Random animation

Eagleone

Hi guys, quick question regarding random animation...

I have an actor on the screen and I want him to blink randomly. I've imported the "blink animation files" (there are total of 5), and I did a bit of research on how to do it but haven't quiet nailed it. I realize there are a few different ways of doing this; some create and integer attribute, some a boolean and I've tried both ways but still can't get around it. If anyone could assist me with this matter I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

ShineyGames

make an self attribute blink (real,integer)
make rule timer

timer
every xsec (run to completion)
change self blink to random (1,5)

then but rules in this rule

if attribute blink =1
animate

if attribute blink=2
animate

ect

hope that helps

Eagleone

Thanks ShineyGames, works well, not really random though, the actor blinks every 5 seconds, only sometimes there is more than 5 seconds between blinks but most of the time the actor blinks every 5 seconds. That's ok though, I'm satisfied with this.

Thank you very much for your help once again!

ShineyGames

Then all you have to do is make the timer random
the blinks are now random

in the timer put
Every random(5,20)

then you will have random blinks at random times

Eagleone

As you can see I still have a lot to learn, thank you very much you have saved me a ton of time. Works perfect now!

Eagleone

Another quick question...

All of the above works well, the blinks are happening in random order.

Now I need the exact same thing happening for another actor on the screen so I made a duplicate of the first actor, but I changed the timer in the second actor so both actors don't blink at the same time, but both actors are still blinking at the same time. How is this happening since the timers in the two actors are different or am I missing something once again?

Eagleone

Ok I have it sorted. I just created another blink attribute like the first one and named it blink2. I used this attribute with the second actor and now both actors are blinking randomly and they're not bliking at the same time. I did try to use the first blink attribute with the second actor and even though I changed the timers in both actors, both actors were still blinking at the same time. Just thought I'd share this in case anyone else come across the same issue.

ShineyGames

Don't Know What You Have done but It should not
did you use a Self attribute?
not a globe one

there are the main attributes and self attributes you need to make the blink attribute a self one so each actor has there own

do a search of self attributes to see were they are
let me know how you get on

Eagleone

Ahh I see... ok. I understand what you mean but can not tell you if I used a global or a self attribute, I'm not sure how to check, but I understand what needs to be done. I'll do a search on self attributes and see what needs to be done in order to choose that particular option.

Sorry about all the n00b questions, but as I said I'm still learning and slowly getting the hang of it.

You've been a great help though, thank you very much sir!

ShineyGames

No probs i was noob too a few months ago to

If you have an i pad/iphonr there a great textbook app its not to cheap but well worth it and a good read.
Forgot the name of it but one off the members here wrote it

Am shore a search for gamesalad textbook on the app stor will bring it up

PS it very upto date finger crossed he will keep it up to date

Eagleone

Sounds good, will def search on the app store for that app, certainly seems useful. Just found a few tutorials on youtube in regards to how to make global/self attributes so now everything is clear and now I have everything working. Thanks heaps once again, you're a champ!