casio_fx-9860g_test03

Game programming on the Casio fx-9860G graphing calculator

This is merely a test program, a game, for the Casio fx-9860 SDK. Code is written in C++; calls are made to the Casio primitives defined in fxlib.h.

Where I'm stuck

I have identified 2 options to code an interactive game in Casio: block on sleep(), or wait for events.

Block on sleep()

It looks like this:

while (true)
{
	// peek at keyboard state: if some keys are pressed, do something
	doSomethingWhenKeysPressed();
	
	refreshDisplay();
	
	// then wait for a small amount of time 
	sleep(SOME_SMALL_AMOUNT_OF_TIME);
}

Pro: easy to understand.

Cons:

• Does not support the Menu key, or other OS-level functions like changing the contrast.
• The value for SOME_SMALL_AMOUNT_OF_TIME dictates game liveliness.
• Casio's sleep() is actually implemented as a busy loop, not a real sleep. Blech.

Wait for Events

while (keyPressed = GetKey())
{
	doSomethingForKeysPressed(keyPressed);
}

Pros:

• handles Menu key and standard functions
• correctly blocks waiting for a keyboard event

Cons:

• Nothing happens outside of events. How to run an animation? The basis of an interactive game.
• To do so, I install a user timer, to refresh the display at regular intervals.
• Said timer is not suspended when the Main Menu is called up, by user pressing the Menu key
• Timer function draws all over Main Menu, makes it unusable

Where I'm stuck: I don't know how to prevent this; I don't know how to suspend a timer, when Main Menu is called. Or, alternatively, detect Main Menu is running, and avoid executing the timer.

Source file is test03_main.cpp.

See also Tutoriel Gestion du Clavier. A solution is provided, but I find it unsatisfying.