Added effects manager and two effects to test attached to the player

scene.

scripts/effects/base_effect.gd

@@ -3,14 +3,20 @@ extends Resource
 
 @export var duration: float = 0.5
 
+var _elapsed: float = 0.0
+
 # Called when the effect is applied
 func start(target: Node) -> void:
-    pass
+    _elapsed = 0.0
 
 # Called every frame (if needed)
-func process(delta: float) -> void:
-    pass
+func process(delta: float, target: Node) -> void:
+    _elapsed += delta
 
 # Clean up any changes to the target
 func stop(target: Node) -> void:
     pass
+
+# Returns true when the effect has run its course
+func is_finished() -> bool:
+    return _elapsed >= duration

scripts/effects/blinker_effect.gd

@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+class_name BlinkerEffect
+extends BaseEffect
+
+## How many blink cycles per second.
+@export_range(0.0, 60.0) var blink_frequency: float = 8.0
+
+## Fraction of each cycle the sprite is visible (0.0–1.0).
+@export_range(0.0, 1.0) var blink_length: float = 0.5
+
+## Minimum alpha when "off" (0.0 = fully invisible, 1.0 = fully visible).
+@export_range(0.0, 1.0) var min_alpha: float = 0.0
+
+## Maximum alpha when "on" (0.0–1.0).
+@export_range(0.0, 1.0) var max_alpha: float = 1.0
+
+## Duration of the fade-in at the start of the effect (seconds).
+@export_range(0.0, 5.0) var start_ease: float = 0.0
+
+## Easing curve for the fade-in.
+@export_enum("Linear", "Smooth", "Ease-In", "Ease-Out", "Ease-In-Out") var start_ease_mode: int = 1
+
+## Duration of the fade-out at the end of the effect (seconds).
+@export_range(0.0, 5.0) var end_ease: float = 0.0
+
+## Easing curve for the fade-out.
+@export_enum("Linear", "Smooth", "Ease-In", "Ease-Out", "Ease-In-Out") var end_ease_mode: int = 1
+
+var _original_modulate: Color
+
+
+func start(target: Node) -> void:
+    super.start(target)
+    if target is CanvasItem:
+        _original_modulate = target.modulate
+
+
+func process(delta: float, target: Node) -> void:
+    super.process(delta, target)
+    if target is CanvasItem:
+        var alpha: float = _compute_alpha(_elapsed)
+        target.modulate = Color(_original_modulate.r, _original_modulate.g, _original_modulate.b, alpha)
+
+
+func stop(target: Node) -> void:
+    if target is CanvasItem:
+        target.modulate = _original_modulate
+
+
+## Compute the combined eased alpha for a given elapsed time.
+func _compute_alpha(elapsed: float) -> float:
+    if duration <= 0.0:
+        return 1.0
+
+    var t: float = min(elapsed, duration)
+
+    # Blink pulse: on/off cycling at the given frequency and duty cycle
+    var period := 1.0 / blink_frequency if blink_frequency > 0.0 else 1.0
+    var phase := fmod(t, period) / period
+
+    var pulse: float = min_alpha
+    if phase < blink_length:
+        var pulse_progress = phase / blink_length if blink_length > 0.0 else 1.0
+        if pulse_progress < 0.5:
+            pulse = min_alpha + (max_alpha - min_alpha) * _ease_value(pulse_progress * 2.0, 2)
+        else:
+            pulse = min_alpha + (max_alpha - min_alpha) * _ease_value((1.0 - pulse_progress) * 2.0, 3)
+
+    # Start ease: fade from fully visible into the blink pattern
+    if t < start_ease and start_ease > 0.0:
+        var fade_in = _ease_value(t / start_ease, start_ease_mode)
+        return lerp(max_alpha, pulse, fade_in)
+
+    # End ease: fade from blink pattern back to fully visible
+    if t > duration - end_ease and end_ease > 0.0:
+        var fade_progress = (t - (duration - end_ease)) / end_ease
+        var fade_out = _ease_value(fade_progress, end_ease_mode)
+        return lerp(pulse, max_alpha, fade_out)
+
+    return pulse
+
+
+## Apply easing to a 0.0–1.0 normalized value based on the selected mode.
+func _ease_value(value: float, mode: int) -> float:
+    match mode:
+        0: return value  # Linear
+        1: return smoothstep(0.0, 1.0, value)  # Smooth
+        2: return ease(value, -2.0)  # Ease-In (accelerating)
+        3: return ease(value, 2.0)  # Ease-Out (decelerating)
+        4: return ease(value, 3.0)  # Ease-In-Out (S-curve)
+    return value

