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Fixing asymmetric firing mechanics in shooting games

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SD

ShootingGame_Dev

Posted on July 18, 2025 • Intermediate

🎯 Asymmetric Firing Issues in My Shooting Game

Hi everyone! I’m working on a shooting game and I’m experiencing some frustrating issues with the firing mechanics. Could really use some help figuring out what’s going wrong! 😅

The problems I’m facing:

  • Left-side firing: When I turn left and fire, the bullets don’t move as smoothly as when firing right
  • Extra bullet glitch: When turning right, there’s an extra bullet that appears at the player’s position
  • Inconsistent behavior: The firing feels different depending on which direction I’m facing

I’ve been working on this for hours and can’t figure out why the left and right firing behave so differently. The right side works perfectly, but the left side is choppy and unpredictable.

Has anyone encountered similar issues with directional shooting mechanics? Any insights would be greatly appreciated! 🙏

PM

PhysicsMaster_Code

Replied 3 hours later • ⭐ Best Answer

Hey @ShootingGame_Dev! I’ve seen this exact issue many times. It’s usually caused by inconsistent direction handling and timing issues. Let me help you fix this! 🔧

🎯 Shooting System Analysis

Here’s what’s likely happening in your shooting system:

flowchart TD A[🎮 Player Presses Fire] --> B{Check Direction} B -->|Facing Right| C[Right Firing Logic] B -->|Facing Left| D[Left Firing Logic] C --> E[Create Bullet Clone] D --> F[Create Bullet Clone] E --> G[Set Right Velocity] F --> H[Set Left Velocity] G --> I{Smooth Movement?} H --> J{Smooth Movement?} I -->|Yes| K[✅ Perfect Right Fire] I -->|No| L[❌ Timing Issue] J -->|Yes| M[✅ Perfect Left Fire] J -->|No| N[❌ Direction Bug] L --> O[Fix Frame Rate] N --> P[Fix Direction Logic] O --> Q[🎯 Balanced Firing] P --> Q style A fill:#e1f5fe style Q fill:#e8f5e8 style L fill:#ffebee style N fill:#ffebee

🔧 Step 1: Standardize Direction Variables

First, let’s create a consistent direction system:

    // In Player sprite - when flag clicked
when flag clicked
set [Player Direction v] to [1] // 1 = right, -1 = left
set [Fire Rate v] to [10] // Frames between shots
set [Last Fire Time v] to [0]

🎯 Step 2: Unified Firing System

Create one firing system that works for both directions:

    // When space key pressed
when key [space v] pressed
if <((timer) - (Last Fire Time)) > ((Fire Rate) / [60])> then
broadcast [Fire Bullet v]
set [Last Fire Time v] to (timer)
end

// Custom block: Fire Bullet
define Fire Bullet
create clone of [Bullet v]
play sound [shoot v]

🚀 Step 3: Bullet Clone Logic

In your Bullet sprite, use this standardized approach:

    // In Bullet sprite
when I start as a clone
go to [Player v]
set [Bullet Speed v] to [8]
set [Bullet Direction v] to (Player Direction)
show

// Movement loop
forever
change x by ((Bullet Speed) * (Bullet Direction))
if <(x position) > [240]> then
delete this clone
end
if <(x position) < [-240]> then
delete this clone
end
end

🎮 Step 4: Player Direction Control

Update direction smoothly without affecting firing:

    // Player movement and direction
when key [left arrow v] pressed
set [Player Direction v] to [-1]
point in direction [90] // Face left
change x by [-5]

when key [right arrow v] pressed
set [Player Direction v] to [1]
point in direction [90] // Face right
change x by [5]

🛠️ Step 5: Fix the Extra Bullet Issue

The extra bullet problem is usually caused by multiple fire triggers:

    // Add this to prevent multiple bullets
when I receive [Fire Bullet v]
if <(clone?) = [0]> then // Only original sprite creates clones
create clone of [myself v]
end

// Alternative: Use a firing flag
when key [space v] pressed
if <(Can Fire?) = [1]> then
set [Can Fire? v] to [0]
broadcast [Fire Bullet v]
wait [0.1] seconds // Prevent rapid fire
set [Can Fire? v] to [1]
end

⚡ Step 6: Smooth Movement Fix

For perfectly smooth bullet movement:

    // In Bullet sprite - improved movement
when I start as a clone
go to [Player v]
set [dx v] to ((Bullet Speed) * (Player Direction))
set [dy v] to [0] // Add vertical component if needed
show

forever
change x by (dx)
change y by (dy)

// Boundary check
if <<(x position) > [240]> or <(x position) < [-240]>> then
delete this clone
end
end

🎯 Step 7: Advanced Firing Features

Add these enhancements for professional feel:

    // Muzzle flash effect
define Fire Bullet
create clone of [Bullet v]
create clone of [Muzzle Flash v]
play sound [shoot v]

// Bullet trail effect
when I start as a clone
repeat [5]
create clone of [Bullet Trail v]
wait [0.02] seconds
end

Common Issues and Solutions:

  • Choppy left movement: Check if you’re using negative values correctly
  • Extra bullets: Make sure only one sprite creates clones
  • Timing issues: Use consistent frame rates and timer-based firing
  • Direction confusion: Use a single direction variable throughout

The key is to treat left and right firing identically, just with opposite direction values. This ensures perfect symmetry! 🎯

SD

ShootingGame_Dev

Replied 2 hours later

@PhysicsMaster_Code This is exactly what I needed! 🎉

The unified firing system fixed both issues - no more choppy left firing and the extra bullet glitch is gone! The direction variable approach makes so much sense.

My game feels so much more polished now. Thank you for the detailed explanation! 🚀

GD

GameDev_Mentor

Replied 4 hours later

Great solution! 🎮 Here are some additional tips for smooth shooting mechanics:

  • Consistent timing: Always use timer-based systems instead of frame counting
  • Visual feedback: Add muzzle flashes and sound effects for better feel
  • Bullet pooling: Reuse bullet clones instead of constantly creating/deleting
  • Testing: Test on different devices to ensure consistent performance

The symmetry principle is key - if it works perfectly in one direction, it should work identically in the other! 🎯

VB

Vibelf_Community

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