Added speed control to LightCycle object. This helped in the performance degradation by increasing space between LightRibbon vertices (i.e. makes it look faster but with less information).

src/pytron/GameGrid.py

@@ -93,9 +93,14 @@ class GameGrid:
        # Need to do something cool so there can be more
        # than just two programs playing (possibly use Id).
        
        # TODO: Add pause handling (i.e. K_SPACE).
        # TODO: Add additional exit handling (i.e. K_ESCAPE).
        # TODO: Add speed handling per program.
        
        for e in Events:
            if e.type == QUIT:
                self._Programs = []
                #pygame.quit()
            elif e.type == KEYDOWN:
                # Program one navigation.
                if e.key == K_a:

src/pytron/LightCycle.py

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ class LightCycle:
        self.RibbonColor = Color
        self.Direction = Direction
        self._LightRibbon = [(StartX, StartY)]
        self._Speed = 4
    
    def ChangeDirection(self, NewHeading):
        '''
@@ -68,13 +69,16 @@ class LightCycle:
        
        # Determine which direction to move.
        if self.Direction == Heading.NORTH:
            self._LightRibbon.append((currentPosition[0], currentPosition[1] - 1))
            self._LightRibbon.append((currentPosition[0], currentPosition[1] - self._Speed))
        elif self.Direction == Heading.EAST:
            self._LightRibbon.append((currentPosition[0] + 1, currentPosition[1]))
            self._LightRibbon.append((currentPosition[0] + self._Speed, currentPosition[1]))
        elif self.Direction == Heading.SOUTH:
            self._LightRibbon.append((currentPosition[0], currentPosition[1] + 1))
            self._LightRibbon.append((currentPosition[0], currentPosition[1] + self._Speed))
        else:
            self._LightRibbon.append((currentPosition[0] - 1, currentPosition[1]))
            self._LightRibbon.append((currentPosition[0] - self._Speed, currentPosition[1]))
        
        # Return the light ribbon.
        return self._LightRibbon
        return self._LightRibbon
    
    def SetSpeed(self, NewSpeed):
        self._Speed = NewSpeed

src/pytron/PyTron.py

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from pytron.locals.Heading import Heading
# Build the game grid.
#
gameGrid = GameGrid(250, 250)
gameGrid = GameGrid(640, 480)
gameGrid.SetFrameRate(30)
#

src/pytron/README.txt

@@ -36,10 +36,18 @@ light cycle use the following keys:
Issues:
[Unresolved] Once each programs light ribbon has reach a large number the redrawing of the screen
[WorksForMe]
Problem: Once each programs light ribbon has reach a large number the redrawing of the screen
eats up resources. This causes a delay in reaction time and makes the game appear sluggish. Possibly
need to implement some sort of caching or only draw the new portions of the ribbon.
[Unresolved] Never got around to implementing different light cycle colors.
Change: Added speed property to LightCycle as well as SetSpeed() method to
adjust it. This may not have "solved" the problem per se, but it lightened
the amount of items in the lists which may have been causing the performance
degradation.
[Unresolved] Sound.
[Unresolved]
Problem: Never got around to implementing different light cycle colors.
[Unresolved]
Problem: Sound.