Q: I want to make a bullet destroy itself when it hits a wall. It sounds easy but I didn't manage to make it work.
A: Use the code below.
SOUND* bullet_wav = "bullet.wav";
function remove_bullets() // this function runs when the bullet collides with the wall
{
wait (1); // wait a frame to be sure (don't trigger engine warnings)
my.event = NULL; // don't trigger bullet events (for this bullet) anymore
ent_playsound(my, bullet_wav, 2000);
set (my, INVISIBLE); // hide the bullet
wait (-1); // give the sound enough time to be played
ent_remove (my); // and then remove the bullet
}
function move_bullets()
{
VECTOR bullet_speed[3]; // stores the speed of the bullet
// the bullet is sensitive to impacts with entities and level blocks
my.emask = ENABLE_IMPACT | ENABLE_ENTITY | ENABLE_BLOCK;
my.event = remove_bullets; // when it collides with something, its event function (remove_bullets) will run
my.pan = you.pan; // the bullet has the same pan and tilt angles with its creator
my.tilt = you.tilt;
bullet_speed.x = 50 * time_step; // adjust the speed of the bullet here
bullet_speed.y = 0; // the bullet doesn't move sideways
bullet_speed.z = 0; // or up / down on the z axis
while (my) // this loop will run for as long as the bullet exists (it isn't "NULL")
{
// move the bullet ignoring its creator (the bullet generator)
c_move (my, bullet_speed, nullvector, IGNORE_PASSABLE | IGNORE_YOU);
wait (1);
}
}
action bullet_generator()
{
VECTOR bullet_pos[3];
while (1)
{
// generate bullets from the 108th vertex of the weapon (get the vertex number from Med)
vec_for_vertex(bullet_pos, my, 108);
ent_create("bullet.mdl", bullet_pos, move_bullets);
wait (-2); // fire a bullet every 2 seconds
}
}
Q: I have made a platform (wmb) and the script to drive it, but the player falls through it. Is there any code which I can add to the lift script so that the player will stay on the lift and move with it?
A: Your player code needs changes as well; here's an example of player and lift code that works fine:
ENTITY* lift1;
action players_code() // attach this action to your player
{
player = my; // I'm the player
while (!lift1) {wait (1);} // wait until the lift entity is loaded
var movement_speed = 20; // movement speed
var distance_to_ground;
VECTOR temp;
set (my, INVISIBLE); // 1st person player
while (1)
{
my.pan -= 7 * mouse_force.x * time_step;
camera.x = my.x;
camera.y = my.y;
camera.z = my.z + 50 + 1.1 * sin(my.skill44); // play with 50 and 1.1
camera.pan = my.pan;
camera.tilt += 5 * mouse_force.y * time_step;
vec_set (temp.x, my.x); // trace 10,000 quants below the player
temp.z -= 10000;
distance_to_ground = c_trace (my.x, temp.x, IGNORE_ME | IGNORE_PASSABLE | SCAN_TEXTURE);
// replace "elevator1" with the name of the texture that is used by your lift
if (str_cmpi(tex_name, "elevator1")) // the player is using the lift?
{
my.z = lift1.z + 100; // play with 100
}
else // the player isn't using the lift? Then keep its feet on the ground
{
temp.z = -distance_to_ground + 20; // play with 20
}
temp.x = movement_speed * (key_w - key_s) * time_step;
temp.y = movement_speed * (key_a - key_d) * 0.6 * time_step;
c_move (my, temp.x, nullvector, IGNORE_PASSABLE | GLIDE);
wait (1);
}
}
action my_lift() // attach this action to your lift
{
lift1 = my;
while (!player) {wait (1);} // wait until the player entity is loaded
var init_z;
var max_height = 200; // the lift can move upwards for up to 200 quants
init_z = my.z; // store the initial height of the lift
while (1)
{
while (my.z < init_z + max_height)
{
my.z += 5 * time_step;
wait (1);
}
wait (-3); // wait 3 seconds at the top
while (my.z > init_z)
{
my.z -= 5 * time_step;
wait (1);
}
wait (-5); // wait 5 seconds at the bottom
}
}
Q: How can I make player's pan angle change depending on the position of the mouse?
A: There you go:
BMAP* pointer_tga = "pointer.tga";
function mouse_startup()
{
mouse_mode = 2;
mouse_map = pointer_tga;
while (1)
{
vec_set(mouse_pos, mouse_cursor);
wait(1);
}
}
action players_code()
{
VECTOR temp, temp2;
player = my; // I'm the player
while (1)
{
temp.x = mouse_pos.x;
temp.y = mouse_pos.y;
temp.z = 2000;
// create a position 2000 quants below the camera (not a critical value)
vec_for_screen(temp, camera);
vec_set(temp2, temp.x);
vec_sub(temp2, my.x);
vec_to_angle(my.pan, temp2); // player's pan points towards the mouse pointer here
my.tilt = 0; // don't change player's tilt angle, though
// put your own player movement code here
wait (1);
}
}
Q: I have been trying to make a background picture that doesn't move. The camera is fixed; how can I use a picture that is 512 x 256 pixels so that it's behind everything all the times, stretched from 0,0 to 1024,768.
A: Place the picture behind all the entities from your level, just like you'd place a regular sprite, and then play with its position and scale until it fills the entire screen.
action background_picture()
{
// the background picture is passable and doesn't get blurred
set (my, PASSABLE | NOFILTER);
my.pan = 0.1; // don't allow the sprite to rotate with the camera
my.scale_x = 2; // play with this value, it sets the scale on the x axis
my.scale_y = 3.5; // play with this value, it sets the scale on the y axis
}
Q: I'd like to have my entities stop their animations if they aren't visible on the screen.
A: Use this example.
action my_cow()
{
var anim_percentage = 0;
set(my, POLYGON);
while(1)
{
// the cow is visible on the screen? Then play its animation!
if (!(my.eflags & CLIPPED))
{
ent_animate(my, "eatgrass", anim_percentage, NULL);
anim_percentage += 2 * time_step;
anim_percentage %= 100;
}
else // the cow isn't visible on the screen here, so do something else if needed
{
// beep();
}
wait (1);
}
}
Q: I am trying to create a weapon that fires bullets when I click the left mouse button, but doesn't allow the player to fire a new bullet until the "shoot" animation is 100% completed.
A: Use the code below.
var gun_firing = 0;
ENTITY* weapon1;
SOUND* fire_wav = "fire.wav";
function attach_weapon1()
{
weapon1 = my; // I'm the gun
set(my, PASSABLE);
while (1)
{
vec_set (my.x, vector (20, -10, 35)); // set the proper gun offset in relation to the player
vec_rotate (my.x, you.pan);
vec_add (my.x, you.x);
my.pan = you.pan;
my.tilt = camera.tilt;
wait (1);
}
}
action players_code() // simple player and 1st person camera code
{
player = my; // I'm the player
ent_create ("gun1.mdl", nullvector, attach_weapon1);
while (1)
{
// move the player using the "W", "S", "A" and "D" keys; "10" = movement speed, "6" = strafing speed
c_move (my, vector(10 * (key_w - key_s) * time_step, 6 * (key_a - key_d) * time_step, 0), nullvector, GLIDE);
vec_set (camera.x, player.x); // use player's x and y for the camera as well
camera.z += 30; // place the camera 30 quants above the player on the z axis (approximate eye level)
camera.pan -= 5 * mouse_force.x * time_step; // rotate the camera around by moving the mouse
camera.tilt += 3 * mouse_force.y * time_step; // on its x and y axis
player.pan = camera.pan; // the camera and the player have the same pan angle
wait (1);
}
}
function remove_bullets() // this function runs when the bullet collides with something
{
wait (1); // wait a frame to be sure (don't trigger engine warnings)
ent_remove (my); // and then remove the bullet
}
function move_bullets()
{
VECTOR bullet_speed[3]; // stores the speed of the bullet
// the bullet is sensitive to impacts with entities and level blocks
