Help: displaying 'Time left in Game'

[OneManClan]

Hi all,

OBJECTIVE: To have a timer on the screen showing the minutes and seconds left till the end of the game.

SHORT VERSION:
How can I output the result of the above timer without having it instantly overwrite every string the game sprints and bprints?


LONG VERSION:
The current 'solution' is to only display the timer if a new variable .timerclear is less than or equal to time.

Code: Select all

// this is called every time a player gets printed something
// it pauses the display of the timer by 3 seconds
void(entity pl) TimerClear =
{
pl.timer_clear = time + 3;

};

The main function only outputs the timer if .timerclear 's value is less than or equal to time, as follows:

Code: Select all

   // output the results to the players
   while (n < 32)
   {
   
   n = n+1;
   
   e = nextent(e);
   
      // an entitys .timer_clear gets set to time+3 every time the game prints something on screen
      if(e.timer_clear <= time)
      centerprint(e, "\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Time left: ", stminutes, ":", sttens, stones);
      
   }
   

};

This works with centerprints because I can insert a call to TimerClear (and set players .timer_clear to time+3), BUT I can't do this in sprint, because sprint is a builtin!

defs.qc has the following functions that also print stuff to the screen:

Code: Select all

//void(entity client, string s) sprint    = #24;
void(...) nqw_bprint            = #23;
void(...) nqw_sprint             = #24;

// used for QW compatibility

void(...) bprint               = #23;
void(...) sprint                = #24;

void(...) bprint2               = #23;
void(...) sprint2             = #24;
.
.
.


I was told that you can't put a wrapper on a builtin [EDIT: I mean builtin as above - w unspecified arguments], so apart from modifing the engine(which I'm too newbie to even contemplate) ...

... what are my options?


thanks in advance,


OneManClan
ps, Reminder, I'm still a newb, so please don't hesitate to dumb down your responses

[ceriux]

nvm didnt read post. you cant unless you use csqc i believe. or maybe, just set up a impulse which only prints time left once the player chooses to see. or have it printed in intervals ?

[Spike]

you can wrap builtins.

[frag.machine]

In defs.qc, find this:

Code: Select all

void(entity client, string s) centerprint = #73;   // sprint, but in middle

and change to:

Code: Select all

void(entity client, string s) __centerprint = #73;   // sprint, but in middle

Now, at the top of defs.qc, add your centerprint() function, like this:

Code: Select all

void (entity client, string s) centerprint =
{
  // put your code here
  // (...)
  // and finally...
  __centerprint (client, s);
}


[OneManClan]

In defs.qc....

Thanks frag.machine. I was able to do this (make a wrapper) for centreprint, but the issue here is trying to wrap functions w unspecified arguments, specifically:

void(...) bprint = #23;
void(...) sprint = #24;

I'm told this is NOT possible .. and I'm currently looking for another solution. I can't help noticing that the Quake engine *can* display multiple text at the same time, eg when using ezquake, I can simultaneously see:

1. The sprint, bprint, centreprint etc outputs
2. Hitting 'tab' brings up the menu bar, but you can *still* see the above messages continue to appear.
3. Death messages (fading in and out).
4. A display of how fast you are moving


So there must be another method...


OneManClan
ps. I'd use CSQC but most players are still using ezquake/fuhquake.

[Team Xlink]

Some engines such as ezQuake support this feature engine side.

Couldn't you use a variable for the unspecified arguments?

[OneManClan]

Some engines such as ezQuake support this feature engine side.

Not sure what you mean.. Is there an alternative, client specific way to output the timer? Please explain.

Couldn't you use a variable for the unspecified arguments?

Well fteqw.qc does contain some code which looks like it receives '(...)', and I recall someone saying that a function can return a function... Otoh, someone else suggested that outputting the timer every frame, for every client will slow down the server, so I don't know if I need a completely different implementation concept, or just put the idea in the 'too hard' basket.

[ratbert]

OMC that was me suggesting you use a timer or time compare to only send down the centerprint stuff when needed. Sending a centerprint to client on everyframe can be a bottle neck and wasteful.

Might suggest an alternative in using the monster kill count / total monsters count that is displayed on the left bottom of the quake client status bar. Don't know if those are disabled during regular tf play or not since they are not really used. You could use the total monsters killed count as your minutes and total monster count as your seconds. Since you would use the writebyte / writelong code options to update them, you would broadcast it to all clients in one pass. Again I would use some timer function or time compare send this stuff down the line to clients. No sense of sending things when not necessary.

[OneManClan]

OMC that was me suggesting you use a timer or time compare to only send down the centerprint stuff when needed.

Thanks Ratbert, yes I did save your comments (via screenshot) and will look over them carefully tomorrow when I have more time. Btw I avoid mentioning the names of Gurus when I'm hoping they're wrong (I don't want to appear disrespectful), and as a newb, there's a good chance I've misunderstood what they meant anyway..

Sending a centerprint to client on everyframe can be a bottle neck and wasteful.

Well I got the method from the Mission Timer tutorial (inside3d). What if the server only sent the 'timeleft' once every second? (I'll try it when I get home). Though this would still overwrite all the sprints - unless..:

Might suggest an alternative in using the monster kill count / total monsters count that is displayed on the left bottom of the quake client status bar. Don't know if those are disabled during regular tf play or not since they are not really used. You could use the total monsters killed count as your minutes and total monster count as your seconds. Since you would use the writebyte / writelong code options to update them, you would broadcast it to all clients in one pass. Again I would use some timer function or time compare send this stuff down the line to clients. No sense of sending things when not necessary.

Brilliant! Using ezquake (single-player mode), holding down 'tab' shows monsters, secrets and time since game began. TF-mode (customtf) shows only the time since the game began..

Can these displays be modifid via QuakeC...?
Can they be made to show *without* hitting 'tab'?
Where can I get more info?

[frag.machine]

In defs.qc....

Thanks frag.machine. I was able to do this (make a wrapper) for centreprint, but the issue here is trying to wrap functions w unspecified arguments, specifically:

void(...) bprint = #23;
void(...) sprint = #24;

I'm told this is NOT possible .. and I'm currently looking for another solution. I can't help noticing that the Quake engine *can* display multiple text at the same time, eg when using ezquake, I can simultaneously see:

1. The sprint, bprint, centreprint etc outputs
2. Hitting 'tab' brings up the menu bar, but you can *still* see the above messages continue to appear.
3. Death messages (fading in and out).
4. A display of how fast you are moving


So there must be another method...


OneManClan
ps. I'd use CSQC but most players are still using ezquake/fuhquake.

If by "(...)" you mean variable number of parms, then you can do this:

Code: Select all

void(string s1) bprint = #23;
void(string s1, string s2) bprint2 = #23;
void(string s1, string s2, string s3) bprint3 = #23;
(...)


You can repeat it up to 7 input parameters (this is a vanilla Quake limitation, don't know if it aplies for DP or FTEQW).