numeric.md

Numeric

Ancestor	Object
Modules	NumericDeprecated, ValueType, Comparable, Kernel

The Numeric class has been extend to provide methods that will help in common game development tasks.

frame_index(sprite_frames, frames_to_hold, looping)

This function is helpful for determining the index of frame-by-frame sprite animation. The numeric value self represents the moment the animation started.

frame_index takes three additional parameters:

• How many sprite frames exist in the animation
• How many ticks to display a single frame of animation
• Whether the animation should repeat

frame_index will return nil if the time for the animation is out of bounds of the parameter specification.

Example using variables:

def tick args
  start_looping_at = 0
  number_of_sprites = 6
  number_of_frames_to_show_each_sprite = 4
  does_sprite_loop = true

  sprite_index =
    start_looping_at.frame_index number_of_sprites,
                                 number_of_frames_to_show_each_sprite,
                                 does_sprite_loop

  sprite_index ||= 0

  args.outputs.sprites << [
    640 - 50,
    360 - 50,
    100,
    100,
    "sprites/dragon-#{sprite_index}.png"
  ]
end

Example using named parameters. The named parameters version allows you to also specify a repeat_index which is useful if your animation has starting frames that shouldn't be considered when looped:

def tick args
  start_looping_at = 0

  sprite_index =
    start_looping_at.frame_index count: 6,
                                 hold_for: 4,
                                 repeat: true,
                                 repeat_index: 0,
                                 tick_count_override: args.state.tick_count

  sprite_index ||= 0

  args.outputs.sprites << [
    640 - 50,
    360 - 50,
    100,
    100,
    "sprites/dragon-#{sprite_index}.png"
  ]
end

The named parameter variant of frame_index is also available on Numeric:

def tick args
  sprite_index =
    Numeric.frame_index start_at: 0,
                        count: 6,
                        hold_for: 4,
                        repeat: true,
                        repeat_index: 0,
                        tick_count_override: args.state.tick_count

  sprite_index ||= 0

  args.outputs.sprites << [
    640 - 50,
    360 - 50,
    100,
    100,
    "sprites/dragon-#{sprite_index}.png"
  ]
end

elapsed_time([tick_number])

For a given number, the elapsed frames since that number is returned. Kernel.tick_count is used to determine how many frames have elapsed. An optional numeric argument can be passed in which will be used instead of Kernel.tick_count.

Here is an example of how elapsed_time can be used.

def tick args
  args.state.last_click_at ||= 0

  # record when a mouse click occurs
  if args.inputs.mouse.click
    args.state.last_click_at = args.state.tick_count
  end

  # Use Numeric#elapsed_time to determine how long it's been
  if args.state.last_click_at.elapsed_time > 120
    args.outputs.labels << [10, 710, "It has been over 2 seconds since the mouse was clicked."]
  end
end

And here is an example where the override parameter is passed in:

def tick args
  args.state.last_click_at ||= 0

  # create a state variable that tracks time at half the speed of args.state.tick_count
  args.state.simulation_tick = args.state.tick_count.idiv 2

  # record when a mouse click occurs
  if args.inputs.mouse.click
    args.state.last_click_at = args.state.simulation_tick
  end

  # Use Numeric#elapsed_time to determine how long it's been
  if (args.state.last_click_at.elapsed_time args.state.simulation_tick) > 120
    args.outputs.labels << [10, 710, "It has been over 4 seconds since the mouse was clicked."]
  end
end

elapsed?([offset_tick])

Returns true if Numeric#elapsed_time is greater than the number. An optional parameter can be passed into elapsed? which is added to the number before evaluating whether elapsed? is true.

Example usage (no optional parameter):

def tick args
  args.state.box_queue ||= []

  if args.state.box_queue.empty?
    args.state.box_queue << { name: :red,
                              destroy_at: args.state.tick_count + 60 }
    args.state.box_queue << { name: :green,
                              destroy_at: args.state.tick_count + 60 }
    args.state.box_queue << { name: :blue,
                              destroy_at: args.state.tick_count + 120 }
  end

  boxes_to_destroy = args.state
                         .box_queue
                         .find_all { |b| b[:destroy_at].elapsed? }

  if !boxes_to_destroy.empty?
    puts "boxes to destroy count: #{boxes_to_destroy.length}"
  end

  boxes_to_destroy.each { |b| puts "box #{b} was elapsed? on #{args.state.tick_count}." }

  args.state.box_queue -= boxes_to_destroy
end

Example usage (with optional parameter):

def tick args
  args.state.box_queue ||= []

  if args.state.box_queue.empty?
    args.state.box_queue << { name: :red,
                              create_at: args.state.tick_count + 120,
                              lifespan: 60 }
    args.state.box_queue << { name: :green,
                              create_at: args.state.tick_count + 120,
                              lifespan: 60 }
    args.state.box_queue << { name: :blue,
                              create_at: args.state.tick_count + 120,
                              lifespan: 120 }
  end

  # lifespan is passed in as a parameter to ~elapsed?~
  boxes_to_destroy = args.state
                         .box_queue
                         .find_all { |b| b[:create_at].elapsed? b[:lifespan] }

  if !boxes_to_destroy.empty?
    puts "boxes to destroy count: #{boxes_to_destroy.length}"
  end

  boxes_to_destroy.each { |b| puts "box #{b} was elapsed? on #{args.state.tick_count}." }

  args.state.box_queue -= boxes_to_destroy
end

new?

Returns true if Numeric#elapsed_time == 0. Essentially communicating that number is equal to the current frame.

Example usage:

def tick args
  args.state.box_queue ||= []

  if args.state.box_queue.empty?
    args.state.box_queue << { name: :red,
                              create_at: args.state.tick_count + 60 }
  end

  boxes_to_spawn_this_frame = args.state
                                  .box_queue
                                  .find_all { |b| b[:create_at].new? }

  boxes_to_spawn_this_frame.each { |b| puts "box #{b} was new? on #{args.state.tick_count}." }

  args.state.box_queue -= boxes_to_spawn_this_frame
end