Crash Test Countdown

Reference for gameplay_crashTest_crashTestCountdown, a simple countdown timer that displays a visual countdown and plays audio cues before a crash test step begins.

Overview

Provides a count-down-from-N timer with flash messages ("3", "2", "1", "Go!") and corresponding audio events. When the countdown reaches zero, a callback function is invoked to start the step.

Exports

Internals

• timer - Current remaining time in seconds
• old - Tracks the previous floored second to detect transitions
• callback - Function called when the countdown hits zero

Display & Sound

Each time the countdown crosses a whole-second boundary:

• A ScenarioFlashMessage GUI hook displays the current number (or "Go!" at zero)
• Audio events play: UI_Countdown1 for each tick, UI_CountdownGo at zero

How It Works

1. startNewCountdown(3, myCallback) initializes the timer to 3 seconds
2. Each frame, onUpdate decrements the timer by dtSim
3. When the floored timer changes (e.g., 3→2), a flash message and sound play
4. At zero, "Go!" is displayed, the go-sound plays, and the callback fires

-- Start a 3-second countdown, then unfreeze the player
gameplay_crashTest_crashTestCountdown.startNewCountdown(3, function()
  -- Player is unfrozen and step begins
  core_vehicleBridge.executeAction(veh, 'setFreeze', false)
end)

Key Behaviors

• The countdown only ticks when timer > 0
• Uses dtSim (simulation time), so it pauses when the game is paused
• The callback is fired exactly once when the timer expires
• Flash messages use ScenarioFlashMessage with full-screen styling (0.95 size)

See Also

• crashTestBoundaries - Crash Test Boundary Checking - Related reference
• crashTestScoring - Crash Test Score Calculation - Related reference
• crashTestTaskList - Crash Test UI Task List - Related reference
• Gameplay Systems Guide - Guide