Q: I would like my top view camera to point towards any entity I'm touching with the mouse pointer.
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);
}
}
function camera_startup()
{
camera.z = 600; // play with the z value
camera.tilt = -80; // with the tilt angle
camera.arc = 100; // and with the arc value until you see all the entities at once
VECTOR temp;
while (1)
{
if (mouse_ent)
{
vec_set(temp, mouse_ent.x);
vec_sub(temp, camera.x);
vec_to_angle(camera.pan, temp);
}
wait (1);
}
}
Q: Does anyone know of a lite-C script for a mini camera? The camera would be fixed somewhere in a level and the movie would be shown at a screen somewhere else at the level.
A: Here's a fully working example.
var fixed_camera = 1;
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);
}
}
// activates the fixed camera for as long as fixed_camera is set to 1
function camera_startup()
{
while (1)
{
if (fixed_camera)
{
camera.x = -700;
camera.y = -365;
camera.z = 450;
camera.pan = 40;
camera.tilt = -35;
}
wait (1);
}
}
// attach this action to a sprite or a model
// if you are using a sprite, make sure that it has the same size (in pixels) with the size of the movie
action movie_display()
{
media_loop ("movie.wmv", bmap_for_entity (my, 0), 100); // use your own movie name
}
Q: I would like to get and display the xyz position of an object in a room, on which i am pointing with my mouse cursor. Hope you can help me.
A: There you go.
BMAP* pointer_tga = "pointer.tga";
FONT* arial_font = "Arial#14";
PANEL* entity_pan = // displays the xyz coordinates of the entity
{
pos_x = 10;
pos_y = 10;
layer = 15;
digits(0, 10, "Entity x coordinate: %.f", arial_font, 1, mouse_ent.x);
digits(0, 30, "Entity y coordinate: %.f", arial_font, 1, mouse_ent.y);
digits(0, 50, "Entity z coordinate: %.f", arial_font, 1, mouse_ent.z);
flags = SHOW;
}
function mouse_startup()
{
mouse_mode = 2;
mouse_map = pointer_tga;
while (1)
{
vec_set(mouse_pos, mouse_cursor);
wait(1);
}
}
Q: How can I show an entity skill on a panel? I've tried with digits, but it didn't work.
A: You need to use an entity pointer - here's a simple example.
var enemy_skill1, enemy_skill2, enemy_skill3;
FONT* arial_font = "Arial#14";
ENTITY* my_enemy;
PANEL* entity_pan = // displays the xyz coordinates of the entity
{
pos_x = 10;
pos_y = 10;
layer = 15;
digits(0, 10, "Enemy skill1: %.f", arial_font, 1, enemy_skill1);
digits(0, 30, "Enemy skill2: %.f", arial_font, 1, enemy_skill2);
digits(0, 50, "Enemy skill3: %.f", arial_font, 1, enemy_skill3);
flags = SHOW;
}
action enemy_action()
{
my_enemy = my;
my_enemy.skill1 = 123;
enemy_skill1 = my_enemy.skill1;
my_enemy.skill2 = 456;
enemy_skill2 = my_enemy.skill2;
my_enemy.skill3 = 789;
enemy_skill3 = my_enemy.skill3;
}
Q: How can I scroll a text that's displayed above a panel? The text is larger than the panel.
A: There you go.
#include <strio.c> // need to include this library
var string_limit = 50; // don't display more than 50 characters from message_str at once
STRING* message_str = "This is a very long text that will be scrolled because its size exceeds the size of the panel";
STRING* temp_str = "";
STRING* output_str = "";
PANEL* hud_pan =
{
pos_x = 10;
pos_y = 10;
layer = 15;
bmap = "map.tga";
flags = SHOW;
}
TEXT* hud_txt =
{
pos_x = 20;
pos_y = 20;
layer = 20; // the text is displayed on top of hud_pan
string(output_str);
flags = SHOW;
}
function cut_startup()
{
var i = 0, j;
while (1)
{
str_cpy(temp_str, message_str);
j = i + string_limit;
str_cut(output_str, temp_str, i, j); // using a function from the strio.c library to cut the string
wait (-0.3);
i++;
j++;
if (i > str_len(message_str)) // the long string ended?
i = 0;
}
}
Q: How can I make a sprite appear on a key press? The sprite needs to fade in.
A: Here's an example
function display_sprite();
function create_sprites()
{
VECTOR sprite_coords;
sprite_coords.x = random(200) - 400; // the x of the sprite will be in the -200... 200 quants interval
sprite_coords.y = random(200) - 400; // the y of the sprite will be in the -200... 200 quants interval
sprite_coords.z = random(200) - 350; // the z of the sprite will be in the -150... 200 quants interval
ent_create ("heart2.tga", sprite_coords, display_sprite);
}
function display_sprite()
{
set(my, PASSABLE | TRANSLUCENT);
my.alpha = 0;
while (my.alpha < 100)
{
my.alpha += 7 * time_step; // 7 gives the fade-in speed
wait (1);
}
my.alpha = 100;
reset(my, TRANSLUCENT);
}
function sprites_startup()
{
on_c = create_sprites; // press the "C" key to create a new sprite
}
Q: How to make a sphere model be filled with mist?
A: You can generate particles from the center of the sphere - here's an example.
