Ok, I'm here once again.

This project is due Tuesday-Thursday (depends on the instructor). I REALLY want to finish implementing a very simple battle system. So, let me explain how I want this to go.

When user hits SPACEBAR, Link should be displayed with his sword out and attacking. So if you're facing Southwards, I want Link to use the proper sprites/frames, face downwards and attack.

So, to avoid complication (and the horrible errors I was getting last night), I made another update attack function as follows:

Now, within main(), within the while loop, I have this:

        if (keypressed())
           key = getinput();  

        /* key will only be 1 if SPACEBAR was pressed */
        if(key == 0)
        {
               updatesprite(link);
               move_character();
               draw_link();
        }
               
        else if((key == 1) && (a != 0))
               updateattacksprite(link);

NOTE: Keep in mind, a is set to 3 (a=3;) is done when the spacebar is pressed.

Okay, so when user is facing south and hits spacebar, frames 12-14 should consecutively be displayed. I don't want to do this using a for loop (as I've commented out) because it looks really choppy and b) even using rest(100) within the for loop, the frames happen really quickly; it seemed rest had no effect on slowing down the animation.

Now what's happening is that the results are weird. Sometimes the animation frames 12 and 13 appear. Sometimes only 12 appears or only 13. Also, sometimes Little Link disappears from screen for just the slightest fraction of a second. Is this because of the keypressed()?

Can someone point out the mistakes I'm making? Appreciate the help, TIA.

Steve,
I realized why it was blinking; because I called updateattacksprite() and called draw_link() within it. Now, when spacebar is pressed, I make a=6 instead of 3. And now, I made this change:

else if((key == 1) && (a != 0))
{
   a--;
   updateattacksprite(link);
   draw_link();
}

I made a=6 because each game loop will updateattacksprite three times, and we need draw_link() to run three times as well. So, blinking problem is gone.

Still though, when I face down and spacebar, all 3 animations do come into play. But sometimes it will only display frame 12 or stay stuck on 13. Does this have to do with how long the spacebar is held?

EDIT: No, I'm not using any timers. I was going to implement that after I have my battle system together. But I will implement it right after I figure out this spacebar 'problem'.

Steve,
I'm not sure I completely understand what you're saying, but I think I have something similar to what you're saying. For instance, within int getinput(), if keybar is pressed, it'll make key = 1; if any other key is pressed, then key = 0;

Then within main(), I have:

So as far as I know, if any of the directional keys are pressed, it uses regular animation of walking, then moves the character, then draws it. Else if spacebar was pressed, then, go to frames 12-14.

I just don't understand why sometimes it just displays frame 12 and gets stuck there, unless I start walking again and hit spacebar again, then it kinda rectifies itself. I want to understand my error. Keep suggestions comin'