Lua Programming Help Thread

[yaustar]

BTW, thats why the maximum fps you get see on a screen is 60 correct?

Yes it is.

[JaSo PsP]

SG57, do you know if the string.gmatch function is implemented in the latest PSP version of Luaplyer. I currently only have access to the Windows version and it doesn't seem to have it.


Use the millisecond timer and every time you get the number of ms from the timer, divide by 1000 to get the number of seconds.

i cant display it on the screen tho.. i dunno what the variable is called, i dont really understand the link

[yaustar]

Blah = Timer.new() -- Creates a new timer object called Blah. Starts from 0
Blah:start() -- Starts the timer
NumberOfMs = Blah:time() -- Gets the number of milliseconds from the timer since the timer started + the start value
NumberOfSec = math.floor(NumberOfMs /1000) -- Converts from Ms to Secs rounded down.

[JaSo PsP]

Blah = Timer.new() -- Creates a new timer object called Blah. Starts from 0
Blah:start() -- Starts the timer
NumberOfMs = Blah:time() -- Gets the number of milliseconds from the timer since the timer started + the start value
NumberOfSec = math.floor(NumberOfMs /1000) -- Converts from Ms to Secs rounded down.

thanx, so i use number of sec as the variable? and does it stop at 0?

[yaustar]

Don't copy and paste that code into your program. I only wrote it to describe how to call and use the functions. You have to apply that knowledge to your code.

[JaSo PsP]

timer dont count down:

levelTimer = Timer.new(100000)
levelTimer:start()
red = Color.new(255,0,0)
background = Image.load("cloud.png")
smiley = Image.load("smile.png")
sad = Image.load("sad.png")
math.randomseed(os.time())
rx = math.random(0,442)
ry = math.random(0,234)
boost = 1000
score = 0
x = 0
y = 5
NumberOfMs = levelTimer:time()
NumberOfSec = math.floor(NumberOfMs/1000)

function booster()
if boost < 1 then
boost = 0
end
boost = boost - 1
end

function CheckBoxCollisionHack()
	if ((x + 36) > rx) and (x < (rx + 36)) then 
		if ((y + 36) > ry) and (y < (ry + 36)) then
			return true
		end
	end
	
	return false
end

while true do

screen:clear()
screen:blit(0,0,background)
screen:print(0,263,"Press X for SPEED BOOST",red)
screen:print(0,0,"Boost Left: "..boost ,red)
screen:print(0,7,"Time: "..NumberOfSec,red)
screen:blit(x, y, smiley)
screen:blit(rx, ry, sad)

[yaustar]

They count up. These two lines are also incorrect in terms of where you put them in your code

NumberOfMs = levelTimer:time()
NumberOfSec = math.floor(NumberOfMs/1000)

[JaSo PsP]

They count up. These two lines are also incorrect in terms of where you put them in your code

NumberOfMs = levelTimer:time()
NumberOfSec = math.floor(NumberOfMs/1000)

how the hell do i get it to count down? i got it to count up now...

[yaustar]

TotalTimeLimit = 100000

-- Later on in your code
NumberOfMs = levelTimer:time()
NumberOfSec = math.floor(NumberOfMs/1000)
TimeLeft = TotalTimeLimit - NumberOfSecs

Seriously, these are really simple abstract problems that you should be able to solve yourself.

[JaSo PsP]

TotalTimeLimit = 100000

-- Later on in your code
NumberOfMs = levelTimer:time()
NumberOfSec = math.floor(NumberOfMs/1000)
TimeLeft = TotalTimeLimit - NumberOfSecs

Seriously, these are really simple abstract problems that you should be able to solve yourself.

total time limit has to be 200, 10000 makes the time go to 9999 and count down.
i wanted it at 100 and down
problem i solved myself :P

[yaustar]

That's because you start the timer right at the start of your code, by the time the time left has started, the PSP has already spent 1sec loading in graphics and getting to the main loop.

Edit: Oh you meant you wanted 100 seconds. Nevermind then.

[JaSo PsP]

now i need to make the hi score save if its higher than the current hi score, how does this work?
-= Double Post =-
also, whats wrong with this:

if TimeLeft < 1 then
screen:clear
screen:print(200,135,"Game Over, Your score was: "..score,red)
end

g2g for lunch now.. ill check back here l8r for answers.

[mark.sparky]

jaso you need a parentheses after the screen:clear so it looks like this screen:clear() and for the hi-score do something like this


if highscore < score then
highscore = score
end

[Grimfate126]

jaso you need a parentheses after the screen:clear so it looks like this screen:clear() and for the hi-score do something like this


if highscore < score then
highscore = score
end

wouldnd it be:

if highscore > score then
highscore = score
end

but i guess it depends.

[TeamOverload]

wouldnd it be:

if highscore > score then
highscore = score
end

but i guess it depends.

No, because then if the high score was greater than the score, the high score would be changed to the lower score.