scripts/effects/blinker_effect.gd.uid

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://cj4grtaun2h5a

scripts/effects/effects_component.gd

@@ -1,24 +1,33 @@
 class_name EffectComponent
-extends Node2D
+extends Node
 
-@export var target_node: Node
+## The node this component applies effects to.
+## If left null, defaults to the first parent CanvasItem.
+@export var target_node: Node = null
 
 var active_effects: Array[BaseEffect] = []
 
+func _ready() -> void:
+    if target_node == null:
+        # Auto-resolve to the parent if nothing is set
+        target_node = get_parent()
+
 func _process(delta: float) -> void:
+    if target_node == null:
+        return
+
     # Process all active effects backwards so we can safely remove finished ones
     for i in range(active_effects.size() - 1, -1, -1):
         var effect = active_effects[i]
         effect.process(delta, target_node)
-        
-        # Example: simple time-based expiration
-        effect.duration -= delta
-        if effect.duration <= 0.0:
+
+        if effect.is_finished():
             remove_effect(effect)
 
 func apply_effect(effect: BaseEffect) -> void:
-    effect.start(target_node)
-    active_effects.append(effect)
+    var instance = effect.duplicate()
+    instance.start(target_node)
+    active_effects.append(instance)
 
 func remove_effect(effect: BaseEffect) -> void:
     effect.stop(target_node)

scripts/effects/flash_effect.gd

@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+class_name FlashEffect
+extends BaseEffect
+
+## Shader applied to the target sprite during the flash.
+@export var flash_shader: Shader = preload("res://shaders/flash.gdshader")
+
+## Color of the flash overlay.
+@export var flash_color: Color = Color.WHITE
+
+## How many flash cycles per second.
+@export_range(0.0, 60.0) var flash_frequency: float = 10.0
+
+## Fraction of each cycle the flash is visible (0.0–1.0, i.e. duty cycle).
+@export_range(0.0, 1.0) var flash_length: float = 0.5
+
+## How the flash blends with the original sprite.
+@export_enum("Mix", "Additive", "Screen") var blend_mode: int = 0
+
+## Additional brightness added to the flash color (0.0 = none, 1.0 = double).
+@export_range(0.0, 1.0) var brightness_boost: float = 0.0
+
+## Duration of the fade-in at the start of the effect (seconds).
+@export_range(0.0, 5.0) var start_ease: float = 0.0
+
+## Easing curve for the fade-in.
+@export_enum("Linear", "Smooth", "Ease-In", "Ease-Out", "Ease-In-Out") var start_ease_mode: int = 1
+
+## Duration of the fade-out at the end of the effect (seconds).
+@export_range(0.0, 5.0) var end_ease: float = 0.0
+
+## Easing curve for the fade-out.
+@export_enum("Linear", "Smooth", "Ease-In", "Ease-Out", "Ease-In-Out") var end_ease_mode: int = 1
+
+var _original_material: Material
+
+
+func start(target: Node) -> void:
+    super.start(target)
+    if target is CanvasItem:
+        _original_material = target.material
+        var flash_material := ShaderMaterial.new()
+        flash_material.shader = flash_shader
+        flash_material.set_shader_parameter("flash_color", flash_color)
+        flash_material.set_shader_parameter("flash_intensity", 0.0)
+        flash_material.set_shader_parameter("blend_mode", blend_mode)
+        flash_material.set_shader_parameter("brightness_boost", brightness_boost)
+        target.material = flash_material
+
+
+func process(delta: float, target: Node) -> void:
+    super.process(delta, target)
+    if target.material is ShaderMaterial:
+        var intensity := _compute_intensity(_elapsed)
+        target.material.set_shader_parameter("flash_intensity", intensity)
+
+
+func stop(target: Node) -> void:
+    if target is CanvasItem:
+        target.material = _original_material
+
+
+## Compute the combined eased flash intensity for a given elapsed time.
+## Returns a value 0.0–1.0 where 1.0 means full flash visibility.
+func _compute_intensity(elapsed: float) -> float:
+    if duration <= 0.0:
+        return 0.0
+
+    # Clamp elapsed to duration to avoid overshoot on the final frame
+    var t: float = min(elapsed, duration)
+
+    # Overall envelope: fade in during start_ease, hold, fade out during end_ease
+    var envelope: float = 1.0
+    if t < start_ease and start_ease > 0.0:
+        envelope = _ease_value(t / start_ease, start_ease_mode)
+    elif t > duration - end_ease and end_ease > 0.0:
+        var fade_progress = (t - (duration - end_ease)) / end_ease
+        envelope = 1.0 - _ease_value(fade_progress, end_ease_mode)
+
+    # Flash pattern: on/off cycling at the given frequency and duty cycle
+    # Each flash pulse also eases in and out for a smoother look
+    var period := 1.0 / flash_frequency if flash_frequency > 0.0 else 1.0
+    var phase := fmod(t, period) / period  # 0.0–1.0 position within the current cycle
+
+    var pulse: float = 0.0
+    if phase < flash_length:
+        # Inside the "on" portion of this cycle — ease within the pulse itself
+        var pulse_progress = phase / flash_length if flash_length > 0.0 else 1.0
+        # Ease in for the first half of the pulse (build up), ease out for the second (fade down)
+        if pulse_progress < 0.5:
+            pulse = _ease_value(pulse_progress * 2.0, 2)  # Ease-In (build up)
+        else:
+            pulse = _ease_value((1.0 - pulse_progress) * 2.0, 3)  # Ease-Out (fade down)
+
+    return envelope * pulse
+
+
+## Apply easing to a 0.0–1.0 normalized value based on the selected mode.
+func _ease_value(value: float, mode: int) -> float:
+    match mode:
+        0: return value  # Linear
+        1: return smoothstep(0.0, 1.0, value)  # Smooth
+        2: return ease(value, -2.0)  # Ease-In (accelerating)
+        3: return ease(value, 2.0)  # Ease-Out (decelerating)
+        4: return ease(value, 3.0)  # Ease-In-Out (S-curve)
+    return value

