Help with my pong code

[tylerzemail]

I need to make my Computer Paddle defeatable. Right now i have everything coded it is just impossible to win.

Public Class uipongform
#Region "End Game on Escape Press"
    ' Escape the game when escape has been pressed.
    Private Sub pongMain_KeyDown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles Me.KeyDown
        If e.KeyValue = Keys.Escape Then
            Me.Close()
        End If
    End Sub
#End Region
#Region "Globals"
    Dim speed As Single = 10 ' Ball Speed
    Dim rndInst As New Random() ' Random instance
    Dim xVel As Single = Math.Cos(rndInst.Next(5, 10)) * speed
    Dim yVel As Single = Math.Sin(rndInst.Next(5, 10)) * speed
    ' The player's scores.
    Dim compScore As Integer = 0
    Dim plrScore As Integer = 0
 
#End Region
 
 
 
#Region "Move the paddle according to the mouse"
    ' Move the paddle according to the mouse position.
    Private Sub pongMain_MouseMove(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs) Handles Me.MouseMove
 
        If e.Y > 5 And e.Y < Me.Height - 40 - paddlePlayer.Height Then _
        paddlePlayer.Location = New Point(paddlePlayer.Location.X, e.Y)
 
    End Sub
#End Region
 
#Region "Main Timer"
    Private Sub gameTimer_Tick(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles gameTimer.Tick
        'Set the computer player to move according to the ball's position."
        If gameBall.Location.Y > 5 And gameBall.Location.Y < Me.Height - 40 _
        - paddlePlayer.Height Then _
        paddleComputer.Location = New Point(paddleComputer.Location.X, gameBall.Location.Y)
        ' Move the game ball.
        gameBall.Location = New Point(gameBall.Location.X + xVel, gameBall.Location.Y + yVel)
        ' Check for top wall.
        If gameBall.Location.Y < 0 Then
            gameBall.Location = New Point(gameBall.Location.X, 0)
            yVel = -yVel
        End If
        ' Check for bottom wall.
        If gameBall.Location.Y > Me.Height - gameBall.Size.Height - 45 Then
            gameBall.Location = New Point(gameBall.Location.X, Me.Height - gameBall.Size.Height - 45)
            yVel = -yVel
        End If
        ' Check for player paddle.
        If gameBall.Bounds.IntersectsWith(paddlePlayer.Bounds) Then
            gameBall.Location = New Point(paddlePlayer.Location.X - gameBall.Size.Width, _
            gameBall.Location.Y)
            xVel = -xVel
        End If
        ' Check for computer paddle.
        If gameBall.Bounds.IntersectsWith(paddleComputer.Bounds) Then
            gameBall.Location = New Point(paddleComputer.Location.X + paddleComputer.Size.Width + 1, _
            gameBall.Location.Y)
            xVel = -xVel
        End If
        ' Check for left wall.
        If gameBall.Location.X < 0 Then
            plrScore += 1
            gameBall.Location = New Point(Me.Size.Width / 2, Me.Size.Height / 2)
            plrScoreDraw.Text = Convert.ToString(plrScore)
        End If
        ' Check for right wall.
        If gameBall.Location.X > Me.Width - gameBall.Size.Width - paddlePlayer.Width Then
            compScore += 1
            gameBall.Location = New Point(Me.Size.Width / 2, Me.Size.Height / 2)
            compScoreDraw.Text = Convert.ToString(compScore)
        End If
    End Sub
#End Region
 
 
    Private Sub uiexitbutton_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles uiexitbutton.Click
        Me.Close()
    End Sub
 
End Class

[LaVolpe]

Here is one simple idea. Use a random offset. If you are centering the paddle on the ball, a random offset will add/subtract from that center position; thereby changing the position of the paddle. Depending on the range of the random offset and size of the paddle, the paddle may partially/completely hit the ball or miss altogether.

Edited: For example, the range may be -PaddleHeight to +PaddleHeight.

[Jenner]

Another possibility, have a delay in reaction time movement. Don't make the computer paddle constantly follow the ball. After it hits the ball, let it idle and wait for the player to hit it. If the player hits it, start a random delay period and after that delay period, then move the paddle at some velocity to intercept the ball. Either it'll get there (a slow moving ball) or it won't (delay was too long and ball was too fast).