13 replies to this topic

[loverock125]

• Title: Simple Instance Combining
• Description: An example demonstrating a way to improve performance in games with solid instances by combining them into 1.
• GM Version: :GM81:
• Registered: Yes
• File Type: .gmk
• File Size: 828 KB
• File Link: Download Here
• Required Extensions: None
• Required DLLs: None

Summary
In most simple platform or even top-down games we have a simple solid object (e.g a wall) and place instances of it all over the room.
This can result in a big number of instances in your game and therefore in a performance decrease. For example in a 1024x768 simple
platform game room there are usually around 100-200 of these instance (32x32 sprites). In this example I'm using a script to combine
all of these instances into 1.

Free to use in any of your games.

Search Tags

• GMCTUTORIAL
• GMCCOLLISION
• GMCPERFORMANCE

Edited by icuurd12b42, 14 December 2011 - 12:02 AM.

[StopThatGuy]

I was wondering if perhaps you could upload a .gmk version? I'm really interested in seeing how this works but I'm afraid I don't have GM8.1.

[TheMusicDork]

Im afraid I don't have GM8 either.
But I made this example a while back and it should be helpful to you... I can't remember if I commented or not, but if you need explanation just ask =)
CheersTMD

edit: forgot link =P Download combine.gmk from Host-A
also. No loverock125, gm8 cannot open a gm8.1 file. Out of curiosity how did you achieve this? By drawing every object to a surface and making that surface into a mask for an object?

Edited by TheMusicDork, 27 October 2011 - 03:51 PM.

[loverock125]

I was wondering if perhaps you could upload a .gmk version? I'm really interested in seeing how this works but I'm afraid I don't have GM8.1.

I'm sorry but I don't have gm8 pro. Can't gm8 open gm8.1 projects?

[Ruub]

This is quite cool!

I would love to use this but I'm not fully understanding the code :c After a little tweeching (spelled how?) I might be able to give those fake walls
variables.. If it's even possible

for example; a tile that opens when you have a key, or even better, one that makes the player jump when upon it. orrrrr one that changes colour by code or animation.

cheers!

[Brasonic]

Cool, it saves a lot cpu usage, unless your room is huge such as platformers

[epicpiedude]

Um, when I got it, it generated an unexpected error...

[loverock125]

This is quite cool!

I would love to use this but I'm not fully understanding the code :c After a little tweeching (spelled how?) I might be able to give those fake walls
variables.. If it's even possible

for example; a tile that opens when you have a key, or even better, one that makes the player jump when upon it. orrrrr one that changes colour by code or animation.

cheers!

This example combines instances and returns the id of a new object. In that new object you are able to add any code you want. If you have a few objects that generate such events then don't combine them, use them as usual. If you have many objects that generate the same event, then combine their instances into a new object and add the code to the new object.

Cool, it saves a lot cpu usage, unless your room is huge such as platformers

I don't get your point there. It saves CPU even if your room is huge, such as platformers of course. Having a huge room with many instances would slow down the CPU A LOT actually.
Please elaborate.

Um, when I got it, it generated an unexpected error...

I'm not sure why you are getting that error. What GM version are you using? I can upload an .exe version if you want to test it on the .exe.

Edited by loverock125, 03 December 2011 - 07:50 PM.

[epicpiedude]

I'm using 8.1. It also said something about an access error.

[Fira]

Can such an example as you made be done in Lite or no?

[turgon]

I'm not sure why you are getting that error. What GM version are you using? I can upload an .exe version if you want to test it on the .exe.

Yes, please upload the .exe. I got the 'unexpected error' as well, using GM 8.1.

[Jax]

Very cool example! I altered it to check for a variable called static, and if it was false (dynamic) it wouldn't combine it. The only serious problem is that you have to create such a big surface, but if you had a huge room you could make it combine everything in a 512x512 area. Later you could even deactivate segments of the room if you are away to yield even more performance enhancements.
-Rock on!

~Jax

[Rip]

That's cool. But i have two questions...

1. Can I give name to that new object? Or it always set by random (if combined objects is random count...)?
2. Distance_to_object() dont work with this? It's see square((

Edited by Rip, 16 December 2011 - 06:44 PM.

[falconfetus8]

This has been working flawlessly for a long time, but now I'm having issues with it. For some reason, when I change rooms, it seems to delete every instance of the solid. How can I fix this?