How do I make a character controller in swift using touch? - ios

Question

I want to make a simple platformer game in Xcode using Swift so that when I hold the left side of the screen, it continuously moves left until let go and vice versa. I have already added a jump feature but if you have any other suggestions I am open to take advice.
Here is my GameController.swift code:
import SpriteKit
class GameScene: SKScene, SKPhysicsContactDelegate {
let character = SKSpriteNode(imageNamed:"square.png")
let block = SKSpriteNode(imageNamed: "square.png")
override func didMoveToView(view: SKView) {
/* Setup your scene here */
//Physics
self.physicsWorld.gravity = CGVectorMake(0.0, -5.0)
self.physicsWorld.contactDelegate = self
self.physicsBody = SKPhysicsBody(edgeLoopFromRect: self.frame)
//Character
character.position = CGPoint(x:CGRectGetMidX(self.frame),
y:CGRectGetMidY(self.frame))
character.setScale(0.25)
character.physicsBody = SKPhysicsBody(rectangleOfSize: character.size)
self.addChild(character)
//block
block.position = CGPoint(x: CGRectGetMidX(self.frame), y:
CGRectGetMidY(self.frame)*0.3)
block.setScale(0.2)
block.physicsBody = SKPhysicsBody(rectangleOfSize: block.size)
block.physicsBody?.dynamic = false
self.addChild(block)
}
override func touchesBegan(touches: Set<UITouch>, withEvent event: UIEvent?) {
/* Called when a touch begins */
for touch:AnyObject in touches {
let location = touch.locationInNode(self)
if location.x < CGRectGetMidX(self.frame) && location.y <
CGRectGetMidY(self.frame)*0.7{
character.physicsBody?.applyImpulse(CGVector(dx: -50, dy: 0))
} else if location.x > CGRectGetMidX(self.frame) && location.y <
CGRectGetMidY(self.frame)*0.7{
character.physicsBody?.applyImpulse(CGVector(dx: 50, dy: 0))
} else if location.y > character.position.y + 15 {
character.physicsBody?.applyImpulse(CGVector(dx: 0, dy: 50))
}
func touchesEnded(touches: Set<NSObject>, withEvent event: UIEvent) {
}
func update(currentTime: CFTimeInterval) {
/* Called before each frame is rendered */
}
}
}
}

Answer 1

override func touchesEnded(touches: Set<UITouch>, withEvent event: UIEvent?) {
character.removeActionForKey("moveAction")
}
override func touchesBegan(touches: Set<UITouch>, withEvent event: UIEvent?) {
for touch:AnyObject in touches {
let location = touch.locationInNode(self)
if location.x < CGRectGetMidX(self.frame) && location.y < CGRectGetMidY(self.frame)*0.7{
moveAction = SKAction.repeatActionForever(SKAction.moveByX(-20, y: 0, duration: 0.1))
let character.runAction(moveAction, withKey: "moveAction")
} else if location.x > CGRectGetMidX(self.frame) && location.y < CGRectGetMidY(self.frame)*0.7{
let moveAction = SKAction.repeatActionForever(SKAction.moveByX(20, y: 0, duration: 0.1))
character.runAction(moveAction, withKey: "moveAction")
} else if location.y > character.position.y + 15 {
let moveAction = SKAction.repeatActionForever(SKAction.moveByX(0, y: 20, duration: 0.1))
character.runAction(moveAction, withKey: "moveAction")
}
}
}
I edited the touchesBegan method and I added a touchesEnded method. You seem to have tried to embed touchesEnded (and update) into the touchesBegan, which you definitely cannot do.
Okay, so, the code is pretty self explanatory, but anyway:
Instead of what you had with the vectors, I added an SKAction that runs forever. Changing the duration will change how fast the object moves. A lower duration results in a faster object, and vice versa (because lower duration means less time to get somewhere, hence a faster speed). When touchesEnded is called, the action, whose key is "moveAction" is removed from character, thereby stopping it.
That's pretty much it. If you have any questions, please, tell me!
By the way, I'm not sure if you intended for this, but when you run the action for the object to move up, character ultimately ends up bouncing up and down because of the gravity.