From: Martin Steuer <ms172554 AT mail DOT inf DOT tu-dresden DOT de>
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject: Re: Pausing the game loop/RPG character conversations
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 11:22:49 +0100
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To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
DJ-Gateway: from newsgroup comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Reply-To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com

I'm not using Allegro, but I looked up the docu of it's keyboard 
routines. I think you can utilize keypressed() and readkey() functions 
in your mail loop like so:

if (keypressed())
	if ((readkey() & 0xff) == 'g')
	{
		draw_rectangle_and_text();
		while (!keypressed()) ;
	}

This will do the trick, _IF_ your character animation and drawing takes 
place in that main-loop and is not driven asynchonous by some timer...