my.emask = ENABLE_IMPACT | ENABLE_ENTITY | ENABLE_BLOCK;
my.event = remove_bullets; // when it collides with something, its event function (remove_bullets) will run
my.pan = weapon1.pan;
my.tilt = weapon1.tilt;
bullet_speed.x = 150 * time_step; // adjust the speed of the bullet here
bullet_speed.y = 0; // the bullet doesn't move sideways
bullet_speed.z = 0; // or up / down on the z axis
while (my) // this loop will run for as long as the bullet exists (it isn't "NULL")
{
// move the bullet ignoring its creator (weapon1)
c_move (my, bullet_speed, nullvector, IGNORE_PASSABLE | IGNORE_YOU);
wait (1);
}
}
function fire_bullets()
{
if (gun_firing)
return; // don't allow the player to fire until the previous "shot" animation has finished
snd_play(fire_wav, 100, 0);
gun_firing = 1;
VECTOR bullet_pos[3];
var anim_factor = 0;
// generate bullets from the 952th vertex of the weapon (get the vertex number from Med)
vec_for_vertex(bullet_pos, weapon1, 952);
while (anim_factor < 70) // the gun fires the bullet at 70% of its animation - play with 70
{
ent_animate(weapon1, "shot", anim_factor, NULL);
anim_factor += 7 * time_step;
wait (1);
}
ent_create("bullet.mdl", bullet_pos, move_bullets);
while (anim_factor < 100) // continue with the rest of the "shot" animation
{
ent_animate(weapon1, "shot", anim_factor, NULL);
anim_factor += 6 * time_step;
wait (1);
}
gun_firing = 0; // allow the gun to fire again
}
function bullets_startup()
{
on_mouse_left = fire_bullets;
}
Q: In the A5 templates there was a function called msg_show( ) that shows a message when it is called like this: msg_show("I AM AWESOME"); I was wondering if someone could create a new version that uses bitmapped fonts.
A: There you go:
STRING* message_str = "#100"; // the message can have up to 100 characters
FONT* cool_font = "antique.tga";
SOUND* message_wav = "message.wav";
function msg_show(STRING* message, duration);
TEXT* message_txt =
{
pos_x = 200;
pos_y = 20;
string(message_str);
font(cool_font);
flags = SHOW;
}
function msg_show(STRING* message, duration)
{
str_cpy((message_txt.pstring)[0], message);
message_txt.flags |= SHOW; // display the message
snd_play(message_wav, 70, 0);
wait (-duration); // for the specified number of seconds
message_txt.flags &= ~SHOW; // and then hide the message
}
function messages_startup()
{
wait (-7);
msg_show("I AM AWESOME", 3);
wait (-5);
msg_show("or at least cool", 2);
wait (-4);
msg_show("or maybe just a regular guy", 4);
wait (-6);
msg_show("OK, OK, I'm a bit dumb...", 5);
}
Q: I need help with creating a countdown timer that will work while the player is running, and if the timer <= 0 the player is not able to run any more. Also, the timer must recharge so that the player can run again.
A: Use this example.
var countdown_timer = 10;
SOUND* gottime_wav = "gottime.wav";
action players_code() // attach this action to your player
{
var movement_speed = 20; // movement speed
VECTOR temp;
set (my, INVISIBLE); // 1st person player
player = my; // I'm the player
while (1)
{
my.pan -= 7 * mouse_force.x * time_step;
camera.x = my.x;
camera.y = my.y;
camera.z = my.z + 50 + 1.1 * sin(my.skill44); // play with 50 and 1.1
camera.pan = my.pan;
camera.tilt = player.tilt; //5 * mouse_force.y * time_step;
vec_set (temp.x, my.x); // trace 10,000 quants below the player
temp.z -= 10000;
temp.z = -c_trace (my.x, temp.x, IGNORE_ME | IGNORE_PASSABLE | USE_BOX) - 2; // play with 2
temp.x = movement_speed * (key_w - key_s) * time_step;
temp.y = movement_speed * (key_a - key_d) * 0.6 * time_step;
if (countdown_timer > 0) // the countdown time didn't reach zero?
