how to generate Random Questions for a game?

[Blackshark]

HI... i'm trying to make a "Who wants to be millionaire" flash game. but the questions are allways the same and in the same order. I had an idea: let Actionscript choose 1 question out of 100... so the question DONT repeat.
But the problem is: I dont know how to generate random questions... i just know how to generate random Numbers. plz help

[exactpixel]

here you go:

//put all your info in an array
var myQuestionArray:Array = new Array();

//this right here will create your random number that
//will grab your question from the array
myQuestions = random(100);

//name the time line you are on
myTimeLine = this;
//your question here:

myText_txt.text = myTimeLine[myQuestionArray[myQuestions]];


now that's if you have the questions appear in a text feild.

hope that helps

[pixelwit]

I wouldn't recommend picking questions at random since you'll probably end up selecting the same question more than once before you go through all the questions. A better suggestion might be to shuffle the contents of the array then to go through the array in order so you don't repeat any questions.

You should be able to find a shuffle function by searching the forums for "shuffle".

-PiXELWiT
http://www.pixelwit.com

[Drakkon]

I love shuffle functions...this is about the simplest as they come i think

//pre : send argument of array with numbers of questions
//post : Returns array with numbers provided "shuffled"
function shuffle(numArr):Array {
	for(num=numArr.length-1;num>0;num--) {
	 var myPos = Math.round(Math.random()*num);
	 var tempVar = numArr[num];
	 numArr[num] = numArr[myPos];
	 numArr[myPos] = tempVar;
	}
	return numArr;
}

[mpol777]

If your questions are going to be held in objects than you can do something like this:

// array to hold all of the questions
questionArray = new Array();

// question object
function QuestionObject() {
    // set id to random number
    this.id = Math.floor(Math.random()*10000));
    this.questionType = null;
    this.answeredStatus = null;
    this.someParam = null;
}

// create questions
questionArray.push(new QuestionObject());
questionArray.push(new QuestionObject());
questionArray.push(new QuestionObject());

// order array based on random id
questionArray.sortOn("id");

Each object gets a unique id and then using the sortOn array method it reorders them based on that id.

[farafiro]

and from here u gan get a random value from an array and never duplicate the question
http://proto.layer51.com/l.aspx?p=3

[Blackshark]

hmm where do i put the questions then??? in a text field? in a movie clip?.. i'm new to actionscript.

[Blackshark]

i got another idea.... HOW can i make the player choose a random frame and play it.... that way i can use multiple choise questions

[farafiro]

var totalFrames = 5
theLevel_btn.onRelease = function(){
_level0.gototAndStop(Math.rounf(Math.random()*totalFrames+1))
}

[pixelwit]

Rather than using "Math.rounf" (with an "F" even ), you would be better off using "Math.floor" since Farafiro's code will occasionally produce 6 as a result. Using "floor" guarantees numbers between 1 and 5.

-PiXELWiT
http://www.pixelwit.com