Third Person Camera

[Fosef]

Trying to create a third person camera, not sure if I'm going in the right path code wise or not. I've been going off the code from Third person camera - ball game example by Aggror

 

Not sure what I'm doing wrong...If I had to guess, its something with the Pivot?

 

In the end I actually want to have an animated player model, not a ball, but figure the ball is good starting point, unless the physics of a ball are actually the issue?

 

#1 Am I on the right path, or should I be using the controller somehow? (I can't get the tutorial code to do anything, no movement at all)

 

#2 The camera doesn't stay with the "player"

 

#3 The camera leans when I push the Q or E

 

 

Not sure how to best attach a sandbox file yet, but all Test_Forest has is a flat terrain and a tree in the middle.

 

#include "engine.h"


int main(int argc, char** argv)
{

       Initialize();
       RegisterAbstractPath("C:/Program Files/Leadwerks Engine SDK");
       Graphics(1280,1024);

       AFilter() ;
       TFilter() ;

       TFramework framework=CreateFramework();
       TLayer layer = GetFrameworkLayer(0);
       TCamera cam=GetLayerCamera(layer);
       PositionEntity(cam,Vec3(0,0,0));

       //Set Lua variable
       BP L=GetLuaState();
       lua_pushobject(L,framework);
       lua_setglobal(L,"fw");
       lua_pop(L,1);

       // Setup Initial Post Processing FX
       SetGodRays(1);
       SetHDR(1);
       SetSSAO(1);
       SetBloom(1);
       SetAntialias(1);
       SetStats(2);

	Collisions(1,1,1);
	DebugPhysics(true);

       LoadScene("abstract::Test_Forest.sbx");


	TBody player=CreateBodySphere();
	EntityType(player,1);
	PositionEntity(player,Vec3(0,20,0));
	SetBodyGravityMode(player,1);
	SetBodyMass(player,1);
	SetBodyDamping(player,1);
	SetWorldGravity(Vec3(0,-20,0));

	TMesh ball=CreateSphere();
	PositionEntity(ball,Vec3(0,20,0));
	EntityParent(ball,player);
	EntityType(ball,1);

       TVec3 camrotation=Vec3(0);
       float mx=0;
       float my=0;
       float move=0;
       float strafe=0;
	float rotate=0;

	TEntity pivot=CreatePivot(player);
	EntityParent(pivot,player);
	EntityParent(cam,pivot);

       // MAIN LOOP
       while (!KeyHit(KEY_ESCAPE))
       {

		//Player movement
		move=KeyDown(KEY_W)-KeyDown(KEY_S);
		strafe=KeyDown(KEY_Q)-KeyDown(KEY_E);
		rotate=KeyDown(KEY_D)-KeyDown(KEY_A);

		//Rotate Cam
		camrotation.Y=camrotation.Y+rotate;
		RotateEntity(pivot,camrotation,1);

		//Add Force to move player/ball
		TVec3 force=Vec3(strafe*10.0,0,move*10.0);
		force=TFormVector(force,cam,0);
		SetBodyForce(player,force);

		// Update timing and world
		UpdateFramework();

		//Position the camera
		TVec3 playerpos=EntityPosition(player);
		TVec3 camerapos=EntityPosition(cam);
		camerapos.Y=Curve(playerpos.Y+1.75,camerapos.Y,2.0);
		camerapos=Vec3(playerpos.X,camerapos.Y,playerpos.Z-5);
		PositionEntity(cam,camerapos);

		// Render
		RenderFramework();

		// Send to screen
		Flip(0) ;
       }

       return Terminate();
}

[AggrorJorn]

For a start you could place this part

 //Position the camera
                       TVec3 playerpos=EntityPosition(player);
                       TVec3 camerapos=EntityPosition(cam);
                       camerapos.Y=Curve(playerpos.Y+1.75,camerapos.Y,2.0);
                       camerapos=Vec3(playerpos.X,camerapos.Y,playerpos.Z-5);
                       PositionEntity(cam,camerapos);

 

right after the main loop is created. At the moment your camera is being updated after the Update command.

 

If you follow the Introduction to controllers tutorial (C++), you will see that you can replace the ball with the Controller. The pivot can remain the same although is not perse needed.

[Fosef]

For whatever reason, the controller code does not work for me...I copy it straight out of the .pdf. It runs fine, but the controller does not move.

[Fosef]

Ok I got it moving, but still having issues with getting the camera to follow the controller and rotate correctly, here is what I have now....