{
temp.x *= 2; // increase the forward movement speed with 100%
temp.y *= 1.5; // increase the sideway movement speed with 50%
}
c_move (my, temp.x, nullvector, IGNORE_PASSABLE | GLIDE);
wait (1);
}
}
action get_time() // attach this action to the time powerups that can be picked up by the player
{
set (my, PASSABLE);
while (!player) {wait (1);} // wait until the player model is loaded
while (vec_dist (player.x, my.x) > 50) {wait (1);}
snd_play(gottime_wav, 100, 0);
set (my, INVISIBLE);
countdown_timer += 10;
wait (-2);
ent_remove(my);
}
function countdown_startup()
{
while (1)
{
countdown_timer -= time_step / 16;
countdown_timer = maxv(countdown_timer, 0); // don't allow the timer to go below zero
wait (1);
}
}
PANEL* time_pan =
{
layer = 15;
digits(20, 20, 4 ,* , 1, countdown_timer);
flags = SHOW;
}
Q: Does anyone know how I can make props that only animate when they get destroyed?
A: Use the following snippet; the crates / barrels only get destroyed and explode after being shot 3 times.
var gun_firing = 0;
ENTITY* weapon1;
SOUND* fire_wav = "fire.wav";
function attach_weapon1()
{
weapon1 = my; // I'm the gun
set(my, PASSABLE);
while (1)
{
vec_set (my.x, vector (20, -10, 35)); // set the proper gun offset in relation to the player
vec_rotate (my.x, you.pan);
vec_add (my.x, you.x);
my.pan = you.pan;
my.tilt = camera.tilt;
wait (1);
}
}
action players_code() // simple player and 1st person camera code
{
player = my; // I'm the player
ent_create ("gun1.mdl", nullvector, attach_weapon1);
while (1)
{
// move the player using the "W", "S", "A" and "D" keys; "10" = movement speed, "6" = strafing speed
c_move (my, vector(10 * (key_w - key_s) * time_step, 6 * (key_a - key_d) * time_step, 0), nullvector, GLIDE);
vec_set (camera.x, player.x); // use player's x and y for the camera as well
camera.z += 30; // place the camera 30 quants above the player on the z axis (approximate eye level)
camera.pan -= 5 * mouse_force.x * time_step; // rotate the camera around by moving the mouse
camera.tilt += 3 * mouse_force.y * time_step; // on its x and y axis
player.pan = camera.pan; // the camera and the player have the same pan angle
wait (1);
}
}
function remove_bullets() // this function runs when the bullet collides with something
{
wait (1); // wait a frame to be sure (don't trigger engine warnings)
ent_remove (my); // and then remove the bullet
}
function move_bullets()
{
my.skill99 = 1357; // uniquely identify a bullet
VECTOR bullet_speed[3]; // stores the speed of the bullet
// the bullet is sensitive to impacts with entities and level blocks
my.emask = ENABLE_IMPACT | ENABLE_ENTITY | ENABLE_BLOCK;
my.event = remove_bullets; // when it collides with something, its event function (remove_bullets) will run
my.pan = weapon1.pan;
my.tilt = weapon1.tilt;
bullet_speed.x = 150 * time_step; // adjust the speed of the bullet here
bullet_speed.y = 0; // the bullet doesn't move sideways
bullet_speed.z = 0; // or up / down on the z axis
while (my) // this loop will run for as long as the bullet exists (it isn't "NULL")
{
// move the bullet ignoring its creator (weapon1)
c_move (my, bullet_speed, nullvector, IGNORE_PASSABLE | IGNORE_YOU);
wait (1);
}
}
function fire_bullets()
{
if (gun_firing)
return; // don't allow the player to fire until the previous "shot" animation has finished
snd_play(fire_wav, 100, 0);
gun_firing = 1;
VECTOR bullet_pos[3];
var anim_factor = 0;
// generate bullets from the 952th vertex of the weapon (get the vertex number from Med)
vec_for_vertex(bullet_pos, weapon1, 952);
while (anim_factor < 70) // the gun fires the bullet at 70% of its animation - play with 70
{
ent_animate(weapon1, "shot", anim_factor, NULL);
anim_factor += 7 * time_step;
wait (1);
}
ent_create("bullet.mdl", bullet_pos, move_bullets);
