Scratch

Sunrise-Moon · 2010-08-30 20:26:09

Lag making your game unplayable? Here are a few tips to help eradicate the lag and keep your gameplay smooth as a smoothie:

1. Show as few variables and lists as possible - Variables and lists slow down movement in your game. When playtesting your game, make sure to hide all unnecessary variables.

2. Use as few sprites as possible - I find that many sprites usually slow down projects to a crawl. If you NEED some stuff to be shown, try putting it in the background, or using one sprite with different costumes and scripts.

3. Try to use less scripts/combine as many scripts as possible into one script - The more scripts running at any time, the slower your game will be. If you combine a bunch of scripts into one big script, your game will be a lot smoother. Obviously, you can't do this with all scripts because of stuff like 'Wait Until <______>'.

4. Use as few loops (forevers, repeats) and "When green flag clicked" as possible - This tip goes hand-in-hand with the last tip. Loops and "When green flag clicked's" are the root of most of your lag. If you can combine your other scripts into one script, there won't be a need for very many loops and "When green flag clicked's".

If you have any more tips, post and I'll try and add them big_smile

Last edited by Sunrise-Moon (2010-08-30 21:21:09)

coolstuff · 2010-08-30 20:31:52

Excellent guide! My one suggestion is to put more emphasis on the last point, as it is the primary reason for almost all lag. Replacing them with "repeats" is obviously the way to go; most forever blocks are only needed at one or two points during the game

Other than that, fantastic guide!

Jwosty · 2010-08-30 20:33:18

Wow! Great tutorial! Maybe a little more info (if any is found) and it would be a perfect sticky-worthy topic! Keep up the good work. smile

Sunrise-Moon · 2010-08-30 20:39:20

coolstuff wrote:
Excellent guide! My one suggestion is to put more emphasis on the last point, as it is the primary reason for almost all lag. Replacing them with "repeats" is obviously the way to go; most forever blocks are only needed at one or two points during the game

Other than that, fantastic guide!

Thanks! I added another little sentence saying that they're the root of most of the lag.

Jwosty wrote:
Wow! Great tutorial! Maybe a little more info (if any is found) and it would be a perfect sticky-worthy topic! Keep up the good work.

Thank you! This is basically all I know about lag right now, but maybe other people know some other stuff about the lag.

Last edited by Sunrise-Moon (2010-08-30 20:40:57)

Jwosty · 2010-08-30 20:44:32

Sunrise-Moon wrote:
Jwosty wrote:
Wow! Great tutorial! Maybe a little more info (if any is found) and it would be a perfect sticky-worthy topic! Keep up the good work.
Thank you! This is basically all I know about lag right now, but maybe other people know some other stuff about the lag.

Yea, I go a weird color sensing glitch on this project, but it's probbably because of the online Java Player... tongue

Last edited by Jwosty (2010-08-30 20:44:44)

Sunrise-Moon · 2010-08-30 20:52:04

Jwosty wrote:
Sunrise-Moon wrote:
Jwosty wrote:
Wow! Great tutorial! Maybe a little more info (if any is found) and it would be a perfect sticky-worthy topic! Keep up the good work.
Thank you! This is basically all I know about lag right now, but maybe other people know some other stuff about the lag.
Yea, I go a weird color sensing glitch on this project, but it's probbably because of the online Java Player...

Yeah, the project seems to run at a pretty good speed, so I don't think it has anything to do with lag in the project.

Jwosty · 2010-08-30 20:55:32

Sunrise-Moon wrote:
Jwosty wrote:
Sunrise-Moon wrote:
Thank you! This is basically all I know about lag right now, but maybe other people know some other stuff about the lag.
Yea, I go a weird color sensing glitch on this project, but it's probbably because of the online Java Player...
Yeah, the project seems to run at a pretty good speed, so I don't think it has anything to do with lag in the project.

Oops! yikes It isn't a lag problem, the bugs just spin in circles when they get to the edges. But Paddle had a suggestion that worked to fix that! big_smile

I made the pen marks thicker and the sensors on the bugs bigger, and now I have ERADICATED the problem.

Jonathanpb · 2010-08-30 21:17:07

Excellent guide! You might want to mention the dangers of loops though. smile

Sunrise-Moon · 2010-08-30 21:20:26

Jonathanpb wrote:
Excellent guide! You might want to mention the dangers of loops though. :)

Thanks! Alright, I'll add it in with the last tip :o

Chrischb · 2010-08-31 01:50:25

Forever-if blocks run faster than an If inside a Forever - you might want to add that. big_smile

steppenwulf · 2010-08-31 09:44:24

Cool guide bro.

rubiks_cube_guy238 · 2010-08-31 10:14:28

Also, use as few broadcasts as posible.

Sunrise-Moon · 2010-08-31 10:19:51

Chrischb wrote:
Forever-if blocks run faster than an If inside a Forever - you might want to add that.