 

 

#include "engine.h"


int main(int argc, char** argv)
{

       Initialize();
       RegisterAbstractPath("C:/Program Files/Leadwerks Engine SDK");
       Graphics(1280,1024);

       AFilter() ;
       TFilter() ;

       TFramework framework=CreateFramework();
       TLayer layer = GetFrameworkLayer(0);
       TCamera cam=GetLayerCamera(layer);
       PositionEntity(cam,Vec3(0,0,0));

       //Set Lua variable
       BP L=GetLuaState();
       lua_pushobject(L,framework);
       lua_setglobal(L,"fw");
       lua_pop(L,1);

       // Setup Initial Post Processing FX
       SetGodRays(1);
       SetHDR(1);
       SetSSAO(1);
       SetBloom(1);
       SetAntialias(1);
       SetStats(2);

	Collisions(1,1,1);
	DebugPhysics(true);

       LoadScene("abstract::Test_Forest.sbx");

	TController player=CreateController();
	EntityType(player,1);
	PositionEntity(player,Vec3(0,20,0));
	SetBodyGravityMode(player,1);
	SetBodyMass(player,1);
	SetBodyDamping(player,1);
	SetWorldGravity(Vec3(0,-20,0));

       TVec3 camrotation=Vec3(0);
       float mx=0;
       float my=0;
       float move=0;
       float strafe=0;
	float rotate=0;


       // MAIN LOOP
       while (!KeyHit(KEY_ESCAPE))
       {
		//Player movement
		move=KeyDown(KEY_W)-KeyDown(KEY_S);
		strafe=KeyDown(KEY_Q)-KeyDown(KEY_E);
		rotate=KeyDown(KEY_D)-KeyDown(KEY_A);

		//Rotate Cam
		camrotation.Y=camrotation.Y+rotate;
		RotateEntity(player,camrotation,1);

		//Set controller input
		UpdateController(player,camrotation.Y+rotate,move*7,strafe*7,0,1,1,0);

		//Position the camera
		TVec3 playerpos=EntityPosition(player);
		TVec3 camerapos=EntityPosition(cam);
		camerapos.Y=playerpos.Y+1.75;
		camerapos=Vec3(playerpos.X,camerapos.Y,playerpos.Z-5);
		PositionEntity(cam,camerapos);

		// Update timing and world
		UpdateFramework();

		// Render
		RenderFramework();

		// Send to screen
		Flip(0) ;
       }

       return Terminate();
}

[ZioRed]

With the following changes you will have a camera that stands behind the controller and rotate accordingly.

 

1. Create a Pivot for the cam and parent the cam to it:

TPivot campiv = CreatePivot();
TCamera cam=GetLayerCamera(layer);
EntityParent(cam, campiv);
PositionEntity(cam,Vec3(0,0,0));

 

2. Replace the code for positioning the cam with:

//Position the camera
TVec3 playerpos=EntityPosition(player);
PositionEntity(campiv, playerpos);
RotateEntity(campiv, EntityRotation(player));
MoveEntity(campiv, Vec3(0, 1.75, -5));

 

Don't know if that is what you needed.

[DaDonik]

For me RotateEntity doesn't always do the job. For example when i did my spaceship movement code, i got problems with RotateEntity. When looking straight up Y+ or down Y-, the movement was not what i expected. Turn entity solved this

problem for me. So instead of:

//Rotate Cam
camrotation.Y=camrotation.Y+rotate;
RotateEntity(player,camrotation,1);

you could write:

//Rotate Cam
TurnEntity(player, vec3(0.0F, rotate, 0.0F), 1);

But that doesn't fix your problem, though.

 

ZioRed's code looks like it's what your looking for, but you can do the same thing with a little less code.

You can shrink:

//Position the camera
TVec3 playerpos=EntityPosition(player);
PositionEntity(campiv, playerpos);
RotateEntity(campiv, EntityRotation(player));
MoveEntity(campiv, Vec3(0, 1.75, -5));

down to:

//Position the camera
SetEntityMatrix(campiv, GetEntityMatrix(player));
MoveEntity(campiv, Vec3(0, 1.75, -5));

 

Hope this helps

Edited May 6, 2010 by DaDonik

[Fosef]

At work now, so will try it tonight

 

Thanks guys!

[Fosef]

Camera works as expected, but its very jerky when moving or strafing...rotation is fine.

 

Also I can't figure out the Damping, I've tryed every number ranging from .1 to 100, it just keeps moving after releasing the keys.

