yeah if user presses a itll -5*time_step. if presses d it'll be 5*time_step.
but moving player by directly changin it's dimensions is not good. If you want collisions and stuff, you need to use c_move or physical functions.
I'm not yet that technical, and I try to make just a simple game of sidescrolling:P though, I was hoping for something to add collision, making like a rock you have to jump, a door and stuff like that:P