What to include in/exclude from mainloop?

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Danishly

9

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Joined: 10th Aug 2015

Location: Norway

Posted: 19th Aug 2015 00:27

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Hello again guys, I am starting to get the grips on things now.

But, what should be in the mainloop? And what should NOT be in the mainloop? I usually set display properties and load sprites and images before the mainloop. But as i start to write logic in the mainloop, i become a little confused. How do i handle multiple logics? I am making an app with several tabs.

//Screen setup
SetVirtualResolution(1024, 768)
SetOrientationAllowed(1, 0, 1, 1)

//Sprites

//Bakgrunn
LoadImage(1, "bakgrunn2.png")
CreateSprite(1, 1)
SetSpriteSize(1, -1, -1)
SetSpriteDepth(1, 101)

//LOGO
LoadImage(2, "LOGO.png")
createsprite(2, 2)
SetSpritePosition(2, 35, 48)
SetSpriteDepth(2, 100)
SetSpriteSize(2, 20, 5)

//password
Loadimage(3, "password.png")
Createsprite(3, 3)
SetSpritePositionByOffset(3, 468, 539)
SetSpriteScaleByOffset(3, 0.70, 0.70)

//Username
LoadImage(4, "username.png")
CreateSprite(4, 4)
SetSpritePositionByOffset(4, 468, 489)
SetSpriteScaleByOffset(4, 0.70, 0.70)

//Mainscreen
LoadImage(5, "mainscreen.png")
createsprite(5, 5)
SetSpriteSize(5, 1024, 768)
SetSpritePosition(5, 1, 1)
SetSpriteVisible(5, 0)

//Textbox

CreateEditBox(1)
SetEditBoxPosition(1, 400, 500)
SetEditBoxBackgroundColor(1, 255, 255, 255, 1)

CreateEditBox(2)
SetEditBoxPosition(2, 400, 560)
SetEditBoxBackgroundColor(2, 255, 255, 255, 1)

do
(if GetPointerPressed() = 1
	DeleteSprite(1)
	DeleteSprite(2)
	DeleteSprite(3)
	DeleteSprite(4)
	DeleteEditBox(1)
	DeleteEditBox(2)
	SetSpriteVisible(5, 1)
	endif
)

sync()
	
	
	loop

+ Code Snippet


//Screen setup
SetVirtualResolution(1024, 768)
SetOrientationAllowed(1, 0, 1, 1)

//Sprites

//Bakgrunn
LoadImage(1, "bakgrunn2.png")
CreateSprite(1, 1)
SetSpriteSize(1, -1, -1)
SetSpriteDepth(1, 101)

//LOGO
LoadImage(2, "LOGO.png")
createsprite(2, 2)
SetSpritePosition(2, 35, 48)
SetSpriteDepth(2, 100)
SetSpriteSize(2, 20, 5)

//password
Loadimage(3, "password.png")
Createsprite(3, 3)
SetSpritePositionByOffset(3, 468, 539)
SetSpriteScaleByOffset(3, 0.70, 0.70)

//Username
LoadImage(4, "username.png")
CreateSprite(4, 4)
SetSpritePositionByOffset(4, 468, 489)
SetSpriteScaleByOffset(4, 0.70, 0.70)

//Mainscreen
LoadImage(5, "mainscreen.png")
createsprite(5, 5)
SetSpriteSize(5, 1024, 768)
SetSpritePosition(5, 1, 1)
SetSpriteVisible(5, 0)


//Textbox

CreateEditBox(1)
SetEditBoxPosition(1, 400, 500)
SetEditBoxBackgroundColor(1, 255, 255, 255, 1)


CreateEditBox(2)
SetEditBoxPosition(2, 400, 560)
SetEditBoxBackgroundColor(2, 255, 255, 255, 1)




do
(if GetPointerPressed() = 1
	DeleteSprite(1)
	DeleteSprite(2)
	DeleteSprite(3)
	DeleteSprite(4)
	DeleteEditBox(1)
	DeleteEditBox(2)
	SetSpriteVisible(5, 1)
	endif
)

	
	sync()
	
	
	loop

What happens here is that I end up on the designated "tab", but how do i continue? Thank you so much for reading all this, and even more, helping

Just started - Much to learn

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trietias

9

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Joined: 20th Jul 2015

Location:

Posted: 20th Aug 2015 04:20

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I'm still new to AppGameKit and coding too, so I'm not sure how useful my advice would be, but I'll give it a go!

