How can I put an after images effect for item_speed_timer and super_timer, and have it fade out after the effect ends?

[KauanGamer2130]

Source Image from Sonic 3 A.I.R.

I've tried to create a new script to make the effect work, but it just duplicated the player! (Even though I tried to add a delay).

Should I create a separate script for this or just use obj_player and set the event logic?

Basically, I'm trying to recreate the after images effect when the player is in his super form (Super_timer) or with the speed shoes effect (Item_speed_timer).

I noticed that there are 3 after images created in Sonic 3 A.I.R. And each one is even more transparent than the other.

[TrianglyRU]

The m_player_record_data method (in the m_player script) saves the player's state for the last 32 frames. To also save how the player looked, just add sprite_index, image_index, and image_angle to the method's data array

var _data = [
    struct_copy(input_press),
    struct_copy(input_down),
    floor(x),
    floor(y),
    set_push_anim_by,
    facing,
    sprite_index,
    image_index,
    image_angle
];

Then you can draw the effect in the player's draw script using the saved data like so

for (var delay = 8; delay += 8; delay <= 24)
{
    var data = ds_record_data[? delay];
    var x = data[2];
    var y = data[3];
    var xscale = data[5];
    var sprite = data[6];
    var frame = data[7];
    var angle = data[8];
    draw_sprite(sprite, frame, x, y, xscale, 1.0, angle, c_white, 0.5);
}

[TrianglyRU]

Never duplicate a player object. The effect is purely visual. You don't need to overthink this stuff

[KauanGamer2130]

I tried to put the for, and it worked, but when I started a level, the game crashed and I ended up getting the error:

---

############################################################################################
ERROR in action number 1
of Draw Event for object obj_player:
ds_map_find_value argument 1 incorrect type (ds_list) expecting a ds_map
at gml_Object_obj_player_Draw_0 (line 11) - var data = ds_record_data[? delay];
############################################################################################
gml_Object_obj_player_Draw_0 (line 11)

I looked in the code, and I got confused about the ds_list_insert(ds_record_data, _insert_pos, _data);
ds_list_delete(ds_record_data, ds_record_length);

[TrianglyRU]

Oops, sorry, my bad. You should use [| delay] instead of [? delay]. Please learn more about ds_lists and ds_maps so you can fix stuff like this on your own

[TrianglyRU]

Also, since of how GameMaker draws sprites, you should draw the afterimages starting from the most delayed one to the most recent one

for (var delay = 9; delay >= 3; delay -= 3)

should work just fine

[KauanGamer2130]

No problem! I'm very grateful for your help, I'll test more features for ds_map so I can learn more about this subject!

[SonicVHSOfficial]

is their any way to apply it to the speed shoes power up?

[ShineStar91]

There is a speed shoes variable you can check if the timer is on in the after image code

[KauanGamer2130]

Yes, it's completely possible. Just follow the same procedure as in the code, but for if item_speed_timer > 0, or you can add it as a condition to the already written super_timer code, which is easier for me personally. (Since this is the variable that determines whether the power sneakers are active or not, if it's greater than 0, then they're active; if not, the power sneakers effect is not active or has ended.)

An example:

if (
super_timer <= 0 &&
item_speed_timer == 0 &&
animation != ANI_TRANSFORM
)
{
afterimage_alpha = max(0, afterimage_alpha - 0.05);
}
else
{
afterimage_alpha = 1.0;
}