Game Loop and Animation

Overview

The game loop in this project aims to achieve a consistent 60 frames per second (FPS) animation rate. It manages frame rate, timing, and optimizes performance to provide a smooth gameplay experience.

Source: src/PacMan.Blazor/Client/Program.cs

Source: src/PacMan.Blazor/Client/Game/Game.cs

Source: src/PacMan.Blazor/Client/Game/GameLoop.cs

Frame Rate Management

The game loop uses a timer to regulate the game’s speed and maintain a consistent frame rate.

Source: src/PacMan.Blazor/Client/Game/GameLoop.cs

Example:

// GameLoop.cs
          public void Start()
          {
              // Start a timer to run the game loop at 60 FPS.
              Timer = new Timer(Update, null, 0, 16); // 1000 ms / 60 FPS = 16.66 ms
          }
          

Timing

The game loop uses a DateTime object to track the time elapsed since the last frame. This information is used to calculate the game’s speed and perform game updates.

Source: src/PacMan.Blazor/Client/Game/GameLoop.cs

Example:

// GameLoop.cs
          private void Update(object state)
          {
              // Calculate elapsed time.
              ElapsedTime = DateTime.Now - LastUpdateTime;
              LastUpdateTime = DateTime.Now;
          
              // Perform game updates.
              Game.Update(ElapsedTime.TotalSeconds);
          }
          

Optimization

The game loop aims to optimize performance by minimizing unnecessary calculations and updates. The Update method performs only the necessary updates based on the elapsed time.

Source: src/PacMan.Blazor/Client/Game/GameLoop.cs

Example:

// GameLoop.cs
          private void Update(object state)
          {
              // Only perform game updates if necessary.
              if (ElapsedTime.TotalSeconds >= Game.Speed)
              {
                  // Perform game updates.
                  Game.Update(ElapsedTime.TotalSeconds);
              }
          }
          

Animation

The game uses CSS animations and transitions to create visual effects. The Update method triggers animation updates by setting appropriate CSS classes.

Source: src/PacMan.Blazor/Client/Game/Game.cs

Example:

// Game.cs
          public void Update(double elapsedTime)
          {
              // Update game state based on elapsed time.
              // ...
          
              // Trigger animation updates by setting appropriate CSS classes.
              if (PacMan.State == PacManState.Moving)
              {
                  PacMan.CssClass = "pac-man moving";
              }
              else
              {
                  PacMan.CssClass = "pac-man";
              }
          }
          

Conclusion

This project demonstrates a robust game loop that effectively manages frame rate, timing, and animation updates to ensure a smooth and consistent gameplay experience.