currentAge += 10f;
currentAge += secondsPassed * 1000f; halfAge = currentAge*.5f;
  public boolean updateAndCheck() {    if (status != ALIVE) {      return true;    }    currentAge += 10f; // add 10ms to age    if (currentAge > lifeSpan) {      status = DEAD;      color.a = 0;      return true;    }    speed.scaleAdd(parent.getParticlesSpeed(), parent.getGravityForce(), speed);    location.scaleAdd(parent.getParticlesSpeed(), speed, location);    if (parent.getRandomMod() != 0.0f) {      randomPoint.set(parent.getRandomMod() *                      ( -FastMath.nextRandomFloat() + FastMath.nextRandomFloat()),                      0.0f,                      parent.getRandomMod() *                      ( -FastMath.nextRandomFloat() + FastMath.nextRandomFloat()));      location.addLocal(randomPoint);    }    float lifeRatio = currentAge / lifeSpan;    // update the size, currently, the size    // updates both the x and y values. So you always    // get a square    currentSize =        parent.getStartSize() -        ( (parent.getStartSize() - parent.getEndSize()) * lifeRatio);    // interpolate colors    color.r = parent.getStartColor().r -        ( (parent.getStartColor().r - parent.getEndColor().r) * lifeRatio);    color.g = parent.getStartColor().g -        ( (parent.getStartColor().g - parent.getEndColor().g) * lifeRatio);    color.b = parent.getStartColor().b -        ( (parent.getStartColor().b - parent.getEndColor().b) * lifeRatio);    color.a = parent.getStartColor().a -        ( (parent.getStartColor().a - parent.getEndColor().a) * lifeRatio);    updateVerts();    return false;  }