Changing speed of the game and change background

butterbean

How would someone propose doing this:

Speeding up the game, such as making the enemies spawn more in number, and travel faster each time a player reaches a certain point in their score, say every 2,000 points: Enemies speed up, and game moves faster

Also, can you change the background, or add animations/images everytime the score increments by 2,000 or whatever score desired?

Thanks!

quantumsheep

I'd try adding a variable called 'speed'. Have this set to 0

Obviously you have a 'score' attribute

Then you'd have to create a rule that said

if attribute score = 2000, change the value of speed to = 2
if attribute score = 4000, change the value of speed to = 4

etc etc

Every time an actor that gives points is destroyed, then instead of just saying:

Change attribute score to score +100

You'd have:

Change attribute score to score+100*speed

That way, if you're just starting out you'd get 100 points for each actor destroyed to begin with, as speed = 0

However, as soon as you hit 2000 points, speed =2. So you'd get 100*2 = 200

Then if you hit 4000 points, you'd get 100*4=400

And so on and so on...

Hope that helps,

QS

butterbean

I understand the concept you're explaining, just plugging it into the program is where I'm stuck (sorry in advance!)

So when first starting out the game, under the enemy prototype, destroy behavior, I currently have change game.score to game.score +100

So instead of plugging that in, you're saying to plug in under enemy prototype, destroy behavior, change attribute :

game.score to game.score+100*0 (0 meaning speed)

Then create a Rule:

When game.score = 2,000 points

How would I plug in the score and speed with the menus again?

Game.Score to Game.score +100*2 (for speed 2?)

Are there any other elements I would need to plug in to tell the enemies how MUCH faster to move besides creating a global game attribute, speed?

Thanks Quantum~!

quantumsheep

My responses in your text will be in CAPITALS - I'm not shouting though, honest!

"So when first starting out the game, under the enemy prototype, destroy behavior, I currently have change game.score to game.score +100

So instead of plugging that in, you're saying to plug in under enemy prototype, destroy behavior, change attribute :

game.score to game.score+100*0 (0 meaning speed)"

CORRECT - THOUGH REPLACE THE 0 WITH THE SPEED VARIABLE.

"Then create a Rule:

When game.score = 2,000 points

How would I plug in the score and speed with the menus again?

Game.Score to Game.score +100*2 (for speed 2?)"

YEP, THAT SOUNDS FINE

"Are there any other elements I would need to plug in to tell the enemies how MUCH faster to move besides creating a global game attribute, speed?"

Right, enough capitals! For this last bit, I have to admit I didn't fully read your question to begin with, so gave the speed variable as a modifier for just the score.

If you want to make things move faster, you can still use the speed variable.

Say, initially, your enemy actor moves with a velocity of 40. If you make him move with a speed of 40*Speed, then whatever the movement will be is multiplied by the speed variable value.

So, at less than 2000 points as seen in my previous reply, the velocity of your actor will be 40 (40*0)

At 2000 points, it will be 80 (40*2)

If you find your actors are moving too fast, then just add a division at the end.

e.g. 40*Speed/.75

Hope that helps!

QS

butterbean

"Say, initially, your enemy actor moves with a velocity of 40. If you make him move with a speed of 40*Speed, then whatever the movement will be is multiplied by the speed variable value."

One more question! So when initially plugging in my value for the enemy actor's speed or velocity, do I change it to a number, and then asterisk, zero like this: 25*0 (25 velocity, 0=speed)?
That way when I enter subsequent values like 25*2 then the velocity will become 50 right?

Thanks Quantum! I'm gonna give it a try when I'm on GS again

JGary321

quote "One more question! So when initially plugging in my value for the enemy actor's speed or velocity, do I change it to a number, and then asterisk, zero like this: 25*0 (25 velocity, 0=speed)?
That way when I enter subsequent values like 25*2 then the velocity will become 50 right?"

What you wanna do is 25*game.Speed.
Have your initial speed setting at 1. That way 25*1 = 25.
When you score goes up to whatever you want, you can add + 1 to speed. Then it would automatically change to 25*2.

It changes b/c instead of using a number you're using a global attribute. (Score) So when that changes it automatically updates the equation or you.

quantumsheep

Yep, JGary's right - initial value of speed should be '1'.

See? Told you my maths was rubbish! :P

CodeMonkey

Not to be picky or anything, but if you have this

"40*Speed/.75"

you're actually dividing by 3/4 which is equivalent to multiplying by 4/3 and actually making it go faster.

