or false

● Update the strings so they reflect:
○ Moving to the next level if correct code is entered
○ Retrying the level if the player enters the wrong code
● Before we return 0; in main function:
○ Print a string to the terminal that congratulates the player
on completeing the game
Working with random numbers
● We are going to initialize our variables with the
function that is named: rand()
○ This function returns a random number
rand()
● rand() returns a value in the range 0 and a value
that is guaranteed to be atleast 32,767!
● We need to have more control over the range!
● We need rand() to take our LevelDifficulty variable
into account
 Equal to ==
Comparison Operators Not equal to !=

● Compare values with: Greater than >

Less than <

● Can be used for conditions Greater than >=
or equal to
● Like in: while and if Less than or <=
equal to
● Make sure spacing is consistent!
● rand() returns a value in the range 0 and 32,767!
15. Generating Random Number Ranges
Modulus Operator
●%
● Performs a division but returns the remainder!
●9/4=2r1
●9%4=1
● We can use this to map rand() to our own range
There’s a pattern!
● <value> % <modulus>
● Maps the <value> between a range of numbers!
● The range is between 0 and <modulus> - 1
Modulo Operation
● 2524 % 10
○ 2524 mapped to a range between 0 - 9
○ Not 0 - 10! The range is 0 to the modulus - 1
● The result is the same as the remainder we
would get from dividing 2524 by 10!
Modulo Operation
● 2524 % 10 = 4
○ 2524 mapped to a range between 0 - 9
○ Not 0 - 10! The range is 0 to the modulus - 1
● The result is the same as the remainder we
would get from dividing 2524 by 10!
Mapping rand() to a range
● rand() % <modulus>
○ Maps the random number in the range of 0 and
the modulus value (subtracted by 1)
Challenge
Challenge
● Limit the range of rand() to initialize variables: CodeA,
CodeB & CodeC!
Challenge
● Limit the range of rand() to initialize variables: CodeA,
CodeB & CodeC!

● Play the game!

 rand() % <Modulus>
Modulus Value (Range)

1 0-0
 rand() % Difficulty
Difficulty (Range)

1 0-0
 rand() % Difficulty
Difficulty (Range)

1 0-0

2 0-1

3 0-2

4 0-3

5 0-4
 rand() % Difficulty rand() % Difficulty + 1
Difficulty (Range) (Range)

1 0 1-1

2 0-1 1-2

3 0-2 1-3

4 0-3 1-4

5 0-4 1-5
Challenge
● Initialize your code variables with: rand() % Difficulty
● Add 1 to Difficulty to offset the range

● Play the game!

 rand() % Difficulty + Difficulty
Difficulty (Range)

1 1

2 2-3

3 3-5

4 4-7

5 5-9
Not random yet!
● Our game isn’t random yet!
● Each time we play it, it produces the same result!
● We have one more step...
Seeding rand()
● We need to initialize rand() with a different seed
○ This will produce more random results
● The best way to do this is based on your computer’s time
● #include <ctime>
● At the start of main add this line:
○ srand(time(NULL));
○ Creates new random sequence based on the time of day
How far can you get?
● Play your game!
● What level can you get to?
● What level do you find really hard?
● Share in the community!
Section 2 Ending
● Well done for completing section 2!
● You’ve built your first game in C++!
● Play an active part in the community!
○ Help out other students
○ Share your work
Generating Random Number Ranges
● Modulus Operator: %
● Performs a division but returns remainder
● We can use % to control the range of rand()
● + 1 to offset the range
● Well done for completing section 2!
● Play an active part in the community!
Unreal C++ Projects for VSCode & VS2019
Creating Unreal C++ Projects
● Unreal Engine 4 expects:
○ Visual Studio 2017 installed if running Windows
○ Xcode installed if running macOS
● By default, Unreal will not allow you to create C++
projects without having these installed
● What if we are running VS Code or Visual Studio 2019?
Fix for VS Code & Visual Studio 2019
● Launch the Unreal Engine 4 editor
● Create a Blueprint Project
● Change the source control editor from Unreal’s
Editor Preferences
Blueprint projects
● Blueprint projects can still be C++ projects!
● You just have to add a C++ class to your project
C++ Projects for VSCode & VS2019
● To use VSCode or VS2019:
● Create a Blueprint Project
● Change the source control editor from Unreal’s
Editor Preferences
● Blueprint projects can still be C++ projects!
● You just have to add a C++ class to your project