From 74867ea82e0754ebfdc821954f5c726bebddc246 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Andrew Kesterson <andrew@aklabs.net>
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2026 13:19:58 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] README

---
 README.md | 29 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
 1 file changed, 28 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2bb54d8..5183c50 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ Physics properties (gravity and drag along X, Y and Z) are optional and default
 
 ## How do I update and render the game world in my main loop
 
-In your game loop (or in your `SDL_AppIterate` method), lock the game state, call the renderer to draw the world within the visible camera, and then unlock the game state
+In your game loop (or in your `SDL_AppIterate` method), lock the game state, call the game update function, and then unlock the game state
 
 ```c
 PASS(e, akgl_game_state_lock());
@@ -76,6 +76,33 @@ Load a character from a JSON file. Characters map sprites to actor states and de
 PASS(e, akgl_character_load_json(SOME_FILENAME))
 ```
 
+You don't strictly have to load sprites and characters from json files, you can initialize them yourself, it's just tedious work. Here's an example of initializing a 32x32 sprite from a spritesheet that uses the first 4 frames in a looping animation.
+
+```c
+akgl_SpriteSheet *sheet;
+akgl_Sprite *sprite;
+akgl_Character *character;
+PASS(e, akgl_heap_next_spritesheet(&sheet);
+PASS(e, akgl_spritesheet_initialize(sheet, 32, 32, IMAGE_FILENAME));
+PASS(e, akgl_heap_next_sprite(&sprite));
+PASS(e, akgl_sprite_initialize(sprite, SPRITE_NAME, &sheet);
+sprite->frames = 4;
+sprite->frameids = [0, 1, 2, 3];
+sprite->width = 32;
+sprite->height = 32;
+sprite->speed = 1000;
+sprite->loop = true;
+strncpy((char *)&sprite->name, "SPRITE NAME", AKGL_SPRITE_MAX_NAME_LENGTH);
+PASS(e, akgl_heap_next_character(&character));
+PASS(e, akgl_character_initialize(&character, "CHAR NAME"));
+PASS(e, akgl_character_sprite_add(&character, &sprite, STATE_MASK));
+// Set the character acceleration and scale if desired
+character->ax = 64.0;
+character->ay = 64.0;
+character->sx = 2.0;
+character->sy = 2.0;
+```
+
 Initialize an actor. Actors are named ("player", "Quest NPC", whatever) and names must be unique.
 
 ```c