BMAP* mist_tga = "mist.tga";
function fade_mist(PARTICLE *p)
{
p.alpha -= 0.5 * time_step; // fade out the particles
if (p.alpha < 0)
p.lifespan = 0;
}
function mist_function(PARTICLE *p)
{
p.alpha = 10 + random(20); // play with all these values
p->vel_x = (1 - random(2)) / 3; // play with all these values
p->vel_y = (1 - random(2)) / 3;
p->vel_z = (1 - random(2)) / 3;
p.bmap = mist_tga;
p.size = 5 + random(4); // sets the size of the mist particles
p.flags |= (BRIGHT | MOVE);
p.event = fade_mist;
}
action misty_sphere() // attach this action to your sphere model
{
set (my, PASSABLE | TRANSLUCENT); // make the sphere passable and transparent
my.alpha = 40; // play with this value
while (1)
{
effect(mist_function, 5, my.x, nullvector);
wait (1);
}
}
Q: With c_scan, I can only scan static lights... how can i scan for dynamic lights?
A: Create your dynamic lights using entities; make them invisible and passable if you need to. Then, use the snippet below.
action players_code() // sample player code
{
var anim_percentage, distance_to_ground;
VECTOR movement_speed, temp;
player = my;
while (1)
{
c_scan(my.x, my.pan, vector(360, 180, 300), SCAN_ENTS | SCAN_LIMIT | IGNORE_ME); // scan for lights
camera.x = player.x - 250 * cos(player.pan);
camera.y = player.y - 250 * sin(player.pan);
camera.z = player.z + 150;
camera.pan = player.pan;
camera.tilt = -20;
my.pan += 6 * (key_a - key_d) * time_step;
vec_set (temp, my.x);
temp.z -= 5000;
distance_to_ground = c_trace (my.x, temp.x, IGNORE_ME | USE_BOX);
movement_speed.x = 5 * (key_w - key_s) * time_step;
movement_speed.y = 0;
movement_speed.z = - (distance_to_ground - 17); // 17 = experimental value
movement_speed.z = maxv (-35 * time_step, movement_speed.z); // 35 = falling speed
c_move (my, movement_speed.x, nullvector, GLIDE);
if (!key_w && !key_s)
{
ent_animate(my, "stand", anim_percentage, ANM_CYCLE);
}
else // the player is moving?
{
ent_animate(my, "walk", anim_percentage, ANM_CYCLE);
}
anim_percentage += 5 * time_step; // 5 = animation speed
wait (1);
}
}
function change_color()
{
vec_set(my.blue, vector(0, 0, 255)); // change to red light
}
action my_light()
{
vec_set(my.blue, vector(255, 255, 255)); // white light
my.emask = ENABLE_SCAN;
my.event = change_color;
while(1)
{
my.lightrange = 500; // set a light range of 500 quants
wait (1);
}
}
Q: I would like to be able to set the colors for the cars in my racing game by clicking them, and the choosing one of the options from a menu.
A: Here's the code that does what you want.
VECTOR* car_pos[3];
BMAP* pointer_tga = "pointer.tga";
BMAP* red1_pcx = "red1.pcx";
BMAP* red2_pcx = "red2.pcx";
BMAP* green1_pcx = "green1.pcx";
BMAP* green2_pcx = "green2.pcx";
BMAP* blue1_pcx = "blue1.pcx";
BMAP* blue2_pcx = "blue2.pcx";
ENTITY* active_car;
function set_red();
function set_green();
function set_blue();
PANEL* carcolor_pan =
{
bmap = "carcolor.pcx";
button = 0, 12, red2_pcx, red1_pcx, red2_pcx, set_red, NULL, NULL;
button = 0, 24, green2_pcx, green1_pcx, green2_pcx, set_green, NULL, NULL;
button = 0, 36, blue2_pcx, blue1_pcx, blue2_pcx, set_blue, NULL, NULL;
}
function mouse_startup()
{
mouse_mode = 2;
mouse_map = pointer_tga;
while (1)
{
vec_set(mouse_pos, mouse_cursor);
wait(1);
}
}
function set_red()
{
active_car.red = 255;
active_car.green = 0;
active_car.blue = 0;
}
function set_green()
{
active_car.red = 0;
active_car.green = 255;
active_car.blue = 0;
}
function set_blue()
{
active_car.red = 0;
active_car.green = 0;
active_car.blue = 255;
}
function display_menu()
{
active_car = my;
vec_set(car_pos, my.x);
vec_to_screen(car_pos, camera);
carcolor_pan.pos_x = car_pos.x;
carcolor_pan.pos_y = car_pos.y;
carcolor_pan.flags |= SHOW;
}
action colored_car()
{
my.emask |= ENABLE_CLICK;
my.event = display_menu;
set (my, LIGHT);
}
Q: I'd like to have a ball that moves freely in the level and kills all the enemies that it is touching.
A: Here's a simple example.
function ball_collides()
{
// the ball has collided with one of the entities in the level?
if (event_type == EVENT_ENTITY)
{
if (you.skill1 == 999) // collided with one of the enemies?
{
you.skill1 = 0; // then remove it!
}
}
// change the direction even if the ball has only collided with a level block
vec_to_angle(my.pan,bounce);
// add a slightly random value to the pan angle each time, in order to prevent the ball from getting stuck
my.pan += 10 - random(20);
}
action bouncing_ball()
{
my.emask |= (ENABLE_BLOCK | ENABLE_ENTITY); // make the entity sensitive to collisions with level blocks and entities
my.event = ball_collides;
while(1)
{
c_move(my, vector(10 * time_step, 0, 0),nullvector, NULL); // 10 gives the ball movement speed
wait(1);
}
}
action my_enemies()
{
my.skill1 = 999; // this value identifies an enemy
while (my.skill1 == 999) {wait (1);}
ent_remove (my);
}
