#include <ncurses.h>

#include <string>

#include "game.h"

using namespace std;

int main(int argc, char **argv) {

    if (init() == 0) run();

    close();

    printf("GAME OVER\n");

    return 0;
}

#include <ncurses.h>

#include <string>

#include "game.h"

using namespace std;

int main(int argc, char **argv) {

    int initStatus = init();
    if (initStatus == 0) run();

    close();

    printf("GAME OVER\n");

    return 0;
}

--- 
+++ 
@@ -8,8 +8,7 @@
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 
-    int initStatus = init();
-    if (initStatus == 0) run();
+    if (init() == 0) run();
 
     close();
 
Remove unnecessary variable assignment (is implicit return, imho)