[macklebee]

Also I can't figure out the Damping, I've tryed every number ranging from .1 to 100, it just keeps moving after releasing the keys.

 

increase the maxacceleration value to something like 300-500

[AggrorJorn]

Whats the code you have now?

[Fosef]

Ok, it stops fast when I release the keys now...But is still very jerky moving and strafing

 

#include "engine.h"


int main(int argc, char** argv)
{

       Initialize();
       RegisterAbstractPath("C:/Program Files/Leadwerks Engine SDK");
       Graphics(1280,1024);

       AFilter() ;
       TFilter() ;

       TFramework framework=CreateFramework();
       TLayer layer = GetFrameworkLayer(0);
       TCamera cam=GetLayerCamera(layer);
       PositionEntity(cam,Vec3(0,0,0));

       //Set Lua variable
       BP L=GetLuaState();
       lua_pushobject(L,framework);
       lua_setglobal(L,"fw");
       lua_pop(L,1);

       // Setup Initial Post Processing FX
       SetGodRays(1);
       SetHDR(1);
       SetSSAO(1);
       SetBloom(1);
       SetAntialias(1);
       SetStats(2);

	Collisions(1,1,1);
	//DebugPhysics(true);

       LoadScene("abstract::Test_Forest.sbx");

	TController player=CreateController();
	EntityType(player,1);
	PositionEntity(player,Vec3(0,20,0));
	SetBodyGravityMode(player,1);
	SetBodyMass(player,1);
	SetBodyDamping(player, 100);
	SetWorldGravity(Vec3(0,-20,0));

       TVec3 camrotation=Vec3(0);
       float mx=0;
       float my=0;
       float move=0;
       float strafe=0;
	float rotate=0;

	TPivot campiv = CreatePivot();
	EntityParent(cam, campiv);
	PositionEntity(cam,Vec3(0,0,0));

       // MAIN LOOP
       while (!KeyHit(KEY_ESCAPE))
       {
		//Player movement
		move=KeyDown(KEY_W)-KeyDown(KEY_S);
		strafe=KeyDown(KEY_Q)-KeyDown(KEY_E);
		rotate=KeyDown(KEY_D)-KeyDown(KEY_A);

		//Rotate Cam
		camrotation.Y=camrotation.Y+rotate;
		RotateEntity(player,camrotation,1);

		//Set controller input
		UpdateController(player,camrotation.Y+rotate*-1,move*10,strafe*10,0,400,1,0);

		//Position the camera
		TVec3 playerpos=EntityPosition(player);
		PositionEntity(campiv, playerpos);
		RotateEntity(campiv, EntityRotation(player));
		MoveEntity(campiv, Vec3(0, 1.75, -5));

		// Update timing and world
		UpdateFramework();





		// Render
		RenderFramework();

		// Send to screen
		Flip(0) ;
       }

       return Terminate();
}

[macklebee]

try using the Curve function to get rid of the jerkiness:

mx=Curve(MouseX()-GraphicsWidth()/2,mx,6);
my=Curve(MouseY()-GraphicsHeight()/2,my,6);
MoveMouse(GraphicsWidth()/2,GraphicsHeight()/2);

camrotation.X=camrotation.X+my/10.0;
camrotation.Y=camrotation.Y-mx/10.0;
RotateEntity(fw.GetMain().GetCamera(),camrotation,1);

[Fosef]

The rotation is fine, I can spin around 1080 without noticing any kind of jerking...

 

I tried the curve...but I wouldn't doubt I didn't use it correctly, just seems to change the speed....but can still see the jerkyness

 

UpdateController(player,camrotation.Y+rotate*-1,Curve(move*10,0,6),strafe*10,0,400,1,0);

 

 

 

 

Are you guys getting the same results?

[macklebee]

try it without modifying the move and strafe variables...

 

look at the wiki tut for Character Controllers and you will see that the code doesn't use any multiplier on the move or strafe

[Fosef]

try it without modifying the move and strafe variables...

 

look at the wiki tut for Character Controllers and you will see that the code doesn't use any multiplier on the move or strafe

 

 

Arggh, the jerkiness was caused by lua scripts not loading again. When I set the abstract path to the LE SDK directory I thought it would take care of the scripts too. But I actually needed to move the scripts folder into MyGame folder?

 

Anywho, thanks...got to see what a lot of the settings/parameters do trying to figure this out too, so the aggravation payed off a little.

[ZioRed]

Yes the "Scripts" folder (and may be the shaders.pak if you use it, not sure for this) should ever be in the game executable folder, even if you register the SDK folder as abstract path.