[mark.sparky]

no because that would be

if highscore is less than score then
highscore equals score
end

which doesnt make any sense

[JaSo PsP]

wouldnd it be:

if highscore > score then
highscore = score
end

but i guess it depends.

it still wouldnt save it, when i reset the game, the high score will go down to nil, i want it so it writes the high score to a file. also how would i read the contents of that file? (anyone who helps me will go down on a list of all the people that have helped me and they will get some credit for the finished game)

[Access_Denied]

it still wouldnt save it, when i reset the game, the high score will go down to nil, i want it so it writes the high score to a file. also how would i read the contents of that file? (anyone who helps me will go down on a list of all the people that have helped me and they will get some credit for the finished game)

write contents

score = io.open("score.txt","w")
score:write(highscore)
score:close()

read

highscore = io.open("score.txt","r")
thehighscore = highscore:read()
highscore:close()

With the read function, the variable "thehighscore" is you high score read from the file.

[JaSo PsP]

this works by the way:

if TimeLeft < 1 then
levelTimer:stop()
screen:clear()
screen:print(200,100,"Game Over, Your Score was: "..score,red)
end

-= Double Post =-

write contents

score = io.open("score.txt","w")
score:write(highscore)
score:close()

read

highscore = io.open("score.txt","r")
thehighscore = highscore:read()
highscore:close()

With the read function, the variable "thehighscore" is you high score read from the file.

thanx, this game is so near completion. ill submit it soon.

ps: what does the w and r mean on the io open brackets?

hi score works now

[Access_Denied]

this works by the way:

if TimeLeft < 1 then
levelTimer:stop()
screen:clear()
screen:print(200,100,"Game Over, Your Score was: "..score,red)
end

-= Double Post =-


thanx, this game is so near completion. ill submit it soon.

ps: what does the w and r mean on the io open brackets?

hi score works now

The "w" means write and the "r" means read

Go to evilmana.com and look at thier tutorial on reading and writing files. It'll give you a whole list of functions like that.

[mark.sparky]

the w means write and the r means read but watch out because w means to overwite what was in that file and a means to write after what was already there

[Access_Denied]

the w means write and the r means read but watch out because w means to overwite what was in that file and a means to write after what was already there

He wants the "w" though, because he wants to write over the existing high score.

[mark.sparky]

i know i was just telling him in case he wanted to know.

Anway on to my problem. What is wrong with this code because the all the barricades appear at once and the score goes straight to the highest

