Question about picking coordinates at random
MassiveMapler
Member Posts: 8
I'm relatively new to GameSalad, so please bear with me.
I have 16 coordinates which I want to make available for the actor to spawn in. However, these coordinates have to be picked at random.
So let's say I want to spawn 2 actors, and I have the coordinates:
579x486, 579x574, 579x665 and 579x753
I only want to actors to spawn, so not all coordinates will be used, but I don't want them to constantly spawn at the first 2 either.
So far I've only found tutorials on how to spawn actors at completely random coordinates, so I would love some help with this.
How do I make the actors spawn at a random set of coordinates?
Comments
I would probably go with the table route. Create a table and call it something like "random spawn coordinates" with at least two columns for X and Y. And 16 rows with all of your positions you want it to spawn.
Then on the actor create an attribute called randomSpawnRow (call it what you like)
And add code like this:
Change Attribute: self.randomSpawnRow = random(1, tableRowCount(game.random spawn coordinates))
Change Attribute: self.Position.X = tableCellValue(game.random spawn coordinates, self.randomSpawnRow, 1)
Change Attribute: self.Position.Y = tableCellValue(game.random spawn coordinates, self.randomSpawnRow, 2)
The numbers 1 and 2 in the last two lines are the column numbers I'm assuming you'd put the X and Y coordinates in the table.
If you don't want an actor to spawn in the same place as another then you need to create a copy of the table with Copy Table, and then delete the row from the table that has just been picked with the Add/Remove Row behaviour.
I recommend looking for guides/tutorials on how to use tables if you're not sure how to use the table functions and behaviours like tableCellValue and Copy Table etc.
If you don't want to go the tables route then do something like this:
Change Attribute: self.randomSpawnNo = random(1, 16)
Rule: If self.randomSpawnNo = 1
Change Attribute: self.Position.X = 579
Change Attribute: self.Position.Y = 486
Rule: If self.randomSpawnNo = 2
Change Attribute: self.Position.X = 579
Change Attribute: self.Position.Y = 574
Rule: If self.randomSpawnNo = 3
Change Attribute: self.Position.X = 579
Change Attribute: self.Position.Y = 665
Rule: If self.randomSpawnNo = 4
Change Attribute: self.Position.X = 579
Change Attribute: self.Position.Y = 753
And so on for all 16 positions you want. This becomes harder to stop actors spawning in the same position though.
@KevinCross Thanks for your answer, would it be possible to do something similiar with another actor acting as a spawner?
I'm trying to make multiple different actors spawn at two different coordinates from the tables in a loop, after a button is pressed. I could just make the button change an attribute which executes the spawning, but then I would have no idea on how to control how many actors it spawns.
I feel like what I just wrote is quite confusing, so I'll summarize it:
1. Press button
2. Different actors spawn at a different randomly picked set of coordinates
3. The amount of actors spawning isn't always the same, and has to be able to be determined with an attribute
4. The actors don't spawn at the same time, and only once.
So my idea was to make the button something like Game.Spawn# +1, which then spawns the first actor, which also performs Game.Spawn# +1 spawning the 2nd actor, etc.
The number of actors is determined with game.level, but I have no idea how to control this without using a spawner button.
I'm sorry for asking so much, but I would really appreciate the help.
I can't see if this will work as I'm not near a copy of GameSalad but I might try something like this:
Let's say the number of actors to spawn is set in a game attribute which I'm going to call game.noOfActorsToSpawn. You set this number whenever you want. like level changes for example.
Your button spawner actor would look like this:
If touch is pressed
...Timer: Every 1 second (you said you didn't want them to spawn all at once so if that's the case change the length of time between each spawn)
......If self.spawnCounter <= game.noOfActorsToSpawn
.........Change Attribute: self.spawnCounter = self.spawnCounter + 1
.........Spawn Actor: your actor name, and set the coordinates as 0, 0 on the Spawn Actor behavior.
On the actor that's spawned you would have the code I gave above to randomly position them once they've spawned.
If the timer doesn't work and I misunderstood about you not wanting them all spawning at once then you could maybe try this:
If touch is pressed
...Loop while self.spawnCounter <= game.noOfActorsToSpawn
.........Change Attribute: self.spawnCounter = self.spawnCounter + 1
.........Spawn Actor: your actor name, and set the coordinates as 0, 0 on the Spawn Actor behavior.
And again, place the code I gave in my first comment on the actor that's being spawned to randomly position them once they've spawned.
If you're still having trouble later I can maybe put together a basic template file once I'm home. Let me know if so.
@KevinCross
I'm trying to spawn different actors, not copies of the same actor, so I can't really work with Actor Name, right?
I'll try to explain the result that I'm trying to accomplish a bit.
Then, when all the actors are invisible, the player has to press Actor1, and everywhere else on the board is wrong. After pressing actor 1, the player now has to press Actor2.
When the required numbers of actors are pressed, the player advances a level, and more actors will spawn.
I.E.:
1. Player opens game, level = 2
2. Player presses spawn button
3. Button 1+2 spawn
4. Player presses actor 1>2, level +1
5. Player presses spawn button
6. Button 1+2+3 spawn
So the actors need different attributes because of the order they have to be pressed in, which is why I think I need to use different actors.
I hope this explained the result that I'm trying to accomplish a little better.
I think I have a better understanding on what you're after. I'll see if I can throw together a basic project doing the same thing later on when I'm home. If you haven't sorted it out yourself by then.
It reminds me a little of a Simon says type game. Only instead of lights going out you're hiding the lights/actors completely and they're hidden in set positions on the scene
@KevinCross
If you've played Gen1 Pokémon, it looks quite a bit like the garbage cans at the 3rd gym. You press the right garbage can first, after which the second becomes available. If you press the second one before pressing the first one, it counts as the wrong garbage can.
Main difference is that there COULD be more than 2 garbages cans.
@MassiveMapler I've never played a Pokémon game but I watched a quick video of the trash cans in the gym and get what you mean about having to hit them in a correct order. The only difference in that game is that the trash cans aren't spawning or disappearing after x amount of seconds.
Basically I will create something that does the following:
Hopefully I'm on the right page with the above steps/requirements!
Is this close to what you're after?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ockt3pp56x33bw/Pressing-Actors-in-Sequential-Order.zip?dl=0
@KevinCross Sorry for the late response, dealing with time zones etc.
This is almost exactly what I was looking for, thanks a lot!
The only problem is the conditions for "If touch is pressed". If Touch is the only condition, or if it gets set to "any", it works perfectly. However, if I try to add another condition (Like your 0.2 alpha condition) it doesn't work.
You've already done a lot for me, so I'll do my best to find a solution myself.
Once again, thanks a lot!
Is the actor alpha set as 0.2 when you're touching it or have you hidden it completely? It's hard for me to understand what's up, but I'm sure you'll solve it
good luck.
@KevinCross Even with your original project it's not working for me. No matter if you wait for the Alpha Timer or not. It works perfectly with just the Touch condition though.