Defeating the loading

[behind_you]

I'm trying to implement moving .lmps during loading times. Ive done this successfully, but the psp is busy loading instead of doing the lmp animation. I want it so that the psp animates the lmp while loading (ie animates the lmp as first priority). I know that this is highly unorthodox and may cause problems, but I want to test it out anyway. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Baker]

I'm trying to implement moving .lmps during loading times. Ive done this successfully, but the psp is busy loading instead of doing the lmp animation. I want it so that the psp animates the lmp while loading (ie animates the lmp as first priority). I know that this is highly unorthodox and may cause problems, but I want to test it out anyway. Any help is greatly appreciated.

When the PSP is loading, it is reading files and so forth. If you really wanted to, you could occasionally call SCR_Update (video_hardware_screen.cpp) from within video_hardware_model.cpp during the various stages of loading a map. You would run into numerous issues like "scr_disabled_for_loading" would be true would immediately exits SCR_Update but you could change that.

It'd be a lot of work and work poorly.

[behind_you]

i c. So kinda like a loading bar, right? Would it drastically increase loading times?

[Baker]

i c. So kinda like a loading bar, right? Would it drastically increase loading times?

Yeah. And you wouldn't get anything smooth out of the process at all.

[behind_you]

ok, thanks 4 sharing ur knowledge.

How about an lmp that doesn't animate but changes alpha every second or so during loading? Im thinking that its a similar technique to the one u described, but i only want it to change a few frames then stop.

[Baker]

(Now this isn't an answer to your question, but I'm showing you how and where the 2D drawing works. With this information, if you put your mind to it, you can begin experimentation.)

Look at the function SCR_Update in video_hardware_screen.cpp (I think that is the right file).

There is a line like this:

Code: Select all

   GL_Set2D ();


All the 2D drawing in a frame is done after that point in SCR_Update. (a frame is single drawing pass, like if you get 70 fps ... the screen is being drawing 70 times per second)

Depending on the engine, you'll have stuff like this ...

Code: Select all

   Draw_Crosshair ();
      SCR_DrawRam ();
      SCR_DrawNet ();
      SCR_DrawTurtle ();
      SCR_DrawPause ();
      SCR_CheckDrawCenterString ();
      SCR_DrawFPS ();
      SCR_DrawSpeed ();
      SCR_DrawVolume ();   //Baker: fix this
      Sbar_Draw ();
      SCR_DrawConsole ();
      M_Draw ();

All the 2D drawing is done either in SCR_Update or in the functions called by SCR_Update like, for instance, Sbar_Draw ... which draws the status bar.

Now when the engine starts the loading plaque (in Kurok this is a full screen black with the word "Loading..." at the bottom, but in standard Quake this is a little box that says "Loading" in the middle of the screen), it calls this

Code: Select all

void SCR_BeginLoadingPlaque (void)
{
   S_StopAllSounds (true);

   if (cls.state != ca_connected)
      return;
   if (cls.signon != SIGNONS)
      return;

// redraw with no console and the loading plaque
   Con_ClearNotify ();
   scr_centertime_off = 0;
   scr_con_current = 0;

   scr_drawloading = true;
   scr_fullupdate = 0;
   Sbar_Changed ();
   SCR_UpdateScreen ();
   scr_drawloading = false;

   scr_disabled_for_loading = true;
   scr_disabled_time = realtime;
   scr_fullupdate = 0;
}

Notice the SCR_Update () in the middle. Now the scr_drawloading is set to true BEFORE SCR_Update so that SCR_Update will draw the loading plague ... as such

Part of SCR_Update

Code: Select all

   else if (scr_drawloading) //loading
   {
      SCR_DrawLoading ();
   }

Which calls SCR_DrawLoading ...

Code: Select all

/*
==============
SCR_DrawLoading
==============
*/
void SCR_DrawLoading (void)
{
   qpic_t   *pic;

   if (!scr_drawloading)
      return;

   pic = Draw_CachePic ("gfx/loading.lmp");
   Draw_Pic ( (vid.width - pic->width)/2, (vid.height - 48 - pic->height)/2, pic);
}

Which is drawing the little "gfx/loading.lmp" box on the screen.

With this information, you should have enough to do your own experimentation and play around.

Engine coding is difficult to learn and I'd recommend you do a lot of tutorials. Only hands-on working with the engine code will give you enough experience to do any real engine modification.

Team XLink made this great reference:

viewtopic.php?t=2426

I'm just saying if you do some of the tutorials and spend a week or 2 doing your own experiments and tracing back code, you wouldn't even need to post this thread.

It's ok to ask very beginner questions several times, but you should do tutorials and/or read some of the engine threads.

[Baker]

More information ...

If you are changing the alpha of an image, you are still drawing a frame because you have to draw a new frame with a different alpha. It is no different than doing an animation which is also a drawing frame.

If you wanted to change the loading plaque above to have an alpha value ... instead of Draw_Pic use Draw_AlphaPic which has a final value of the range 0 to 1 (0 = invisible, .5 = half alpha, 1 = fully solid).

Example

Code: Select all

void SCR_DrawLoading (void)
{
   qpic_t   *pic;

   if (!scr_drawloading)
      return;

   pic = Draw_CachePic ("gfx/loading.lmp");
   Draw_AlphaPic ( (vid.width - pic->width)/2, (vid.height - 48 - pic->height)/2, pic, 0.5 /* Half translucent */);
}

[behind_you]

This is an awesome in depth tutorial! I've learned a lot after reading this over 3 times. Thanks a lot, especially knowing how busy you are.

I'm actually learning source code quite quickly. I only post a question after trying until im 100 percent stuck. Honestly, I learned how to draw_transpic all on my own, along with changing death rotation screen, screen flashing, weapon bobbing, and i even replaced the health number with a health bar(not with draw fill, but with actual lmps). I know that most of these often only include changing one variable, but to me its a big deal. Make fun if u like, bt im proud of myself.

One little q. How do i make a function 'stall' before being done?

[Baker]

One little q. How do i make a function 'stall' before being done?

Code: Select all

   SCR_ModalMessage ("Press Y or N to continue");


[behind_you]

ok thats cool because i was wondering about that as well. But i meant like stall 2 seconds, not until keypress

[Baker]

Code: Select all

   float time1 = Sys_DoubleTime (); /* save old time*/
   float time2 = 0.0f;
   float timeout = 2.0f; // 2 second timeout

   do {
      time2 = Sys_DoubleTime (); // Get current time
   } while (time2 <= time1 + timeout); // Wait for 2 seconds to elapse


[behind_you]

thanks!