Fade from main menu to gameplay

src/graphics/GameRenderer.cpp

@@ -123,8 +123,11 @@ void GameRenderer::renderPlayingState(
     float logicalScale,
     float winW,
     float winH,
-    bool showExitConfirmPopup
+        bool showExitConfirmPopup,
+        int exitPopupSelectedButton,
+        bool suppressPauseVisuals
 ) {
+    (void)exitPopupSelectedButton;
     if (!game || !pixelFont) return;
     
     // Calculate actual content area (centered within the window)
@@ -236,8 +239,10 @@ void GameRenderer::renderPlayingState(
         }
     }
     
+    bool allowActivePieceRender = !game->isPaused() || suppressPauseVisuals;
+
     // Draw ghost piece (where current piece will land)
-    if (!game->isPaused()) {
+    if (allowActivePieceRender) {
         Game::Piece ghostPiece = game->current();
         // Find landing position
         while (true) {
@@ -270,7 +275,7 @@ void GameRenderer::renderPlayingState(
     }
     
     // Draw the falling piece
-    if (!game->isPaused()) {
+    if (allowActivePieceRender) {
         drawPiece(renderer, blocksTex, game->current(), gridX, gridY, finalBlockSize, false);
     }
     
@@ -412,8 +417,8 @@ void GameRenderer::renderPlayingState(
         drawSmallPiece(renderer, blocksTex, static_cast<PieceType>(game->held().type), statsX + 60, statsY + statsH - 80, finalBlockSize * 0.6f);
     }
     
-    // Pause overlay
-    if (game->isPaused() && !showExitConfirmPopup) {
+    // Pause overlay (suppressed when requested, e.g., countdown)
+    if (!suppressPauseVisuals && game->isPaused() && !showExitConfirmPopup) {
         SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(renderer, 0, 0, 0, 180);
         SDL_FRect pauseOverlay{0, 0, logicalW, logicalH};
         SDL_RenderFillRect(renderer, &pauseOverlay);

src/graphics/GameRenderer.h

@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@ public:
         float logicalScale,
         float winW,
         float winH,
-        bool showExitConfirmPopup
+        bool showExitConfirmPopup,
+        int exitPopupSelectedButton = 1,
+        bool suppressPauseVisuals = false
     );
 
 private:

src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.cpp

@@ -124,7 +124,8 @@ void GameRenderer::renderPlayingState(
     float winW,
     float winH,
     bool showExitConfirmPopup,
-    int exitPopupSelectedButton
+    int exitPopupSelectedButton,
+    bool suppressPauseVisuals
 ) {
     if (!game || !pixelFont) return;
     
@@ -237,8 +238,10 @@ void GameRenderer::renderPlayingState(
         }
     }
     
+    bool allowActivePieceRender = !game->isPaused() || suppressPauseVisuals;
+
     // Draw ghost piece (where current piece will land)
-    if (!game->isPaused()) {
+    if (allowActivePieceRender) {
         Game::Piece ghostPiece = game->current();
         // Find landing position
         while (true) {
@@ -271,7 +274,7 @@ void GameRenderer::renderPlayingState(
     }
     
     // Draw the falling piece
-    if (!game->isPaused()) {
+    if (allowActivePieceRender) {
         drawPiece(renderer, blocksTex, game->current(), gridX, gridY, finalBlockSize, false);
     }
     
@@ -413,8 +416,8 @@ void GameRenderer::renderPlayingState(
         drawSmallPiece(renderer, blocksTex, static_cast<PieceType>(game->held().type), statsX + 60, statsY + statsH - 80, finalBlockSize * 0.6f);
     }
     
-    // Pause overlay
-    if (game->isPaused() && !showExitConfirmPopup) {
+    // Pause overlay (skip when visuals are suppressed, e.g., countdown)
+    if (!suppressPauseVisuals && game->isPaused() && !showExitConfirmPopup) {
         SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(renderer, 0, 0, 0, 180);
         SDL_FRect pauseOverlay{0, 0, logicalW, logicalH};
         SDL_RenderFillRect(renderer, &pauseOverlay);

src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.h

@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ public:
         float winW,
         float winH,
         bool showExitConfirmPopup,
-        int exitPopupSelectedButton = 1  // 0=YES, 1=NO
+        int exitPopupSelectedButton = 1,  // 0=YES, 1=NO
+        bool suppressPauseVisuals = false
     );
 
 private: