Random letter selection

[Sawybean]

Hello all,

I'm currently working on a game where the computer selects a random letter, and the player has to correctly enter that letter. The system I have currently is really unwieldy and doesn't work at the moment. Here's what I have:

Create:

randomize()

//set state to first stage
image_index = 1

//pick first letter
key = random_range(1,26)
keynumber = 0
keypress = "A"

//set image speed to 0
image_speed = 0

Step:

//print next letter
draw_text_color(40,50,key,c_black,c_black,c_black,c_black,1)
draw_text_color(40,40,keypress,c_black,c_black,c_black,c_black,1)

//scan for player input
keypress = keyboard_lastkey

//match keypress to number value
if keypress = "A" { keynumber = 1 }
if keypress = "B" keynumber = 2
if keypress = "C" keynumber = 3
if keypress = "D" keynumber = 4
if keypress = "E" keynumber = 5
if keypress = "F" keynumber = 6
if keypress = "G" keynumber = 7
if keypress = "H" keynumber = 8
if keypress = "I" keynumber = 9
if keypress = "J" keynumber = 10
if keypress = "K" keynumber = 11
if keypress = "L" keynumber = 12
if keypress = "M" keynumber = 13
if keypress = "N" keynumber = 14
if keypress = "O" keynumber = 15
if keypress = "P" keynumber = 16
if keypress = "Q" keynumber = 17
if keypress = "R" keynumber = 18
if keypress = "S" keynumber = 19
if keypress = "T" keynumber = 20
if keypress = "U" keynumber = 21
if keypress = "V" keynumber = 22
if keypress = "W" keynumber = 23
if keypress = "X" keynumber = 24
if keypress = "Y" keynumber = 25
if keypress = "Z" keynumber = 26

//check keypress with key needed to advance
if keypress = key && image_index < 6 {
    image_index++
} else if keypress != key && image_index > 0 {
    image_index--
}

Let me know if you guys have any ideas! And let me know if my explanation doesn't make much sense, I've been having a hard time describing my problem to people.

 

[Taddio]

Have you tried putting that in a ds_list, shuffling it, and then simply pick the index 0 inthe list? Looks like a lot less trouble and typing to me!

 

[Walky]

I don't think you need to have so many IFs.

Take a look at the chr() and ord() functions (the Unicode decimal values ranging from 65 to 90 correspond to A-Z):

https://docs2.yoyogames.com/source/_build/3_scripting/4_gml_reference/strings/chr.html
https://docs2.yoyogames.com/source/_build/3_scripting/4_gml_reference/strings/ord.html
https://www.ssec.wisc.edu/~tomw/java/unicode.html#x0000

 

[Rob]

You could also do this:

alphabet = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ";

letter_integer = irandom(25) + 1;

letter_string = string_char_at(alphabet, letter_integer);

There are plenty of string functions that also allow you to remove the random letter aftr its been chosen, if that's where you wanted to go with it etc.

 

[Taddio]

You could also do this:

alphabet = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ";

letter_integer = irandom(26) + 1;

letter_string = string_char_at(alphabet, letter_integer);

There are plenty of string functions that also allow you to remove the random letter aftr its been chosen, if that's where you wanted to go with it etc.

Geez man, this is like the riff to Smoke on the Water or even Whole Lotta Love. So simple, clever and effective. Wouldn't have thought of it that way for sure!

 

[Rob]

Geez man, this is like the riff to Smoke on the Water or even Whole Lotta Love. So simple, clever and effective. Wouldn't have thought of it that way for sure!

It's only because I've been spending hours and hours trying to make my text engine work... my brain is full of it lol

 

[Walky]

Just to elaborate on my previous reply, here's a one-liner:

random_letter = chr(irandom_range(65, 90));

 

[Sawybean]

You could also do this:

alphabet = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ";

letter_integer = irandom(25) + 1;

letter_string = string_char_at(alphabet, letter_integer);

There are plenty of string functions that also allow you to remove the random letter aftr its been chosen, if that's where you wanted to go with it etc.

This worked, thanks so much!!

 

[Rob]

This worked, thanks so much!!

No worries man, don't forget to check out the other string functions in the manual too, even if it's just a cursory glance for future reference.

 

[TheouAegis]

And since I don't think anybody actually explained the biggest reason his code didn't work, random random_range returns fractions, but his code is checking for integers. That's why everyone was using irandom*.