As an alternative you could do this:
Set the actor speed to this equation: 25*(1+(game.score-game.score%2000)/2000)

Breaking that equation down:
(game.score-game.score%2000) : This will remove any remainder when you divide the score by 2000 so this whole part of the equation is divisible by 2000.

Adding 1 : Before you reach a score of 2000, the equation section above will be 0, so adding 1 will make the first level move at 25.

I just want to thank you Sous Chefs for being so active in helping the forums.

quantumsheep

And if my maths was any good, it might be *useful* help

butterbean

Also, Codemonkey, or anyone, I need you guys to tell me specifically where to place these attributes , I'm still such a newbie to this, so sorry!

So this equation you gave me.... does this go under the original "enemy move attribute" under speed: 25*(game.score-game.score%2000)/2000 or does this go in the original enemy attribute: 25*(1+game.score-game.score%2000)/2000

And then subsequently, upon score reaching 2000 points, do I put the +1 in the front of game.score in the parentheses? So it looks like this" 25*(1+game.score-game.score%2000)/2000

And under the game.speed global attribute, I set it to integer, and 0 right?

Thanks! the more detailed the better for me, (I know it's a pain in the ass) BUT .... I'm nowhere near your level of coding....

Thanks! You guys are great!

Unknown

You can't put equations in attributes, but that would be an interesting feature. That equation would go in your Move or Change Velocity behavior's speed value in your prototype. No need for a game.speed global attribute in my solution.

Difference between using Move behavior or a Change Velocity.
If you use Change Velocity, its a one time change and is not a continual use of processor to adjust movement. However its only great when your actor moves in a straight line.

With the Move behavior you can include functions that continually change the speed and direction.

Use the whole equation(including the +1), it takes care of doing the calculation of changing your speed dependent on your score.

CodeMonkey

You can't put equations in attributes, but that would be an interesting feature. That equation would go in your Move or Change Velocity behavior's speed value in your prototype. No need for a game.speed global attribute in my solution.

Difference between using Move behavior or a Change Velocity.
If you use Change Velocity, its a one time change and is not a continual use of processor to adjust movement. However its only great when your actor moves in a straight line. Also, in the enemy case, only new enemy spawned will be affected by the level change.

With the Move behavior you can include functions that continually change the speed and direction.

Use the whole equation(including the +1), it takes care of doing the calculation of changing your speed dependent on your score.

butterbean

I put that equation in the enemy prototype as you said under the move behavior and in the speed area:

Speed: 25*(1+game.score-game.score%2000)/2000

The enemies won't move down on the screen like they once did, they just spawn at the top of the Y axis around 320. and stay there in animation

Also, I deleted the global game attribute speed as integer, and just have the global game attribute score as integer

What am I doing wrong?

Also, under create rule: When game score reaches 2000

What do I put for these values? (parentheses are fill in the blank for me

An Attribute changes: ( ) equals : 2000

Change attribute ( ) to ( ) e

CodeMonkey

There's a difference between:
Speed: 25*(1+game.score-game.score%2000)/2000
and
25*(1+(game.score-game.score%2000)/2000)

expanding the 2nd function it is:
25+25*(game.score-game.score%2000)/2000 => 25+(game.score-game.score%2000)/80 ...

You don't need a rule to check for when score is equal to 2000. Unless you want to do something between level changes.

butterbean

Still:

Under my enemy prototype, under the move rule, and under speed, I replaced my equation with the correct one, under move, speed: 25* (1+(game.score-game.score%2000)/2000 and the enemies spawn at the top of the y axis, but don't come down like they did, they just stay there in animation

I get the equation, but I need help with where to place it

Create Rule? Change attribute? Or place a new "Move" rule, that's where I need the help

Thanks!

Also, I'm looking for the easiest way to do this, and this equation seems to have made things more complex, if there is an easier alternative way, let me know, otherwise I'll keep trying this until it's right

Although now looking at equation, what is the /80 in the 2nd part.....??

JGary321

After several minutes I see what you did with the modulus. Clever thinking.

Also, to make sure I understand, using velocity is less memory intensive than using Move? I guess it makes since. Of course, it's more limited, but is nice to know since we could use it more for basic movements.

Butterbean: What do your "actors" do? You said they don't move down like they did before. Did you change the "move to" part of the move? What does the Move to for x/y say?

Also did you make sure to put the " ) " at the end of the equation??

butterbean

Also, typing that equation in the speed factor in my enemy prototype made the game move slow, and then freeze so is there an easier or alternative way?

I don't mind creating a rule, when score reaches n=X, then changing the speed that way, my game is pretty simplistic, and could handle a few more attributes and rules

butterbean

Does someone have an ichat account? This would be much easier and probably take 5 minutes, lemme know! mine is the same as my screename Butterbean21@mac.com

Thanks so much guys!

