Should You Use `time.wait` in Pygame?

Exploring Time-Waiting Options in Pygame

While using time.wait may seem like a straightforward method for waiting in Python and Pygame, it's important to explore alternative options and understand their pros and cons.

Pygame's pygame.time.wait function specifically controls the time in a Pygame instance. It halts the game loop, making it ideal for technical tasks such as surface updates and image loading. However, it completely pauses the game, potentially disrupting gameplay or animation.

Python's time.wait function is not specifically tied to Pygame and can be used in a wider range of applications. It pauses execution of the Python script, making it suitable for situations where you need to wait without affecting other parts of the game. However, it can also interrupt gameplay and animations.

Alternative Approach: Using pygame.time.get_ticks()

For specific scenarios, such as animation cooldowns, Pygame offers a unique approach: pygame.time.get_ticks(). This function returns the time elapsed since the start of the Pygame session. By comparing the current time to a previously stored time, you can determine if an interval has passed and then perform the desired action. This method allows you to control time without halting the gameplay or updating processes.

Example Code:

class Unit():
    def __init__(self):
        self.last = pygame.time.get_ticks()  # stores the last time a cooldown is applied
        self.cooldown = 300  # cooldown in milliseconds

    def fire(self):
        now = pygame.time.get_ticks()
        if now - self.last >= self.cooldown:
            self.last = now  # resets the last time after successful cooldown
            spawn_bullet()

In this example, fire() checks if the time since the last cooldown (stored in self.last) is greater than the cooldown value. If so, it resets self.last to the current time and executes the desired action (spawning a bullet). This technique allows for precise time control without interrupting gameplay.

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