It sounds like you're trying to move on with the next part of your app, right? In this case, I would use game_states to let the program know what state the game should be in.

you could declare a variable (game_state for instance) and set conditions for when it is a certain number.

In this case, if that screen you had is the opening screen, you would do something like

//Screen setup
SetVirtualResolution(1024, 768)
SetOrientationAllowed(1, 0, 1, 1)
global game_state = 0

//Sprites

//Bakgrunn
LoadImage(1, "bakgrunn2.png")
CreateSprite(1, 1)
SetSpriteSize(1, -1, -1)
SetSpriteDepth(1, 101)

//LOGO
LoadImage(2, "LOGO.png")
createsprite(2, 2)
SetSpritePosition(2, 35, 48)
SetSpriteDepth(2, 100)
SetSpriteSize(2, 20, 5)

//password
Loadimage(3, "password.png")
Createsprite(3, 3)
SetSpritePositionByOffset(3, 468, 539)
SetSpriteScaleByOffset(3, 0.70, 0.70)

//Username
LoadImage(4, "username.png")
CreateSprite(4, 4)
SetSpritePositionByOffset(4, 468, 489)
SetSpriteScaleByOffset(4, 0.70, 0.70)

//Mainscreen
LoadImage(5, "mainscreen.png")
createsprite(5, 5)
SetSpriteSize(5, 1024, 768)
SetSpritePosition(5, 1, 1)
SetSpriteVisible(5, 0)

//Textbox

CreateEditBox(1)
SetEditBoxPosition(1, 400, 500)
SetEditBoxBackgroundColor(1, 255, 255, 255, 1)

CreateEditBox(2)
SetEditBoxPosition(2, 400, 560)
SetEditBoxBackgroundColor(2, 255, 255, 255, 1)

do
select game_state
 case 0:
  (if GetPointerPressed() = 1
	DeleteSprite(1)
	DeleteSprite(2)
	DeleteSprite(3)
	DeleteSprite(4)
	DeleteEditBox(1)
	DeleteEditBox(2)
	SetSpriteVisible(5, 1)
        game_state = 1
	endif)
	sync()
 endcase
 
 case 1:
 //whatever you plan to do next.
 endcase

endselect
	loop

+ Code Snippet

//Screen setup
SetVirtualResolution(1024, 768)
SetOrientationAllowed(1, 0, 1, 1)
global game_state = 0

//Sprites

//Bakgrunn
LoadImage(1, "bakgrunn2.png")
CreateSprite(1, 1)
SetSpriteSize(1, -1, -1)
SetSpriteDepth(1, 101)

//LOGO
LoadImage(2, "LOGO.png")
createsprite(2, 2)
SetSpritePosition(2, 35, 48)
SetSpriteDepth(2, 100)
SetSpriteSize(2, 20, 5)

//password
Loadimage(3, "password.png")
Createsprite(3, 3)
SetSpritePositionByOffset(3, 468, 539)
SetSpriteScaleByOffset(3, 0.70, 0.70)

//Username
LoadImage(4, "username.png")
CreateSprite(4, 4)
SetSpritePositionByOffset(4, 468, 489)
SetSpriteScaleByOffset(4, 0.70, 0.70)

//Mainscreen
LoadImage(5, "mainscreen.png")
createsprite(5, 5)
SetSpriteSize(5, 1024, 768)
SetSpritePosition(5, 1, 1)
SetSpriteVisible(5, 0)


//Textbox

CreateEditBox(1)
SetEditBoxPosition(1, 400, 500)
SetEditBoxBackgroundColor(1, 255, 255, 255, 1)


CreateEditBox(2)
SetEditBoxPosition(2, 400, 560)
SetEditBoxBackgroundColor(2, 255, 255, 255, 1)




do
select game_state
 case 0:
  (if GetPointerPressed() = 1
	DeleteSprite(1)
	DeleteSprite(2)
	DeleteSprite(3)
	DeleteSprite(4)
	DeleteEditBox(1)
	DeleteEditBox(2)
	SetSpriteVisible(5, 1)
        game_state = 1
	endif)
	sync()
 endcase
 
 case 1:
 //whatever you plan to do next.
 endcase

endselect
	loop

I wasn't 100% sure what you would do for each of those tabs, but that's how I would do it -- except I would put that if condition inside a function and only hide the sprites instead of deleting them.

