Much of the work of creating visual effects can be achieved if we have a multiple-image sprite sheet. Then, the visual form of each particle as it changes over its lifetime can be driven as a 2D animation, looping through the sequence of images from the sprite sheet.
In this recipe, we'll create a flickering blue flame effect using a particle system that animates its particles from a multiple-image sprite sheet from the Open Game Art website:
Figure 14.18 – The flickering blue flames Particle System we'll create in this recipe