while (anim_factor < 100) // continue with the rest of the "shot" animation
{
ent_animate(weapon1, "shot", anim_factor, NULL);
anim_factor += 6 * time_step;
wait (1);
}
gun_firing = 0; // allow the gun to fire again
}
function bullets_startup()
{
on_mouse_left = fire_bullets;
}
// destroyable crate / barrel code from here on
function explo_sprite()
{
set(my, BRIGHT);
my.alpha = 100;
my.scale_x = 3; // this value gives the scale of the explosion sprite
my.scale_y = my.scale_x;
my.frame = 1;
while (my.frame < 5)
{
my.frame += 0.5 * time_step;
wait (1);
}
while (my.alpha > 0)
{
my.alpha -= 3 * time_step;
wait (1);
}
ent_remove (my);
}
function destroy_crate()
{
// don't do anything if the crate wasn't destroyed by one of player's bullets
// we have set skill99 to 1357 for each bullet inside function move_bullets() - above
if (you.skill99 != 1357)
return;
my.skill1 -= 1;
}
action my_crate()
{
my.emask |= (ENABLE_IMPACT | ENABLE_ENTITY);
my.event = destroy_crate;
my.skill1 = 3; // allow the
while (my.skill1 > 1) {wait (1);}
// the crate was shot 3 times here
ent_create("explo+5.pcx", my.x, explo_sprite);
my.alpha = 100;
set (my, TRANSLUCENT);
while (my.alpha > 0)
{
my.alpha -= 7 * time_step;
wait (1);
}
ent_remove (my); // and then remove the crate
}
Q: Does anyone has an idea in implementing an entity passing through a tunnel and exiting on another tunnel? It's like a portal in Quake 3; when the player enters the portal, it'll exit somewhere else in the map.
A: Use this example as a base for your code:
ENTITY* beamer1;
ENTITY* beamer2;
action players_code() // attach this action to your player
{
var movement_speed = 20; // movement speed
VECTOR temp;
set (my, INVISIBLE); // 1st person player
player = my; // I'm the player
while (1)
{
my.pan -= 7 * mouse_force.x * time_step;
camera.x = my.x;
camera.y = my.y;
camera.z = my.z + 50 + 1.1 * sin(my.skill44); // play with 50 and 1.1
camera.pan = my.pan;
camera.tilt = player.tilt; //5 * mouse_force.y * time_step;
vec_set (temp.x, my.x); // trace 10,000 quants below the player
temp.z -= 10000;
temp.z = -c_trace (my.x, temp.x, IGNORE_ME | IGNORE_PASSABLE | USE_BOX) - 2; // play with 2
temp.x = movement_speed * (key_w - key_s) * time_step;
temp.y = movement_speed * (key_a - key_d) * 0.6 * time_step;
c_move (my, temp.x, nullvector, IGNORE_PASSABLE | GLIDE);
wait (1);
}
}
function beam_me1()
{
my.event = NULL; // don't trigger several events
wait (1);
set (beamer2, PASSABLE); // don't allow beamer2 to teleport the player back to beamer1
vec_set(player.x, beamer2.x);
my.event = beam_me1;
}
action portal1() // attach this action to the first portal
{
beamer1 = my;
while (!player) {wait (1);}
my.emask |= (ENABLE_IMPACT | ENABLE_ENTITY);
while (1)
{
if (vec_dist(player.x, my.x) < 10) // the player was just beamed here?
{
set (my, PASSABLE);
my.event = NULL; // then don't allow this beamer to teleport it back
// wait until the player has moved away from this beamer
while (vec_dist (my.x, player.x) < 100) {wait (1);}
}
else
{
reset (my, PASSABLE);
my.event = beam_me1;
}
wait (1);
}
}
function beam_me2()
{
my.event = NULL; // don't trigger several events
wait (1);
set (beamer1, PASSABLE); // don't allow beamer1 to teleport the player back to beamer2
vec_set(player.x, beamer1.x);
my.event = beam_me2;
}
action portal2() // attach this action to the second portal
{
beamer2 = my;
while (!player) {wait (1);}
my.emask |= (ENABLE_IMPACT | ENABLE_ENTITY);
while (1)
{
if (vec_dist(player.x, my.x) < 10) // the player was just beamed here?
{
set (my, PASSABLE);
my.event = NULL; // then don't allow this beamer to teleport it back
// wait until the player has moved away from this beamer
while (vec_dist (my.x, player.x) < 100) {wait (1);}
}
else
{
reset (my, PASSABLE);
my.event = beam_me2;
}
wait (1);
}
}