Doing parallaxing with values instead of layers?

I have always used different layers and adjusting the X and Y coefficient in these layers to achieve parallaxing in games. And while it is simple and works I have noticed that things on these layers can move a bit stiffly. I guess it is because they only move in 1 pixel steps?

Anyway, I know I have heard there are methods to doing these parallaxing effects but doing it manually with moving the actual backgrounds certain amounts depending on X and Y values. Do anyone know how to do this, or even better have an example? And how to achieve it so things can move as smoothly as possible. I know there are extensions to help with this, but I can't use any extensions that are not supported in all runtimes.

you'd have to use active objects or active picture (not sure if thats supported / what type of hit it would cause) I think you're best off using layers.

I know I need to use active objects, but I want to know the method to achieve this. I assume you have to have some formula that always checks the x and y position of the "camera" and adjust the other parallaxing objects x and y positions to it, but I would love if someone have some experience with this that can help.

I want to achieve the same smooth result as can be seen in this example: http://www.fileden.com/files/2011/3/...lax%20Pack.zip

This example was made in another game tool, but I am positive the same result could be made in mmf to.
I tried to replicate it with just layer parallaxing but that did not make it near as smooth so I think I need to do this without layers.

Normally I just use layers as well, and I set my background layer X and Y coefficients something like 0.2000. You may be able to achieve multiple layers of paralaxing by staggering these coefficients (normally, I only use one layer though).

I used to use Actives back in the days of Click & Create.

I found an old Games Factory Example that may be of some use if you don't want to use Layers (I didn't create this, just found it on a site I used to go to): http://www.sonicfangameshq.com/view.php?sec=4&id=53

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Originally Posted by Maverick

Normally I just use layers as well, and I set my background layer X and Y coefficients something like 0.2000. You may be able to achieve multiple layers of paralaxing by staggering these coefficients (normally, I only use one layer though).

I used to use Actives back in the days of Click & Create.

I found an old Games Factory Example that may be of some use if you don't want to use Layers (I didn't create this, just found it on a site I used to go to): http://www.sonicfangameshq.com/view.php?sec=4&id=53

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The problem again with layer coefficient is that it is not as smooth as in the example I posted.
This old games factory example uses some method that also does very shoppy scrolling

Not really sure myself of any other methods. The example you posted and the coefficient method seem to both be about the same (at least on my machine) in terms of smoothness. Maybe it has a boosted frame rate as well? Not 100% on that however, sorry. :(

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Originally Posted by Maverick

Not really sure myself of any other methods. The example you posted and the coefficient method seem to both be about the same (at least on my machine) in terms of smoothness. Maybe it has a boosted frame rate as well? Not 100% on that however, sorry. :(

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It is not the same I assure you.

my point was that using giant actives might not be very smooth either, ill post an example when i get home tonight though so you can see what works best.

In my game I use background system boxes / background image objects (for things that need transparency/animation) through qualifiers.

At the start of frame, I set these values:

• *Set Alt. Value A to : 1+(Alterable Value A( "Group.Background Scenery" )/100.0)
  *Set Alt. Value B to : 1+(Alterable Value B( "Group.Background Scenery" )/100.0)
  *Set Alt. Value C to : (X( "Group.Background Scenery" )*((1.0-Alterable Value A( "Group.Background Scenery" ))*-1))+((GAMEWINDOWWIDTH/2)*Max(-1, Min(1, (X( "Group.Background Scenery" ))))*1+((1-Alterable Value A( "Group.Background Scenery" ))*-1))
  *Set Alt. Value D to : (Y( "Group.Background Scenery" )*((1.0-Alterable Value B( "Group.Background Scenery" ))*-1))+((GAMEWINDOWHEIGHT/2)*Max(-1, Min(1, (Y( "Group.Background Scenery" ))))*1+((1-Alterable Value B( "Group.Background Scenery" ))*-1))

Then, in an always event:

• *Set X position to : (Alterable Value C( "Group.Background Scenery" )+X Left Frame)/1.0/Alterable Value A( "Group.Background Scenery" )
  *Set Y position to : (Alterable Value D( "Group.Background Scenery" )+Y Top Frame)/1.0/Alterable Value B( "Group.Background Scenery" )

Configure these values at edit time. Game divides by 100.0 to get 2 decimals (seeing that you can't set decimals in alt. values during edit-time).
The closer the value is to 0, the less it will scroll. Set it somewhere between 10 (far away) or 500 (close). Setting it to 5000 doesn't yield much difference from 500, I think.

Alt. Value A -> Parallax Factor X
Alt. Value B -> Parallax Factor Y

Hope it helps. There is probably another way to do it to get a scale of parallaxing between 0 and 100, instead of 0 and infinite, but this has been modular enough to work for me.

I didn't make this one (no idea who the author was, this ollld), but it's pretty much what you're after. The example uses active system box objects instead of active objects, but it would be easy to re-create with actives if you really wanted to.

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Originally Posted by DaveC

I didn't make this one (no idea who the author was, this ollld), but it's pretty much what you're after. The example uses active system box objects instead of active objects, but it would be easy to re-create with actives if you really wanted to.

Attachment 10104

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Hm I have never used system boxes so i dont know what is going on in this example. But I did add a float movement active that you can steer back and forth that moves smooth. If you move the active and look at the background, especially the grey boxes you can see that they dont move smooth at all :/