Pygame: key.get_pressed() does not coincide with the event queue

Question

I\'m attempting to work out simple controls for an application using pygame in Python. I have got the basics working, but I\'m hitting a weird wall: I am using the arrow key

Answer 1

My guess is that set repeat doesn't work the way that you think it will. Basically, after your second key goes up, the repeat doesn't happen. This would seem to make sense to me: open up a text editor and hold down the "A" key. "A"s will spill out across the screen. Then, press the "J" key with the "A" key still held down. The "A"s stop. That is a typical key repeat system.

I'm not sure using this "set_repeat" method is going to work out in the end anyway. Basically, any key that the player presses will now "repeat", even if they click "fire" or "jump".

As an alternative, try saving the state when the user presses or releases. Don't use the set_repeat, but do something like the following:

for event in pygame.event.get():
    if event.type == QUIT:
        pygame.quit()
        sys.exit()
    elif event.type == KEYDOWN:
        if pygame.key.get_pressed()[K_LEFT]:
            player.moving_left = True
        if pygame.key.get_pressed()[K_RIGHT]:
            player.moving_right = True
        if pygame.key.get_pressed()[K_UP]:
            player.moving_up = True
        if pygame.key.get_pressed()[K_DOWN]:
            player.moving_down = True
    elif event.type == KEYUP:
        if pygame.key.get_pressed()[K_LEFT]:
            player.moving_left = False
        if pygame.key.get_pressed()[K_RIGHT]:
            player.moving_right = False
        if pygame.key.get_pressed()[K_UP]:
            player.moving_up = False
        if pygame.key.get_pressed()[K_DOWN]:
            player.moving_down = False

# Somewhere else in your game loop...
if player.moving_left:
    player.pos[0] -= 2
if player.moving_right:
    player.pos[0] += 2
if player.moving_up:
    player.pos[1] -= 2
if player.moving_right:
    player.pos[1] += 2