Topic: side scrolling (SOLVED)

[EnterTheStory (aka tolworthy)]

When ego walks to the side, the scene scrolls (the background image is larger than the screen) but not at the 40 fps implied by SetGameSpeed. It seems to move at maybe 5 or 10 fps - is this normal? Is there a way to get the scrolling to look smoother? The sprites also move jerkily, but I'm guessing that's just because they don't have many frames per second and gliding is off.

Sorry for all these noob questions, but this is the beginner's technical board, and in my defense I did check the manual and the forums first.

[Khris]

The scrolling speed is related to Roger's walking speed; the screen is moved so that Roger is always centered, if possible.
If that wasn't the answer you were looking for, what did you mean exactly?

[GarageGothic]

KhrisMUC is spot-on with his explanation. To circumvent this issue, you might use a custom script for scrolling the screen. Check out Ali's smooth scrolling code from Nelly Cootalot.

[EnterTheStory (aka tolworthy)]

The scrolling speed is related to Roger's walking speed; the screen is moved so that Roger is always centered, if possible.

Ah, that explains it. Thanks! On a related note, 40 frames per second is more than I expected. Movies get by with 24-30 fps, cartoons with even less. Is there a reason for this generosity, like redraws are noticable at lower rates? Or is AGS just showing off?

[Khris]

I think it's something like "if your game runs smoothly at 40 fps, people with slower computers can probably still enjoy it".

[scotch]

The main thing you'll notice if you lower the framerate is a jerkier cursor. People are used to at least 60 fps on their desktop, and without motion blur a small fast moving object isn't pretty at TV/film framerates. Some console games use blur or cursor trails for that reason. Not that 30 fps is too bad. 40 looks reasonably smooth. AGS isn't really showing off, 60fps is very common in modern 2D games. 40 is a good middle ground.

[EnterTheStory (aka tolworthy)]

a small fast moving object isn't pretty at TV/film framerates.

Off topic, but I never understood that about movies. They should be renamed "jerkies." It looks OK on a small TV screen, but at the size of a cinema screen any full screen fast movement is terrible. Next time you go to a big screen movie, look at rapid movement, especially at the edge of the screen.
Maybe it's because I live in Britain and they convert two different frame rates? But I wouldn't think that applied to movie houses.

Maybe that's why video games are so popular - smooth moving pictures are a technological novelty.

Just thinking aloud. Maybe it's just me.

[Da_Elf]

there is no different frame rate for movies in the cinima. filmis 24 frames a second world wide. you could say its pretty much a standard. its only video that relies on electricity cycles that need different speeds. (which is weird since they used the number 30fps for countries running electricity at 60Hz yet my island still uses NTSC but its electricity is 50Hz)

[Radiant]

Off topic, but I never understood that about movies. They should be renamed "jerkies."

According to Wikipedia, it is done that way to save on expensive film reels.