object synced_effect {
	void		syncFields();
	void		preinit();
	void		init();
	
	void		vSetActive( boolean a );	
	void		OnPlayingChanged();
	
	void		Play();
	void		Stop();
	
	boolean		wasPlaying;
	boolean		playing;
	boolean		loop;
	boolean		noDirection;
	boolean		renderBounds;
	vector		dir;
	float		maxVisDist;
	
	handle		effectHandle;
}

void synced_effect::preinit() {
	playing		= getIntKey( "start_on" );
	loop		= getIntKey( "loop" );
	noDirection	= getIntKey( "no_direction" );
	dir			= getVectorKeyWithDefault( "direction", '0 0 1' );
	maxVisDist  = getFloatKey( "maxVisDist" );
	renderBounds = getIntKey( "renderBounds" );
	
	wasPlaying = playing;
	effectHandle = 0;
}

void synced_effect::init() {
	if ( playing ) {
		Play();
	} else {
		Stop();
	}
}

void synced_effect::syncFields() {
	syncBroadcast( "playing" );
	syncCallback( "playing", "OnPlayingChanged" );
}

void synced_effect::vSetActive( boolean a ) {
	if ( sys.isClient() ) {
		return;
	}
	
	if ( loop ) {
		// if its looping then it turns the effect on and off
		playing = a;
		OnPlayingChanged();
	} else {
		// if its NOT looping then it just fires the effect
		playing = !playing;
		OnPlayingChanged();
	}
}

void synced_effect::OnPlayingChanged() {
	if ( wasPlaying == playing ) {
		return;
	}

	if ( loop ) {
		if ( playing ) {
			Play();
		} else {
			Stop();
		}
	} else {
		Play();
	}
}

void synced_effect::Play() {
	if ( !effectHandle ) {
		if ( !noDirection ) {
			effectHandle = playOriginEffectMaxVisDist( "fx", "", getWorldOrigin(), dir, loop, maxVisDist, 1 );
		} else {
			effectHandle = playEffectMaxVisDist( "fx", "", loop, maxVisDist, 1 );
		}
		if ( effectHandle ) {
			setEffectRenderBounds( effectHandle, renderBounds );
		}
		if ( !loop ) {
			effectHandle = 0;
		}
		wasPlaying = playing;
	}
}

void synced_effect::Stop() {
	if ( effectHandle ) {
		stopEffectHandle( effectHandle );
		effectHandle = 0;
	}

	wasPlaying = playing;
}