I hope that can help you a little bit!

Thanks!

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Danishly

9

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Joined: 10th Aug 2015

Location: Norway

Posted: 21st Aug 2015 00:14

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Wow, thank you SO much for that answer, it's exactly what i was looking for!

I was not even aware of the select and case-commands

That was super helpfull!

The if condition will end up as a function, yes

so I can use it again without writing it all. And I took your advice of hiding the sprites

One question though, what does "global game_state=1" do?

Thank you so much!

Just started - Much to learn

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Crazy Programmer

AGK Developer

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Joined: 6th Sep 2004

Location: Lost in AGK

Posted: 22nd Aug 2015 22:50 Edited at: 22nd Aug 2015 23:03

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You may check out this thread as there was a discussion about this topic.....http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=213678&b=41

The way I went about setting up all my games follows Funnells advice...

// set window properties
SetWindowTitle("Template")
SetWindowSize(1024, 768, 0)

// set display properties
SetVirtualResolution(1024, 768 )

global CaseSelect
global LoadTitleScreen = 1
global LoadMainMenu
global LoadGame
global GameOver
global Score

do  
	if CaseSelect = 0
		TitleScreen()
	elseif CaseSelect = 1
		MainMenu()
	elseif CaseSelect = 2
		Game()
	endif
	
    Sync()
loop

// Title Screen Functions (I would have this as a seperate file

function TitleScreen()
	
	if LoadTitleScreen = 1
		
		// Load Title Screen Stuff
		
		LoadTitleScreen = 0
	endif
	
	// Do Title Screen Stuff
	
	Print("Title Screen")
	
	if GetPointerPressed()
		DeleteTitleScreen()
		CaseSelect = 1
		LoadMainMenu = 1
	endif
	
endfunction

function DeleteTitleScreen()
	
	// Delete Title Screen Stuff
	
endfunction

// Main Menu Functions (again I would have this as a seperate file)

function MainMenu()
	
	if LoadMainMenu = 1
		
		// Load Main Menu Stuff
		
		LoadMainMenu = 0
	endif
	
	// Do Main Menu Stuff
	
	Print("Main Menu")
	
	if GetPointerPressed()
		DeleteMainMenu()
		CaseSelect = 2
		LoadGame = 1
	endif
	
endfunction

function DeleteMainMenu()
	
	// Delete Main Menu Stuff
	
endfunction

// Game Functions (this would also be a seperate file)

function Game()
	
	if LoadGame = 1
		
		// Load Game Stuff
		// Reset Variables etc
		GameOver = 0
		
		LoadGame = 0
	endif
	
	// Do Game Stuff
	
	if GameOver = 0
		// Play Game
		Print("Game Playing")
		
		if GetPointerPressed()
			GameOver = 1
			Score = Random(1, 1000)
		endif
	else
		// Do Game Over Stuff
		Print("Game Over")
		Print("Score: " + Str(Score))
		
		if GetPointerPressed()
			DeleteGame()
			CaseSelect = 1
			LoadMainMenu = 1
		endif
	endif
	
endfunction

function DeleteGame()
	
	// Delete Game Stuff
	
endfunction

+ Code Snippet

// set window properties
SetWindowTitle("Template")
SetWindowSize(1024, 768, 0)

// set display properties
SetVirtualResolution(1024, 768 )

global CaseSelect
global LoadTitleScreen = 1
global LoadMainMenu
global LoadGame
global GameOver
global Score

do  
	if CaseSelect = 0
		TitleScreen()
	elseif CaseSelect = 1
		MainMenu()
	elseif CaseSelect = 2
		Game()
	endif
	
    Sync()
loop

// Title Screen Functions (I would have this as a seperate file

function TitleScreen()
	
	if LoadTitleScreen = 1
		
		// Load Title Screen Stuff
		
		LoadTitleScreen = 0
	endif
	
	// Do Title Screen Stuff
	
	Print("Title Screen")
	
	if GetPointerPressed()
		DeleteTitleScreen()
		CaseSelect = 1
		LoadMainMenu = 1
	endif
	
endfunction

function DeleteTitleScreen()
	