function firstLevel()
level1 = math.random( 1,60)
if level1 == 24 then
barricade[1].pic = true
barricade[2].pic = false
barricade[3].pic = false
barricade[4].pic = false
barricade[5].pic = false
barricade[6].pic = false
end
if level1 == 49 then
barricade[1].pic = false
barricade[2].pic = true
barricade[3].pic = false
barricade[4].pic = false
barricade[5].pic = false
barricade[6].pic = false
end
if level1 == 1 then
barricade[1].pic = false
barricade[2].pic = false
barricade[3].pic = true
barricade[4].pic = false
barricade[5].pic = false
barricade[6].pic = false
end
if level1 == 15 then
barricade[1].pic = false
barricade[2].pic = false
barricade[3].pic = false
barricade[4].pic = true
barricade[5].pic = false
barricade[6].pic = false
end
if level1 == 59 then
barricade[1].pic = false
barricade[2].pic = false
barricade[3].pic = false
barricade[4].pic = false
barricade[5].pic = true
barricade[6].pic = false
end
if level1 == 33 then
barricade[1].pic = true
barricade[2].pic = false
barricade[3].pic = false
barricade[4].pic = false
barricade[5].pic = false
barricade[6].pic = true
end
if barricade[1].pic == true then
barricade[1].lane = true
end
if barricade[1].lane == true then
screen:blit( barricade[1].x, barricade[1].y, barricade1)
barricade[1].x = barricade[1].x - 0.25
end
if barricade[1].x == 0 then
barricade[1].lane = false
end
if barricade[2].pic == true then
barricade[2].lane = true
end
if barricade[2].lane == true then
screen:blit( barricade[2].x, barricade[2].y, barricade1)
barricade[2].x = barricade[2].x - 0.25
end
if barricade[2].x == 0 then
barricade[2].lane = false
end
if barricade[3].pic == true then
barricade[3].lane = true
end
if barricade[3].lane == true then
screen:blit( barricade[3].x, barricade[3].y, barricade1)
barricade[3].x = barricade[3].x - 0.25
end
if barricade[3].x == 0 then
barricade[3].lane = false
end
if barricade[4].pic == true then
barricade[4].lane = true
end
if barricade[4].lane == true then
screen:blit( barricade[4].x, barricade[4].y, barricade1)
barricade[4].x = barricade[4].x - 0.25
end
if barricade[4].x == 0 then
barricade[4].lane = false
end
if barricade[5].pic == true then
barricade[5].lane = true
end
if barricade[5].lane == true then
screen:blit( barricade[5].x, barricade[5].y, barricade1)
barricade[5].x = barricade[5].x - 0.25
end
if barricade[5].x == 0 then
barricade[5].lane = false
end
if barricade[6].pic == true then
barricade[6].lane = true
end
if barricade[6].lane == true then
screen:blit( barricade[6].x, barricade[6].y, barricade1)
barricade[6].x = barricade[6].x - 0.25
end
if barricade[6].x == 0 then
barricade[6].lane = false
end
if lane == 0 and barricade[1].x <= (player[1].x + player[1].width) then
player[1].life = player[1].life - 1
barricade[1].x = 0
end
if lane == 1 and barricade[2].x <= (player[1].x + player[1].width) then
player[1].life = player[1].life - 1
barricade[1].x = 0
end
if lane == 2 and barricade[3].x <= (player[1].x + player[1].width) then
player[1].life = player[1].life - 1
barricade[1].x = 0
end
if lane == 3 and barricade[4].x <= (player[1].x + player[1].width) then
player[1].life = player[1].life - 1
barricade[1].x = 0
end
if lane == 4 and barricade[5].x <= (player[1].x + player[1].width) then
player[1].life = player[1].life - 1
barricade[1].x = 0
end
if lane == 5 and barricade[6].x <= (player[1].x + player[1].width) then
player[1].life = player[1].life - 1
barricade[1].x = 0
end
if lane ~= 0 and barricade[1].x <= (player[1].x + player[1].width) then
player[1].score = player[1].score + 2
player[1].lifescore = player[1].lifescore + 2
barricade[1].x = 0
if highscore < player[1].score then
highscore = highscore + 2
end
end
if lane ~= 1 and barricade[2].x <= (player[1].x + player[1].width) then
player[1].score = player[1].score + 2
player[1].lifescore = player[1].lifescore + 2
barricade[1].x = 0
if highscore < player[1].score then
highscore = highscore + 2
end
end
if lane ~= 2 and barricade[3].x <= (player[1].x + player[1].width) then
player[1].score = player[1].score + 2
player[1].lifescore = player[1].lifescore + 2
barricade[1].x = 0
if highscore < player[1].score then
highscore = highscore + 2
end
end
if lane ~= 3 and barricade[4].x <= (player[1].x + player[1].width) then
player[1].score = player[1].score + 2
player[1].lifescore = player[1].lifescore + 2
barricade[1].x = 0
if highscore < player[1].score then
highscore = highscore + 2
end
end
if lane ~= 4 and barricade[5].x <= (player[1].x + player[1].width) then
player[1].score = player[1].score + 2
player[1].lifescore = player[1].lifescore + 2
barricade[1].x = 0
if highscore < player[1].score then
highscore = highscore + 2
end
end
if lane ~= 5 and barricade[6].x <= (player[1].x + player[1].width) then
player[1].score = player[1].score + 2
player[1].lifescore = player[1].lifescore + 2
barricade[1].x = 0
if highscore < player[1].score then
highscore = highscore + 2
end
end
if player[1].lifescore == 40 then
player[1].life = player[1].life + 1
player[1].lifescore = 0
end
end

[JaSo PsP]

i get an error with this... i was so close to releasing the game...

if TimeLeft < 1 then
levelTimer:stop()
screen:clear()
if score > theHighScore then --this line brings up error
writeHiScore()
end
screen:print(150,100,"Game Over, Your Score was: "..score,red)
end

this line works with thehighscore??:
screen:print(270,263,"Hi Score: "..theHighScore,red)

the error message says cant compare number with string but they are both variables!!??

[Access_Denied]

i get an error with this... i was so close to releasing the game...

if TimeLeft < 1 then
levelTimer:stop()
screen:clear()
if score > thehighscore then --this line brings up error
writeHiScore()
end
screen:print(150,100,"Game Over, Your Score was: "..score,red)
end

What's the error?

[JaSo PsP]

What's the error?

cant compare string with number but they are both variables? or, it doesnt recognice the hiscore in the txt document as a number? how can i sort this out?

[Bronx]

a string is usually a line of characters (a.b.c.d. ect...) Also where are you declaring those two variables? That could be the problem as well

[mark.sparky]

You need if score < thehighscore then instead of if score > thehighscore then and also have you put

file = io.open("the highscore file","w")
file:write(thehighscore)
file:close()

in the code and just to tell you < is less than and > is greater than

[JaSo PsP]

these are the variables at the start. theres nothing wrong cos it can display them in the game:

highscore = io.open("hiscore.txt","r")
theHighScore = highscore:read() --this is where it reads the file, it doesnt read it as a number
score = 0

-= Double Post =-

You need if score < thehighscore then instead of if score > thehighscore then and also have you put

file = io.open("the highscore file","w")
file:write(thehighscore)
file:close()

in the code and just to tell you < is less than and > is greater than

yer, it cant read the info in the document as a number, help!

[Grimfate126]

u probably declared the value of either "score" or "theHighScore" as a string.

post the code where u declare the vars.