Description

A compact, well-structured C++ console application that implements the classic Rock-Paper-Scissors game. The program allows a human player to compete against a computer opponent over a user-specified number of rounds. It validates input, shows round-by-round outcomes, changes console color to reflect the winner, and displays a final scoreboard with an overall winner. Clean, single-file code that demonstrates solid fundamentals in C++ program design and user interaction.

Technologies Used

  • Language: C++ (ISO C++)
  • Standard Libraries: <iostream>, <cstdlib>
  • Platform-specific calls: system("cls"), system("color")for Windows console.
  • Core concepts demonstrated: enums, structs, functions, random number generation, input validation, control flow.

Functionality / Features

  • Configurable match length: Player chooses how many rounds to play (1 to 10).
  • Player vs Computer: Player inputs their choice each round; computer picks randomly.
  • Input validation: All inputs (number of rounds, move choice, play-again) are validated with do/while loops to ensure correct values.
  • Round summary: After each round the application prints:
    • Round number
    • Player choice and computer choice
    • Round winner
  • Visual & auditory feedback: Console color changes depending on who won the round; the computer win produces a beep for emphasis.
  • Final scoreboard: After all rounds, a neatly formatted summary shows rounds played, player wins, computer wins, draws, and the final winner.
  • Replay loop: Player can choose to play again without restarting the program.

Implementation Highlights

  • Clear domain modeling with enums and structs
    • enGameChoice and enWinner enumerate the domain (Stone/Paper/Scissors and winner states) — makes code self-documenting and reduces magic numbers.
    • stRoundInfo and stGameResults group related data (round state and final results), improving readability and maintainability.
  • Separation of concerns
    • Function-per-responsibility approach: input reading (readPlayerChoice, askHowManyRounds), RNG (genRndNum, getComputerChoice).
    • game logic: getRoundWinner.
    • presentation: printRoundInfo & printFinalGameResults.
    • Flow control: playGame / startGame are split into small, focused functions. This simplifies testing and future changes.
  • Simple, correct game logic
    • getRoundWinner uses direct comparisons with a safe default return (user wins) and explicit checks for computer-winning cases — logic is easy to follow and extend.
  • User-friendly presentation
    • getChoiceName / getWinnerName map enum values to human-readable strings, ensuring UI strings are centrally defined and consistent.
    • tabs() helper produces aligned output for the final scoreboard.
  • Randomness & seeding
    • Uses srand((unsigned) time(NULL)) and rand() for quick pseudo-random choices. Simple and sufficient for a console game.
  • Platform-aware behavior
    • Console-clearing and color manipulation use system() calls (cls, color), which provide an immediate visual polish on Windows terminals.

Conclusion

  • This project shows practical mastery of C++ basics: enums, structs, functions, I/O, and control flow.
  • Demonstrates thoughtful code organization in a single-file project — easy to read, extend, and refactor into a multi-file project later.
  • Includes user-facing polish (input validation, colored feedback, round summaries) that shows attention to user experience even in CLI tools.
  • A perfect small project to illustrate progression from procedural logic to cleaner, structured design — ideal talking points for interviews.

Screenshots

Full match: 01
Full match: 02
Full match: 03

Try the Project

You can download the executable file from here.

Since this application is not digitally signed by a recognized publisher, your system may display a warning before running it. You can safely ignore it and continue.

Source Code

You can find the source code here.

Updated: