Delay time in GMS2 - game-maker

Question

I am trying to make it so that when you click it will show a different cursor_sprite for 0.25 seconds. I currently need some way to add a delay to this. Here is my code so far:
In create event:
/// #description Set cursor
cursor_sprite = spr_cursor;
In step event:
/// #description If click change cursor
if mouse_check_button_pressed(mb_left)
{
cursor_sprite = spr_cursor2;
// I want to add the delay here.
}

Answer 1

You could use the build-in Alarms for this, but I don't like these much when it becomes nested with parent objects.
So instead of Alarms, this is the way I would do it:
Create Event:
cursor_sprite = spr_cursor;
timer = 0;
timermax = 0.25;
I create 2 variables: the timer will be used to count down, and the timermax to reset it's time.
Step Event:
if (timer > 0)
{
timer -= 1/room_speed //decrease in seconds
}
else
{
cursor_sprite = spr_cursor;
}
if mouse_check_button_pressed(mb_left)
{
cursor_sprite = spr_cursor2;
timer = timermax;
}
For each timer, I let it count down in the Step Event through 1/room_speed, that way, it will decrease the value in real-time seconds.
Then you can set the timer through timer = timermax
Then if the timer reaches zero, it'll do the given action afterwards.
Though a reminder that it's in the Step Event, so once the timer reaches zero, it'll always reach the else statement if there are no other conditions before. Usually I use the else-statement to change conditions so it doesn't reach the timer code multiple times.

Answer 2

#Steven:
This is useful as far as it goes, but I think you mixed up the starting values for timer and timermax. If timer is counting down, then it obviously can't start at 0.
Also, starting timer at your intended duration completely obviates the need for even having a second variable (timermax).
So it could go:
Create Event:
cursor_sprite = spr_cursor;
timer = 0.25;
Step Event:
if mouse_check_button_pressed(mb_left)
{
cursor_sprite = spr_cursor2;
timer = 0.25;
}
if (timer > 0)
{
timer -= 1/room_speed //decrease in seconds
}
else
{
cursor_sprite = spr_cursor;
}