Laggy Game Movement

[game_slayer_99]

I've noticed that the movement in my Pong game is experiencing a strange amount of lag when I start the game up in Python, despite coding it to run at 60 fps. I converted the game to an .exe file and found that it's still experiencing this same lag. However, I added code to print the fps on the screen and it's telling me that it is running at 60 fps. What's most strange however is if I open the .exe file a second time so that the game is running twice in two different windows, the gameplay is notably smoother. As soon as I close the second window, the gameplay again returns to its normal laggy self. I think this is more of an issue with the computer rather than Python but I don't know enough to diagnose the issue or how I can fix this. I've tested the game on three other computers and none of them have this issue. If someone could help that would be great.

[Windspar]

Most of the time it because you didn't use delta or/and floats . Both these will effect movement. Without code it be hard to tell.

[game_slayer_99]

Most of the time it because you didn't use delta or/and floats . Both these will effect movement. Without code it be hard to tell.

I can understand how faulty code could lead to poor performance, but I tested the game on multiple computers and it ran perfectly fine on them. It also runs fine on mine, but only if I open the application up at least twice, which doesn't make sense to me.

[metulburr]

Bottlenecks in programs can cause odd issues. Some operating systems may have issues while others do not. Exe will carry improper coding issues along with it.

Without code it is impossible to diagnose. People here will need to search through the code to find the bottleneck. If you have multiple files with or without resources use Github to upload so it is easier for us to download everything.

[Windspar]

Another reason for poor performance . Your not letting computer idle. If you let it max out cpu. It will cause lag.

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clock = pygame.time.Clock() # in main loop delta = clock.tick(60) # best if match monitor refresh rate

[game_slayer_99]

Bottlenecks in programs can cause odd issues. Some operating systems may have issues while others do not. Exe will carry improper coding issues along with it.

Without code it is impossible to diagnose. People here will need to search through the code to find the bottleneck. If you have multiple files with or without resources use Github to upload so it is easier for us to download everything.

https://github.com/GameSlayer99/PepePong
Here's the github link. You actually helped me find some issues last year with the same game but I abandoned working in Pygame after that because I got so frustrated with the issue I'm currently facing.

[Windspar]

First rule of game programming. Never use the sleep command.

Delta is use for smooth movement.

[game_slayer_99]

First rule of game programming. Never use the sleep command.

Delta is use for smooth movement.

How would you go about replacing all of my code involving the sleep command? I've never heard of using Delta since I'm so new to Pygame.

[Windspar]

By using pygame.time.get_ticks.
This is how I normal handle it. This handle three different ways. one shot timer, repeat timer, and trip counter timer.

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class Ticker:     def __init__(self, ticks, interval):         self.tick = ticks + interval         self.interval = interval         self.count = 0       # One Shot Ticker     def elapsed(self, ticks):         return ticks >= self.tick       def reset(self, ticks, interval=None):         if interval:             self.interval = interval                       self.tick = ticks + self.interval       # Repeat Ticker     def tick(self, ticks):         if ticks >= self.tick:             self.tick = ticks + self.interval             return True           return False       # Trip Counter. Keep track when interval are low.     def tick_count(self, ticks):         self.count = 0         while ticks >= self.tick:             self.tick += self.interval             self.count += 1           return bool(self.count)

In main loop. You can do something like this.

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ticks = pygame.get_ticks() ticker = Ticker(ticks, 2000) # 2000 milliseconds equals 2 seconds.   # In Main Loop ticks = pygame.get_ticks() if ticker.elasped(ticks):     ticker.count += 1     if ticker.count < 2:         # set next ticker if needed         ticker.reset(ticks, 3000)   if ticker.count == 0:     # draw your stuff elif ticker.count == 1:     # draw your stuff

[Windspar]

Delta is the time between pygame.display.flip. Since fps can and will vary. This is why you use pygame.time.Clock.
The clock.tick will always return in millisecond. You can simple * 0.001 to return in seconds. Then you take delta * object speed. This will give you the correct amount of movement. No matter what the fps is. Don't forget to store floats. Since Rects are only integers.

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clock = pygame.time.Clock() delta = 0 # in main loop delta = clock.tick(fps) # This tell how long between flips.