That's not quite lag-related.

j4142000 · 2010-09-03 19:16:50

I really want to make a platform game,but i don't know how!One of them gave me a headache,and the other one didn't work!

Sunrise-Moon · 2010-09-03 19:22:09

j4142000 wrote:
I really want to make a platform game,but i don't know how!One of them gave me a headache,and the other one didn't work!

One of the platform games you tried to make gave you a headache? Are you asking me in particular?

Ace-of-Spades · 2010-09-06 12:13:03

Sunrise-Moon wrote:
3. Try to use less scripts/combine as many scripts as possible into one script - The more scripts running at any time, the slower your game will be. If you combine a bunch of scripts into one big script, your game will be a lot smoother. Obviously, you can't do this with all scripts because of stuff like 'Wait Until <______>'.

Uh, could you check to make sure these actually work before misleading newbies with them? Here's where you're wrong. Long scripts cause more lag than many short scripts.

Sunrise-Moon · 2010-09-06 12:15:11

Ace-of-Spades wrote:
Sunrise-Moon wrote:
3. Try to use less scripts/combine as many scripts as possible into one script - The more scripts running at any time, the slower your game will be. If you combine a bunch of scripts into one big script, your game will be a lot smoother. Obviously, you can't do this with all scripts because of stuff like 'Wait Until <______>'.
Uh, could you check to make sure these actually work before misleading newbies with them? Here's where you're wrong. Long scripts cause more lag than many short scripts.

Oh, ok. Sorry, I'll edit it in a second.

Locomule · 2010-09-07 09:49:26

How do you write a project without broadcasts and Forever loops? I see both of these mentioned as "avoid this" all the time but I can't write loopless projects.

Sunrise-Moon · 2010-09-07 11:09:45

Locomule wrote:
How do you write a project without broadcasts and Forever loops? I see both of these mentioned as "avoid this" all the time but I can't write loopless projects.

You should avoid them as much as possible, but you will usually use at least 2 in your projects.

cheddargirl · 2010-09-07 12:53:56

Locomule wrote:
How do you write a project without broadcasts and Forever loops? I see both of these mentioned as "avoid this" all the time but I can't write loopless projects.

About forever loops: I find that there are some cases where they can be avoided via substitution with "repeat until" loops; that way the loops don't repeat all the time throughout a project (too many loops occurring at one time can cause lag, sometimes even offline). Of course, such substitution will depend on the the project is designed. tongue

wei2912 · 2010-09-08 02:30:05

I got a tip:

Use as less broadcasts as possible

Broadcasts are quite slow. They don't work as fast as if loops.

Locomule · 2010-09-08 23:35:49

I heard that broadcasts were great offline but terrible online?

I have already started doing some offline testing of my own and will post the results when finished. I never expect anything to work online as my serious projects get kinda crazy with the scripting.

JAMBAMtheSLAM · 2010-09-08 23:50:03

Amazing! Should be pinned!

Harakou · 2010-09-08 23:54:08

wei2912 wrote:
I got a tip:

Use as less broadcasts as possible

Broadcasts are quite slow. They don't work as fast as if loops.

Except a lot of If loops makes projects extremely slow.

Scratch

archived forums

#1 2010-08-30 20:26:09

Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

#2 2010-08-30 20:31:52

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

#3 2010-08-30 20:33:18

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

#4 2010-08-30 20:39:20

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

coolstuff wrote:

Jwosty wrote:

#5 2010-08-30 20:44:32

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

Sunrise-Moon wrote:

Jwosty wrote:

#6 2010-08-30 20:52:04

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

Jwosty wrote:

Sunrise-Moon wrote:

Jwosty wrote:

#7 2010-08-30 20:55:32

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

Sunrise-Moon wrote:

Jwosty wrote:

Sunrise-Moon wrote:

#8 2010-08-30 21:17:07

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

#9 2010-08-30 21:20:26

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

Jonathanpb wrote:

#10 2010-08-31 01:50:25

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

#11 2010-08-31 09:44:24

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

#12 2010-08-31 10:14:28

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

#13 2010-08-31 10:19:51

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

Chrischb wrote:

#14 2010-09-03 19:16:50

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

#15 2010-09-03 19:22:09

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

j4142000 wrote:

#16 2010-09-06 12:13:03

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

Sunrise-Moon wrote:

#17 2010-09-06 12:15:11

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

Ace-of-Spades wrote:

Sunrise-Moon wrote:

#18 2010-09-07 09:49:26

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

#19 2010-09-07 11:09:45

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

Locomule wrote:

#20 2010-09-07 12:53:56

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

Locomule wrote:

#21 2010-09-08 02:30:05

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

#22 2010-09-08 23:35:49

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

#23 2010-09-08 23:50:03

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

#24 2010-09-08 23:54:08

Re: Tutorial: How to Eradicate Lag in Your Game

wei2912 wrote:

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