Rock Paper Scissors

Introduction

Turn your micro:bit into a Rock Paper Scissors game that you can play with your friends!

Step 1

We’ll start our Rock Paper Scissors game when we shake 👋 our micro:bit. Add an ||input:on shake|| function to run code when you shake the micro:bit. Type the code below, or drag a code snippet from the ||input:Input|| Toolbox category.

input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, () => {

})

Step 2

Create a variable named “hand” - this will help us keep track of whether we have a Rock, Paper or Scissors in our hand. Then inside the ||input:on shake|| function, use the ||math:randint|| function to set the hand variable to a random number from 1 to 3 representing a Rock, Paper or Scissors.

let hand = 0
input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, () => {
    hand = randint(1, 3)
})

Step 3

To check the value of the hand variable, type ||logic:if hand==1|| then use the ||basic:show icon|| function to show a small square icon representing a 💎 Rock.

let hand = 0
input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, () => {
    hand = randint(1, 3)
    if (hand == 1) {
        basic.showIcon(IconNames.SmallSquare)
    }
})

Step 4

Now add an ||logic:else if|| clause to check if the hand value is 2. In that case, use the ||basic:show icon|| function to show a large square icon representing 📃 Paper.

let hand = 0;
input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, function() {
    hand = randint(1, 3)
    if (hand == 1) {
        basic.showIcon(IconNames.SmallSquare)
    } else if (hand == 2) {
        basic.showIcon(IconNames.Square)
    }
})

Step 5

Finally let’s deal with the last condition - if our hand variable isn’t holding a 1 (Rock) or a 2 (Paper), then it must be 3 (Scissors)! Add an ||logic:else|| clause and use the ||basic:show icon|| function to show ✀ Scissors.

let hand = 0;
input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, function() {
    hand = randint(1, 3)
    if (hand == 1) {
        basic.showIcon(IconNames.SmallSquare)
    } else if (hand == 2) {
        basic.showIcon(IconNames.Square)
    } else {
        basic.showIcon(IconNames.Scissors)
    }
})

Step 6

Let’s test your code! Press the white SHAKE button on the micro:bit on-screen simulator, or move your cursor quickly back and forth over the simulator. Do you see the icons for rock, paper and scissors randomly appear? ⭐ Great job! ⭐

Step 7

If you have a micro:bit device, connect it to your computer and click the |Download| button. Follow the instructions to transfer your code onto the micro:bit. Once your code has been downloaded, attach your micro:bit to a battery pack and challenge another micro:bit or a human to a game of 💎 Rock, 📃 Paper, ✀ Scissors!