	// Delete Title Screen Stuff
	
endfunction

// Main Menu Functions (again I would have this as a seperate file)

function MainMenu()
	
	if LoadMainMenu = 1
		
		// Load Main Menu Stuff
		
		LoadMainMenu = 0
	endif
	
	// Do Main Menu Stuff
	
	Print("Main Menu")
	
	if GetPointerPressed()
		DeleteMainMenu()
		CaseSelect = 2
		LoadGame = 1
	endif
	
endfunction

function DeleteMainMenu()
	
	// Delete Main Menu Stuff
	
endfunction

// Game Functions (this would also be a seperate file)

function Game()
	
	if LoadGame = 1
		
		// Load Game Stuff
		// Reset Variables etc
		GameOver = 0
		
		LoadGame = 0
	endif
	
	// Do Game Stuff
	
	if GameOver = 0
		// Play Game
		Print("Game Playing")
		
		if GetPointerPressed()
			GameOver = 1
			Score = Random(1, 1000)
		endif
	else
		// Do Game Over Stuff
		Print("Game Over")
		Print("Score: " + Str(Score))
		
		if GetPointerPressed()
			DeleteGame()
			CaseSelect = 1
			LoadMainMenu = 1
		endif
	endif
	
endfunction

function DeleteGame()
	
	// Delete Game Stuff
	
endfunction

This ^ was funnells advice to me when I had a similar situation, Hope it helps and you can read the above linked thread for more info. Many other people chimed in with diff ideas, Funnells is just what hit home with me.

Advice from my part: If your going to piece together some code so you can learn, don't copy and paste type it out yourself it will stick a lot faster. Even if you are rewriting a project, just go ahead and type it out. Sooner or later you wont even have to think, it will just be flowing out like the language you speak.

http://crazyprogrammerproductions.webs.com/

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29 games

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Joined: 23rd Nov 2005

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Posted: 25th Aug 2015 23:28

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Just to add to all this, the main principle I use is to never load or delete media in any loop that has player interaction. So my code may look like this (pseudo code so won't compile):

+ Code Snippet

Declare all variables
Set all constant values for variables
Load all media and create all sprites, text, sound instances etc

do

	//Main menu loop
	repeat
		Show menu and deal with player 
	until (player opts to start the game)
		
	// Main game loop
	repeat
		create level (using the all ready loaded mediaI

		// play level loop
		repeat
			play level code goes here
		until (level is over)

	until (game is over)

loop

The above works well for apps that don't have a lot of media and will give the minimum time to transition between levels. If you have a lot of media then trying to load eveything in at once might slow the game down or at the very least take too long to load. So another way I do it is load only the media required for the current loop the program is in.

+ Code Snippet

Declare all variables
Set all constant values for variables

do

	load menu media	

	//Main menu loop
	repeat
		Show menu and player
	until (player opts to start the game)

	delete menu media
		
	// Main game loop
	repeat

		load media for level
		create level

		// play level loop
		repeat
		until (level is over)

		delete all level media

	until (game is over)

loop

This free up memory but can cause pauses between going from the menu to the game loop and then between levels. You can refine this further by loading any media common to all levels - say for the HUD - before the main game loop and then delete it straight after the main game loop.

As for the thread Crazy Programmer I have no issue using multiple syncs for different loops. I find this makes it easier for dealing with multiple levels of sub menus. For instance the main menu may lead to something like an options menu - where the player can adjust some game settings - so the "options" sub menu would be contained in it's own function, with it's own loop with a sync at the end and some condition for exiting the loop and going back to the main menu - there's normally a "return to main menu" button. As the player moves between the different menu, the codes hides and shows the relevant labels, might even turn the collision off if I'm using sprites for buttons, and the player only interacts with the elements that are visible.

I found this to be easier to implement than having a single sync for the entire game, that's just my preference.

If you're getting really stuck then it might be a sensible idea to draw a simple flow chart that shows how things work, where the loops are and what the conditions are for exiting the loop and moving to the next state. This works for me.

Invaders of the 29th Dimension - available now on Google Play
Find me on indieDB

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Danishly

9

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Joined: 10th Aug 2015

Location: Norway

Posted: 9th Sep 2015 14:26

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Thank you so much guys, this has really helped me! I have had some problems in my loops with your method, with the screen flashing, but I have deleted almost all of my sync()'s, and now I am really starting to go somewhere

Just started - Much to learn

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