# Moving character in Unity3D based on accelerometer input

I am building a infinite vertical platformer for mobile platforms using Unity3D. I am using the accelerometer to move the character left and right on the screen.

if (Input.acceleration.y > -0.2f && Input.acceleration.y < 0.2f) {
maxSpeed = 17;
}

if (Input.acceleration.y > -0.5f && Input.acceleration.y < -0.2f) {
maxSpeed = 25;
}
if (Input.acceleration.y > 0.2f && Input.acceleration.y < 0.5f) {
maxSpeed = 25;
}
if (Input.acceleration.y > -0.7f && Input.acceleration.y < -0.5f) {
maxSpeed = 25;
}
if (Input.acceleration.y > 0.5f && Input.acceleration.y < 0.9f) {
maxSpeed = 25;
}
if (Input.acceleration.y < -0.9f) {
maxSpeed = 40;
}
if (Input.acceleration.y  > 0.9f) {
maxSpeed = 40;
}


Basically the farther the device is tilted the faster the character moves. I'm pretty sure there is a way better way to write this code but I'm pretty terrible at math and I can't figure it out. Any suggestions on cleaning this up a bit?

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I know absolutely nothing about or , so if there's a language specific assist, I have no idea about it!

I notice each condition checks Input.acceleration.y, so that's one bit of information that repeats. I also notice we have three speeds, yet we have seven conditionals!

First of all, the negatives are confusing. Find the absolute value first.

I'm going to assume a number followed by an "f" means float. So maybe we need something like:

float acceleration = Math.Abs(Input.acceleration.y);


Great, now it's going to be easier to handle this!

Now all we need is a simple check like so:

if (acceleration < 0.2f) {
maxSpeed = 17;
} else if (acceleration < 0.9f) {
maxSpeed = 25;
} else {
maxSpeed = 40;
}


Your original numbers were a little weird, but if you meant for such a strange pattern, correct me!

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This looks quite nice, but won't get the same result for e.g -0.2f –  Heslacher Jul 31 at 6:16
What do you mean? If the acceleration is -0.2f, then find the absolute value: 0.2f. Plug this in and you get a maxSpeed of 25. In the code, it actually omits -0.2f, which is what I meant by "strange pattern"! –  Alex L Jul 31 at 6:19
In your code, you actually omit -0.2f-> not me but the OP –  Heslacher Jul 31 at 6:20
Sorry @Heslacher, I was thinking you were the OP replying! I've been up for a while ;) –  Alex L Jul 31 at 6:21
no problem at all –  Heslacher Jul 31 at 6:22

  …<-40->|      |<-25->|<--25-->|<-17->|<-17->|<--25-->|<----25----->|<-40->…
-0.9  -0.7   -0.5     -0.2     0    +0.2     +0.5          +0.9


The first likely bug that I see is that the ranges are discontinuous. For example, if Input.acceleration.y is exactly 0.5, then none of the cases applies.

Once you fix that bug, you can simplify the number line to the following equivalent:

  …<-40->|      |<------25----->|<-----17---->|<---------25--------->|<-40->…
-0.9   -0.7            -0.2          +0.2                   +0.9


The next likely bug is that the two sides are asymmetrical, and there is a strange gap between -0.9 and -0.7. Perhaps you meant to fill that in with maxSpeed = 25? I'll assume you meant…

  …<-40->|<---------25--------->|<-----17---->|<---------25--------->|<-40->…
-0.9                   -0.2          +0.2                   +0.9


Since the entire number line from -∞ to +∞ is covered, you should be able to avoid the double-ended inequality comparisons, and instead chain them with else-ifs. Or, if you like more compact expressions, you could use ternary operators:

float absY = Input.acceleration.y < 0 ? -Input.acceleration.y : Input.acceleration.y;
maxSpeed = (absY < 0.2f) ? 17
: (absY < 0.9f) ? 25
:                 40;


The first line could also be written using Math.Abs(), but I chose to write it this way to avoid converting the float to a double.

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You're missing some cases, for example what should happen when y = 0.5? Or -0.9f < y < -0.7?

I think this is valid representation of your current code:

y:   -inf    -0.9f  -0.7f  -0.5f   -0.2f    0.2f    0.5f    0.9f       +inf
m:        40   ?   ?  ?  25  ?   25  ?   17  ?   25  ?   25  ?    40


Based on this diagram, the code posted in @AlexL's answer is likely what you want to achieve. If you're trying to do something else, please post another question with more details :)

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Also I favourite Alex L's answer, her is an alternative way

The first 5 if conditions are checking if the given Input.acceleration.y is between two float values.

So we can extract the between part to an extension method like

public static Boolean Between(this float num, float lower, float upper)
{
return lower < num && num < upper;
}


we assign the value of Input.acceleration.y to a variable, first for readability and second this property only needs to be read only once.

float accelerationY = Input.acceleration.y;


next we are using the Between() method

    if (accelerationY.Between(-0.2f, 0.2f))
{
maxSpeed = 17;
}
else if (accelerationY.Between(-0.5f, -0.2f)
|| accelerationY.Between(0.2f, 0.5f)
|| accelerationY.Between(-0.7f, -0.5f)
|| accelerationY.Between(0.5f, 0.9f))
{
maxSpeed = 25;
}
else if (accelerationY < -0.9f || accelerationY>0.9f)
{
maxSpeed = 40;
}

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If you want to preserve the original behaviour (in a bug-compatible way), this is the way to go. –  200_success Jul 31 at 7:38