Animation Best Practice?

TotalityNode

Hello GameSaladers,

I don't need any advice on drawing animation - got the 'frame by frame' covered. What I am wondering about though, is the application of frames within GameSalad.

I've seen 'programmatic animation' alluded to on the forums, where non-timer timers are apparently used to replace the Animate behaviour (with superior results?).

Can anyone point me at a tutorial or working example of 'programmatic animation' within GS? My Google Fu has failed me on this one.

Many thanks in advance!

MarkOnTheIron

I'm using that method extensively on a project and so far the results are amazing.

Here's a sample display of how the rule works:



The "Mod" attribute is a self attribute and I've set it at 0.02. On this example the animation is composed of 12 frames and it runs at 20 fps (one frame every 0.05 seconds).

The great thing of this method is that it allow you to change the fps during runtime, you just have to replace the 0.05 with an attribute that you can change whenever you want.

RP

There is are many threads on this topic. Your search is a bit more complicated than it needs to be. Search for: methods for animation in gamesalad. I think what you may be referring to is the useage of the interpolate behavior. Again, there are pre existing threads and videos on youtube (and the GS cookbook).

TotalityNode

Thanks, @RP, but 'Interpolate' is not what I'm asking about here. I'm asking about using self.time based coded timers to animate, as mentioned briefly in this thread:

http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/44707/timers-are-for-chumps-gs-optimization-tips

TotalityNode

To whit, a quote from the @domenius Timers Are For Chumps thread:

"I've been able to create iterations as quick as every 0.04 seconds with this sort of calculation with no issue, fast enough for very smooth programatic animation or constrain-like updates on background attributes. In fact, I recommend using these sorts of timers for animation instead of the standard animate function, it seems to play smoother and being able to adjust the animation parameters at runtime can be particularily useful for complex actors."

I am specifically looking for a tut or working example of this kind of animation.

RP

Ah, I know the thread, but don't recall ever seeing anyone make anything on this yet.

Honestly, unless you are running into problems, I would not go to extremes to try to figure this out just yet. When used properly in conjunction with timers, attributes, and any additional behaviors the animate behavior works VERY well. Even with the limitations and hurdles found in the GS creator many of the animated train wrecks out there are the result of bad code and image export options.

TotalityNode

Gotcha, thanks @RP.

Ah well - maybe someone who has used this will pop up at some point. @domenius himself, even!

TotalityNode

Excellent, that's the stuff! Many thanks @MarkOnTheIron, I'll get to try this out tomorrow. This'll be perfect for a character whose ƒPS will change according to their horizontal speed.

Thanks again!

domenius

You got the idea, using a variable to update the frame is super fast and allows for smoother animation than the gs animate behavior can manage IMO. I use a similar rule in place of every animate in my code, which improved performance heavily as well as allowing for easier manipulation of animations, especially when you want to tie animation in to a particular value such as power, speed, etc.

The_Gamesalad_Guru

Yes Tynan did a thread some time ago showing how the animate behavior's fps is not accurate. It is obviously not tied to the system clock.

RP

Oh crap, I think I have a link to that old tread somewhere. @Tynan had that conversion list on that thread too. I'll try to find it once I get back in, if someone does not find it first.

RP

Okay, I found that thread. Most of the meat is on page 2.

http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/40335/gss-animate-is-screwed/p1