Re: Direction of Linux games...

[Erik <br0ke@math.smsu.edu>]

On 18-Nov-99 Keith Lucas wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> 
>>Can't someone just shove a usleep() in there, for heaven's sake? Will
>>not make it properly done, but will make it *run* properly at least
>>(what? being penalized because I have a better computer/video card? I
>>don't even have a friggin' Turbo button!)...
> 
> You could do it by timing a couple of frames & working out how much to
> usleep,
> but the problem is that it will add a constant delay to each frame, which
> could
> cause currently borderline frame render times (plus the delay) to break frame
> where they shouldn't. Plus the issue is that you'd have to drop to the common
> factor of the frame-rates: which is 15fps. Not that good. This actually saves
> you slightly from the frame-break issue, because the actual frame boundaries
> can
> occur on the granualarity of the refresh sequence. But 15fps physics would
> probably be noticeable. And anyway, I wunt be happy getting the same
> performance
> out of my 120MHz/Voodoo1 machine as out of my 400MHz/VoodooII one.
> 
> You could use the microsecond time functions to generate a usleep of nearly
> the
> right length each frame, buuuuut.. usleep isn't accurate.
> 
> The actual solution without re-doing the physics is hard... essentially in
> each
> 75Hz frame you have to do 4/5 of what you'd do in a 60Hz frame and all the
> timing will get screwed up.


no it's not, just add a delta time multiplier to all translations, rotations,
inputs, etc. It's really easy to make games independant of system speed, and
pretty easy to convert games that aren't built right...

I would have figured everyone knew how to do this, but to yeild this much
discussion, I guess not? If anyone wants, I can write up a tutorial on making
programs apperant speed independant of system speed (barring framerate
comparisions). Should only take an hour or two, and I'll have time this
weekend? lemme know

        -Erik <br0ke@math.smsu.edu> [http://math.smsu.edu/~br0ke]

The opinions expressed by me are not necessarily opinions. In all
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