Q: How can I play several music files in a loop, one after the other?
A: Use the following example.
var track_handle;
starter game_music()
{
while (player == null) {wait (1);}
while (1)
{
track_handle = media_play("track1.mid", null, 50);
while (media_playing(track_handle)) {wait (1);}
track_handle = media_play("track2.mid", null, 50);
while (media_playing(track_handle)) {wait (1);}
track_handle = media_play("track3.mid", null, 50);
while (media_playing(track_handle)) {wait (1);}
track_handle = media_play("track4.mid", null, 50);
while (media_playing(track_handle)) {wait (1);}
wait (1);
}
}
Q: How can I highlight an object in my strategy game by moving the mouse over it?
A: Use this snippet.
function highlight_me()
{
if (event_type == event_touch)
{
my.ambient = 100; // highlight the unit
}
while (event_type != event_release) {wait (1);}
my.ambient = 0;
}
action my_unit
{
my.enable_touch = on;
my.enable_release = on;
my.event = highlight_me;
}
Q: How can I run a "while" loop (every frame) for a specified number of seconds?
A: Use this example.
function countdown_timer()
{
var time_passed = 12; // the loop will run for 12 seconds
while (time_passed > 0)
{
time_passed -= time / 16; // decrease time_passed every frame
// do something useful here for 12 seconds
camera.ambient = random(100); // now that's useful stuff!
wait (1);
}
// the action would goes on here after 12 seconds
}
on_c = countdown_timer; // press "C" to run the function
Q: How can I create a decent looking torch effect?
A: Use this snippet.
bmap fire_tga = <fire.tga>;
bmap smoke1_tga = <smoke1.tga>;
bmap smoke2_tga = <smoke2.tga>;
function fire_effect();
function fade_flames();
function smoke_effect();
function fade_smoke();
action my_torch
{
my.passable = on;
while (1)
{
vec_set(temp.x, my.x);
vec_add(temp.x, vector(random(2) - 4, random(2) - 4, 25 + random(3))); // play with 25
effect (fire_effect, 10 * time, temp.x, normal); // play with 10
if (random(1) > 0.85)
{
temp.z += 5 + random(5); // play with 5
effect (smoke_effect, 1, temp.x, normal);
}
my.lightrange = 200;
my.lightred = 200;
my.lightgreen = 150 + random(50);
my.lightblue = 100;
wait (1);
}
}
function fire_effect()
{
temp.x = random(4) - 2;
temp.y = random(4) - 2;
temp.z = random(2); // play with 2
vec_add (my.vel_x, temp);
my.alpha = 20 + random(80);
my.bmap = fire_tga;
my.size = 25; // play with 25
my.bright = on;
my.move = on;
my.lifespan = 5;
my.function = fade_flames;
}
function fade_flames()
{
my.vel_x /= 2;
my.alpha -= 2 * time;
if (my.alpha < 0) {my.lifespan = 0;}
}
function smoke_effect()
{
temp.x = random(1) - 0.5;
temp.y = random(1) - 0.5;
temp.z = random(1); // play with 1
vec_add (my.vel_x, temp);
my.alpha = 20 + random(20);
if (random(1) > 0.7)
{
my.bmap = smoke2_tga;
}
else
{
my.bmap = smoke1_tga;
}
my.size = 20; // play with 20
my.bright = on;
my.move = on;
my.lifespan = 500;
my.function = fade_smoke;
}
function fade_smoke()
{
my.alpha -= 0.2 * time; // play with 0.2
if (my.alpha < 0) {my.lifespan = 0;}
}
Q: Can I play an animated movie (my logo) at the beginning of the game, and then display the main menu?
A: Use this piece of code.
var logo_handle;
function main()
{
fps_max = 60; // limit the frame rate to 60 fps
logo_handle = media_play("logo.avi", null, 100); // play your logo movie
while (media_playing(logo_handle)) {wait (1);} // wait until the movie has ended
level_load (mylevel_wmb); // now load the level
wait (3); // wait until the level is loaded
mainmenu_pan.visible = on; // don't forget to define this panel first
// put the rest of the code for function main here
}
Q: How can I have an object that follows the player at all times? I'd like to be able to specify the distance to the player as well...
A: Use this example:
string follower_mdl = <follower.mdl>;
function follow_player()
{
proc_late();
while (1)
{
vec_set (my.x, vector (100, 50, 30)); // play with these values
vec_rotate (my.x, player.pan);
vec_add (my.x, player.x);
my.pan = player.pan; // only if you need this as well
wait (1);
}
}
action player1
{
player = my; // I'm the player
ent_create (follower_mdl, my.x, follow_player);
................................
}
Q: I'd like to control the ambient in my game using the mouse wheel. Is this even possible?
A: Sure. Examine the code below.
starter set_ambient()
{
while (1)
{
camera.ambient -= 0.2 * mickey.z * time;
camera.ambient = min (max (camera.ambient, 0), 100); // limit camera.ambient to 0...100
wait (1);
}
}
Q: Do you know of a tool that can create robotic speech?
A: Try the good old SayIt from AnalogX - www.analogx.com
Q: I want an entity to become "player" if I click on it.
A: Use the following snippet.
function become_player()
{
player = my;
}
action potential_player // attach this action to several entities
{
my.enable_click = on;
my.event = become_player;
}
starter control_player()
{
while (1)
{
if (player != null)
{
player.pan += 1 * time;
}
wait (1);
}
}
Q: How can I animate a sprite using ent_animate? I can't see the animation frames!
A: Use this example.
action animated_sprite // attach this action to a sprite that contains several frames
{
var anim_speed;
while (1)
{
ent_animate(my, "test", anim_speed, anm_cycle); // put any animation name here ("test", "stand", whatever)
anim_speed += 5 * time; // "5" controls the animation speed
wait (1);
}
}