CodeMonkey

is the move behavior in some rule? It should not require one, unless you want to add a pause rule as per other forum post.
You're not typing in "game.score" as text, correct? It should be that game attribute.
All the parentheses are closed? i.e. for each '(' you need a ')'

The /80 part was just me cleaning up the function. You can ignore that.

butterbean

The Move attribute for my enemy is not in a rule... it is as follows:

I have my enemy prototype, and right under the enemy actor editor I have the following

Animate (with 3 different pics, and at 8 fps)

Then right under that I have

MOVE: direction 270 relative to : Actor move type: additive

Speed: 25 ------> This is where I plugged in your equation, but the game froze up Speed: 25*(1+(game.score-game.score%2000)/2000 AND yes I did take the game.score from the attribute box, and didn't type it in manually

Under Spawn Blue Crow prototype:

I have Timer every .7 seconds

Spawn actor

Spawn a new: Blue crow Direction 0 relative to actor

Position: Random (0,480) and Y axis: 310 relative to actor

So I am wondering what would be the easiest or alternative way instead of using the equation which seems to have created slowdown, and made the game freeze up, and as brilliant as it is, I just want easy.

Could I add the global game attribute game.speed, as integer, and start at 1

If so, can you please tell me where to plug the values in, and where on the enemy attribute do I do this, that's where the confusion comes in for me.... newbie programmer! AKA: PITA2GS (pain in the ass 2 game salad!)

butterbean

Okay, so I went in again, and plugged the equation into the Move: 270 Speed: 25*(1+(game.score-game.score%2000)/2000

and the birds are now moving down on the screen, don't ask why it works now, I just started over and now it works

So how do I now up the speed of the birds once the score reaches 2000, and WHERE do I place that attribute? In other words, what behavior will I be placing that in?

Does that mean that each time the score increments by 2000, that the birds will travel faster?

I would like to have the equation so that if I changed my mind, I could make the birds travel faster every 5,000 points

Again, WHERE to place this behavior each time a change is made to the speed of the birds would be awesome

JGary321

2 things

1. Speed: 25*(1+(game.score-game.score%2000)/2000 - This is wrong
Speed: 25*(1+(game.score-game.score%2000)/2000) - this is right. Just want to make sure you're doing this.

2. Basically you would change 2000 to 5000 in the equation, to change how many points are needed. You change it in both places.

3. I lied, 3 things. It should auto update the speed. That's what the equation CodeMonkey gave you is for

- Also, I'm at work, can't use ichat. & my mac is not connected to internet. I hate using routers & my main is a pc.

butterbean

Ahhhhh.... it's finally working!

Thank you for being so patient with me

So by adding this equation, every 2,000 points, the enemies will move faster and faster

If I wanted to change it to every 5000 points, I can just replace that number 2000 with the 5000 correct?

Thanks to JGary, Codemonkey, and Quantum, you deserve a friggin' medal!

Later in the game, as I create more difficulty, is there a way to spawn more characters, or an equation to do so as points go up

I was also thinking alternatively of just doing that under a timer which would be easiest

Thanks again!

JGary321

25 is your base speed. If you want to double the base speed you increase 25 in the equation. Example:

Speed: 25*(1+(game.score-game.score%2000)/2000) to double would go to
Speed: 50*(1+(game.score-game.score%2000)/2000)

To double it based on score, with the current equation once score = 4000 it will double to 50. When it is 6000 it would go to 75. etc... (basically add 25 for each 2000)

Want to make it so score would need to be 5000?

Speed: 25*(1+(game.score-game.score%5000)/5000)

Hope this helps.

butterbean

So I put that equation in, instead substituting 5000, so every 5000 points attained, the birds move faster and faster.... this is great! And an easier way to do it once you get the equation perfect as you have put with the parentheses

This is a great and ingenius equation Codemonkey! It should be placed in the Wiki for others to use since this is a commonly used attribute in basic games

JGary321

It's definitely a good equation. It's becomes ALOT easier, once you learn how Modulus works. Read it on the wiki, under references, & then equation.

butterbean

It definitely is, the only problem is, and I posted it in a new topic, game froze, is when I reached 15,000 points, Gamesalad kicked me out, and I had to relaunch the application.

Is there a way also to put a rule, that the healthbars can be no more than 3, so in the event that the player touches a health item that increases their health by +1, that it will not allow healthbars to go above 3?

JGary321

On your health item, create rule so game attribute changes health < 3 (less than 3) then change game.health to game.health + 1

You may use different names, but thats the basic concept.