Moving objects are "distorted"

[Timppa]

This one is done with actionscript, but exactly the same happens with motion tween.

I cannot really explain this, so I recorded a video about it.

Sorry about the bad quality, for some reason camstudio failed to capture the problem properly, so I had to use a camera. The faster the objects move, the more they are distorted (It is NOT the camera causing that!)

www. youtube.com/watch?v=bFU1HLysQQM

[Nig 13]

Could you send the .SWF file of that file? I can check if the same issue is appearing here

[marshdabeachy]

Do you have some code? I haven't seen it do that before. You aren't doing any weird bitmap manipulations or anything are you?

[Timppa]

Like I mentioned, the same happens if I create a new project, create a simple box and motion tween it moving quickly. No bitmaps, etc done.

The actionscript is really simple (running 60FPS):

player.xSpeed = 0
player.ySpeed = 0

player.onEnterFrame = function(){

if(Key.isDown(Key.UP)){
    player.ySpeed -= 1
} 
if(Key.isDown(Key.DOWN)){
    player.ySpeed += 1
} 
if(Key.isDown(Key.LEFT)){
    player.xSpeed -= 1
} 
if(Key.isDown(Key.RIGHT)){
    player.xSpeed += 1
} 

player._x += player.xSpeed
player._y += player.ySpeed

}

Download link (includes the source and .swf files)

I just noticed something: The larger the FPS setting is, the easier this is to notice!
I have mostly been using 60 FPS like in the video. It is also the refresh rate of my screen.

EDIT: Oh, and the Flash version is CS5.5, forgot to mention.

[Nig 13]

Nothing wrong here - I think it's your Monitor, if you're using a Laptop - might be something wrong with your drivers or something! On my older laptop, suddenly one day, my screen started to flicker when my laptop got too hot, the refresh rate was dropping!

[Timppa]

Nothing wrong here - I think it's your Monitor, if you're using a Laptop - might be something wrong with your drivers or something! On my older laptop, suddenly one day, my screen started to flicker when my laptop got too hot, the refresh rate was dropping!

Very possible. It is just that haven't experienced anything like this with any other flash games or animations.

My laptop should be able to run stuff like that properly. I recently formated it and haven't updated my drivers yet, so I guess that is the next step.

[Nig 13]

Well, could you save those files in CS4 version? I don't have CS5.5 xD
Maybe there is something wrong after all with those files, or maybe your version of Flash :P

[marshdabeachy]

Don't think it's your laptop. I see it on my system as well, and I'm running a fairly beefy PC with a 24" display @ 1920 x 1080 x 60Hz. It's most noticeable when the movieclip is moving quickly.

I don't have Flash installed to try this, but out of curiosity, what happens if you put "updateAfterEvent();" at the bottom of your onEnterFrame loop? This will force Flash to redraw.

I actually suspect this will do nothing, but give it a try anyway.

[Timppa]

I don't have Flash installed to try this, but out of curiosity, what happens if you put "updateAfterEvent();" at the bottom of your onEnterFrame loop? This will force Flash to redraw.

I actually suspect this will do nothing, but give it a try anyway.

It didn't seem to help, but thanks for trying.

I hosted the file in CS4 format:
http://www.mediafire.com/?wcsxx8y6gk3kmhb

[Nig 13]

No, nothing is really happening here - only, if I move it at a really fast speed, I'll just see a small white circle, on the outer part of the gray color fill, nothing else...

[Timppa]

No, nothing is really happening here - only, if I move it at a really fast speed, I'll just see a small white circle, on the outer part of the gray color fill, nothing else...

That is weird. I do not have to move even fast for the problem to occur. Moving at all is enough.

EDIT:

I just updated my GPU drivers, and it seems to make a difference. The problem is gone, but the movement seems to "flicker" a bit. It might be my actionscript right now, but I cannot see anything wrong in it.

Actionscript:


player.xSpeed = 0
player.ySpeed = 0
maxSpeed = 5
acceleration = 0.2

player.onEnterFrame = function(){

listenKeys()
limitSpeed()
movement()

}

function limitSpeed(){
if (player.ySpeed > maxSpeed){player.ySpeed = maxSpeed}
else if (player.ySpeed < maxSpeed*-1){player.ySpeed = maxSpeed*-1}
if (player.xSpeed > maxSpeed){player.xSpeed = maxSpeed}
else if (player.xSpeed < maxSpeed*-1){player.xSpeed = maxSpeed*-1}
}

function movement(){
player._x += player.xSpeed
player._y += player.ySpeed
}

function listenKeys(){
if(Key.isDown(Key.UP)){
player.ySpeed -= acceleration
}
else if(Key.isDown(Key.DOWN)){
player.ySpeed += acceleration
}
if(Key.isDown(Key.LEFT)){
player.xSpeed -= acceleration
}
else if(Key.isDown(Key.RIGHT)){
player.xSpeed += acceleration
}
}


Download link: http://www.mediafire.com/?a103q19v91b64mi

[Nig 13]

Nope, the AS works like a charm - still probably your computer :P

[Timppa]

I just tried it again and the problem seems to be back. Pretty sure it is my computer like you mentioned

Is there anything I could do? (besides buying a new one)

My specs are:

Sony Vaio VPC-CW1S1E

Windows 7 64 bit
2.13GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P7450
Nvidia Geforce GT 230M
4 Gb of RAM

It should not be a performance issue with simple actionscript like that...

[Nig 13]

I am sorry, but I am NOT good with COMPUTERS. I am only good with things INSIDE the computer, lol. I am sorry, but maybe I'll try and google a solution for you?

[Timppa]

I am sorry, but I am NOT good with COMPUTERS. I am only good with things INSIDE the computer, lol. I am sorry, but maybe I'll try and google a solution for you?

If you can find anything that helps, that would be great! I haven't found anyone having similiar problems yet.

From tomorrow be away on a holiday trip for a few days, so I won't be able to write here.

[Timppa]

The problem really bothers me right now. I just tried creating a motion tween where a small, 10 px object moves across the screen. It becomes basically invisible at 60 FPS!

[Nig 13]

Okay, so I experienced something similar, when making a movieclip follow the mouse - the greater the speed was, the more the movieclip was cut from either of its side, towards its middle part. But that happened when I used 60FPS - I think that has got to do something with the problem. But, you said that you experienced the same problem even when decrease the Framerate, didn't you?

[Timppa]

Okay, so I experienced something similar, when making a movieclip follow the mouse - the greater the speed was, the more the movieclip was cut from either of its side, towards its middle part. But that happened when I used 60FPS - I think that has got to do something with the problem. But, you said that you experienced the same problem even when decrease the Framerate, didn't you?

Yes, but the problem is less visible. The motion tween I mentioned. I first tested it at 24 FPS, only a bit white on the edges. Then 60 FPS, it turns invisible, only flashes at few points. Then 50 FPS, it flashes and "disappears" at few frames and looks a bit distorted at the edges.

If I run it at a low frame rate like 20 FPS, the problem does not seem to happen or it is very hard to notice.

[Timppa]

Problem still not solved.

[ilike2]

I've had a similar problem. Make sure your movie clip is a whole pixel. ie. not 15.5px etc. For some strange reason when you animate a movie clips that not a whole pixel, it gets distorted.