scripts/effects/flash_effect.gd.uid

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://deak7vcr7ss5l

scripts/movement_component.gd

@@ -30,11 +30,13 @@ func tick(delta: float):
     %Ship.frame = 2
     %Ship/Thrusters.flip_h = true
     %Ship/Thrusters.animation = "banked"
+    %Ship/Thrusters.position.x = %Ship.position.x+1
   elif input.x < 0:
     player.position.x = player.position.x-1
     %Ship.frame = 1
     %Ship/Thrusters.flip_h = false
     %Ship/Thrusters.animation = "banked"
+    %Ship/Thrusters.position.x = %Ship.position.x-1
   else:
     %Ship.frame = 0
     player.position.x = player.position.x

scripts/weapon_component.gd

@@ -2,9 +2,12 @@ class_name WeaponComponent extends Node
 
 @export var weapon_data: WeaponShot = null
 @export var available_weapons: Array[WeaponShot] = []
+@export var weapon_change_flash: BaseEffect = null
 
 var _current_weapon_index: int = 0
 
+@onready var effects_component: EffectComponent = %EffectsComponent
+
 func _ready() -> void:
 
     # Set the default weapon to be stock, i.e. index 1
@@ -36,10 +39,16 @@ func select_weapon_by_name(name: String) -> bool:
             print("Switched to: ", name)
 
             _emit_weapon_changed()
+            _trigger_change_flash()
             return true
     return false
 
 
+func _trigger_change_flash() -> void:
+    if weapon_change_flash and effects_component:
+        effects_component.apply_effect(weapon_change_flash)
+
+
 
 func cycle_weapon() -> void: # Used for testing weapon cycling
     if available_weapons.is_empty():
@@ -50,3 +59,4 @@ func cycle_weapon() -> void: # Used for testing weapon cycling
     print("Switched to: ", weapon_data.shot_name)
 
     _emit_weapon_changed()
+    _trigger_change_flash()