Lightning effect using canvas?

[DeltaLeeds]

Hello everyone! Glad to see some interesting posts lately including Bat78's newspaper posts which perks me up to what's going on concerning gE's development and new rising game makers like Koala... So onto the topic!

I really want to know if it is possible to make a random lightning effect for gE using canvas... This sounds ridiculous (Especially with my knowledge of programming and stuff.) but is it possible? And if yes, how do I do it? (Tbh, I don't really know how to use canvas except for making health bars and other meters. xD)

[koala]

Hello everyone! Glad to see some interesting posts lately including Bat78's newspaper posts which perks me up to what's going on concerning gE's development and new rising game makers like Koala... So onto the topic!

I really want to know if it is possible to make a random lightning effect for gE using canvas... This sounds ridiculous (Especially with my knowledge of programming and stuff.) but is it possible? And if yes, how do I do it? (Tbh, I don't really know how to use canvas except for making health bars and other meters. xD)

Hi, jonathang!

Just draw a canvas and write this code to it:

Code: Select all

int i, j, k, t; // iterators
int left, right; // number of left and right branches
int leftSection, rightSection; // one section for every branch
int leftI, rightI; // starting position of a branch
int length; // length of a branch


erase(0, 0, 0, 0);

left = 4;
right = 3;
length = 100;
 
leftSection = height / (left + 1);
rightSection = height / (right + 1);


leftI = (int) rand(leftSection);
rightI = (int) rand(rightSection);


// drawing lightning
j = (int) rand(width - width / 5) + width / 10; // x coordinate
for (i = 0; i < height; i++) { // y coordinate
    // main lightning
    setpen(255, 255, 255, 0, 3);
    j = j + rand(3) - 1;
    putpixel(j, i);
 
    // one left branch
    if (i == leftI && left > 0) {
        setpen(255, 255, 255, 0, 2);
        for (k = j, t = leftI; t < leftI + length; t++) {
            k = k + (int) rand(4) - 2;
            putpixel(k, t);
        }
 
        leftI += leftSection;
        left--;
    }
 
    // one right branch
    if (i == rightI && right > 0) {
        setpen(255, 255, 255, 0, 2);
        for (k = j, t = rightI; t < rightI + length; t++) {
            k = k + (int) rand(4) - 1;
            putpixel(k, t);
        }
 
        rightI += rightSection;
        right--;
    }
}

Windows executable
ged and data files

[DeltaLeeds]

Sorry for the really late reply!
Woah! That's amazing! Thanks for the help and even a demo too (+1ed), but can we make it so that the lightning strikes a specific actor inside the canvas?

[koala]

Sorry for the really late reply!
Woah! That's amazing! Thanks for the help and even a demo too (+1ed), but can we make it so that the lightning strikes a specific actor inside the canvas?

I am glad you like it! Here's what you've asked.
Windows executable
ged and data files
Now you are drawing main lightning from bottom, from player's xscreen coordinate. Side lightnings are still drawn from top to bottom.
Canvas has timer now, which erases lightning and sets normal animation to player.

[DeltaLeeds]

Sorry for the really late reply!
Woah! That's amazing! Thanks for the help and even a demo too (+1ed), but can we make it so that the lightning strikes a specific actor inside the canvas?

I am glad you like it! Here's what you've asked.
Windows executable
ged and data files
Now you are drawing main lightning from bottom, from player's xscreen coordinate. Side lightnings are still drawn from top to bottom.
Canvas has timer now, which erases lightning and sets normal animation to player.

Ah! So you have to draw the lightning from the player's XSCREEN coordinate.. Lol, I thought it was just the x coordinate, and I've been wondering what I was doing wrong all along!
A really clear explanation and demo! Thanks a million Koala!

[koala]

Sorry for the really late reply!
Woah! That's amazing! Thanks for the help and even a demo too (+1ed), but can we make it so that the lightning strikes a specific actor inside the canvas?

I am glad you like it! Here's what you've asked.
Windows executable
ged and data files
Now you are drawing main lightning from bottom, from player's xscreen coordinate. Side lightnings are still drawn from top to bottom.
Canvas has timer now, which erases lightning and sets normal animation to player.

Ah! So you have to draw the lightning from the player's XSCREEN coordinate.. Lol, I thought it was just the x coordinate, and I've been wondering what I was doing wrong all along!
A really clear explanation and demo! Thanks a million Koala!

No problem, Jonathang!