Is there a better way to jump?

Game Mechanics
#1

My jumping right now is constant motion. I would like to add acceleration to the motion.

Please help.

#2

I would probably set a speed variable for the jump, then modify it as desired.

#3

x and y=position
dx and dy=delta
g=gravity (a constant value)

Forces such as player input or gravity affect the delta. The delta should be capped (max running speed, max falling speed… you get the idea). For dx there should be a fair amount of friction. This makes the character stop rather quickly if the direction key is released. On ice surfaces a lower friction value is used. In mid-air there should be different friction and acceleration values (less friction than on-ground, less acceleration as well).

G is always added to DY. DX is capped, DY is capped, DX is added to X, DY is added to Y. If the player touches the ground DY is set to 0. If he runs against a wall DX is set to 0.

For variable jump heights apply a drag factor to DY if it points upwards and if the jump key isn’t pressed. Of course you only do this check if the player is in mid-air (else branch of the can-jump-if).

Simplified example (no special air controls, variable jump height):

float G=0.5f;
float WALK_ACC=1f;
float WALK_FRICTION=0.5f;
float FALLING_MAX=10f;
float WALK_SPEED=5f;
float JUMP=10f;
[...]
dy+=G;
if(dy>FALLING_MAX)
	dy=FALLING_MAX;
y+=dy;
dx+=Controls.simpleX()*WALK_ACC;
if(Controls.simpleX()==0){
	if(dx>WALK_FRICTION)
		dx-=WALK_FRICTION;
	else if(dx<-WALK_FRICTION)
		dx+=WALK_FRICTION;
	else
		dx=0;
}
if(dx>WALK_SPEED)
	dx=WALK_SPEED;
else if(dx<-WALK_SPEED)
	dx=-WALK_SPEED;
x+=dx;

[collision checks here... dy and/or dx are reset if necessary,
the position is corrected if necessary,
and the can_jump flag is set if the player can jump (=on ground)]

if(can_jump&&Controls.simpleB1()){
	dy-=JUMP;
	can_jump=false;
}else if(dy<0&&!Controls.simpleB1()){
	dy*=0.5;
}
#4

Yeah really the important thing to grasp is that you’re never directly changing position, instead you’re changing velocity which in turn changes position.