Trying to create simple follow command with 3d model

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Bulsatar

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Joined: 19th Apr 2011

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Posted: 3rd May 2011 06:26

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Hello Everyone,

I am attempting my first "game" by doing the challenge found here: http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=184136&b=7 and I was hoping for some help. I can't seem to get the model to appear on the screen. I thought I was doing everything correctly, but obviously not.

What it is supposed to do is create 100 "bees" on the screen that follow the mouse at varying speeds which is set at the beginning of the program.

All help is appreciated!!!

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29 games

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Posted: 3rd May 2011 21:08

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Hi Bulsatar

I've had a quick look at your code and found a few problems.

First off, the 3ds model crashed the program when I ran it. I replaced it with a cube just to get something running.

Also, the you didn't position camera. This is not always necessary but I like to position and point it to give myself a sense of where things are as sometimes objects may just be placed out of camera shot.

This was not the problem.

In your function, you had:

+ Code Snippet

(xMouse as integer, yMouse as integer, zMouse as integer MeBee as integer)

You missed out a coma between "zMouse as integer" and "MeBee as integer".

Also, the "as integer" bit was cause problems (that may be because I haven't up graded DBP in a while so).

Then, there wasn't a value for speed so it was effectively set to zero so nothing moved.

I've modified you code, just to get something working.

Rem Project: Bees
Rem Created: Monday, May 02, 2011

Rem ***** Main Source File *****
Type Bee
	xPos as integer
	yPos as integer
	zPos as integer
	speed as integer
	id as integer
endtype

Dim BeeGroup(100) as bee

randomize timer()

For i = 1 to 100
	BeeGroup(i).xpos = rnd(600)
	BeeGroup(i).ypos = rnd(400)
	BeeGroup(i).zpos = rnd(300)
	BeeGroup(i).speed = rnd(180) + 20
	BeeGroup(i).id = i
NEXT i

for i = 1 to 100
		
	`removed 3ds mode <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
		
	make object cube i, 10
	POSITION OBJECT i, BeeGroup(i).xpos, BeeGroup(i).ypos, BeeGroup(i).zpos
NEXT i

SYNC ON
SYNC RATE 60

`added matrix as it helps to give a sense of postion and relative motion <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
make matrix 1, 1000,1000,10,10

Do

for i = 1 to 100
		movebee(mousex(), mousey(), mousez(), i)
	next i

`positioned and pointed camera to the centre of the matrix <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
	position camera 500,200,-500
	point camera 500,200,500

sync
	
LOOP

`modified the function header(if that's what's called) <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
function MoveBee(xMouse, yMouse, zMouse, MeBee)

`given speed variable a value <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
	speed = 1

if xMouse > BeeGroup(mebee).xpos then BeeGroup(mebee).xpos = BeeGroup(mebee).xpos + speed else BeeGroup(mebee).xpos = BeeGroup(mebee).xpos - speed
    
    if yMouse > BeeGroup(mebee).ypos then BeeGroup(mebee).ypos = BeeGroup(mebee).ypos + speed else BeeGroup(mebee).ypos = BeeGroup(mebee).ypos - speed	
    
    if zMouse > BeeGroup(mebee).zpos then BeeGroup(mebee).zpos = BeeGroup(mebee).zpos + speed else BeeGroup(mebee).zpos = BeeGroup(mebee).zpos - speed
    
    POSITION OBJECT BeeGroup(mebee).id, BeeGroup(mebee).xpos, BeeGroup(mebee).ypos, BeeGroup(mebee).zpos

ENDFUNCTION

+ Code Snippet

Rem Project: Bees
Rem Created: Monday, May 02, 2011

Rem ***** Main Source File *****
Type Bee
	xPos as integer
	yPos as integer
	zPos as integer
	speed as integer
	id as integer
endtype

Dim BeeGroup(100) as bee

randomize timer()

For i = 1 to 100
	BeeGroup(i).xpos = rnd(600)
	BeeGroup(i).ypos = rnd(400)
	BeeGroup(i).zpos = rnd(300)
	BeeGroup(i).speed = rnd(180) + 20
	BeeGroup(i).id = i
NEXT i

for i = 1 to 100
		
	`removed 3ds mode <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
		
	make object cube i, 10
	POSITION OBJECT i, BeeGroup(i).xpos, BeeGroup(i).ypos, BeeGroup(i).zpos
NEXT i

SYNC ON
SYNC RATE 60

`added matrix as it helps to give a sense of postion and relative motion <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
make matrix 1, 1000,1000,10,10



Do

	for i = 1 to 100
		movebee(mousex(), mousey(), mousez(), i)
	next i


	`positioned and pointed camera to the centre of the matrix <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
	position camera 500,200,-500
	point camera 500,200,500

	sync
	
LOOP


`modified the function header(if that's what's called) <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
function MoveBee(xMouse, yMouse, zMouse, MeBee)

	`given speed variable a value <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
	speed = 1

	if xMouse > BeeGroup(mebee).xpos then BeeGroup(mebee).xpos = BeeGroup(mebee).xpos + speed else BeeGroup(mebee).xpos = BeeGroup(mebee).xpos - speed
    
    if yMouse > BeeGroup(mebee).ypos then BeeGroup(mebee).ypos = BeeGroup(mebee).ypos + speed else BeeGroup(mebee).ypos = BeeGroup(mebee).ypos - speed	
    
    if zMouse > BeeGroup(mebee).zpos then BeeGroup(mebee).zpos = BeeGroup(mebee).zpos + speed else BeeGroup(mebee).zpos = BeeGroup(mebee).zpos - speed
    
    POSITION OBJECT BeeGroup(mebee).id, BeeGroup(mebee).xpos, BeeGroup(mebee).ypos, BeeGroup(mebee).zpos

ENDFUNCTION

I've not changed the basic way your program works and you may still be disapointed. I think you've got the x, y and z of the mouse and the objects a little confused but I'll leave to sort it out from here on in.

Good luck with the challenge

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Bulsatar

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Posted: 3rd May 2011 23:09

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ah, I messed up on the speed variable as it was supposed to be the speed property of the BeeGroup that was passed. I will change that when I get home. I will also take a look at the other additions you made as far as camera and the matrix. I caught the missing comma this morning, but still didn't get it to work...

When I compiled, the program ran for me, I just didn't see the models anywhere. I tried doing procedural textures in 3ds Max, but they didn't transfer over when converted to 3ds format so I might end up doing up some textures for it.

Thanks for taking a look at the code, 29 games. I will post results when I get home from work tonight.

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Hodgey

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Posted: 4th May 2011 11:35

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As this is apart of the challenge I won't help you too much but point you in the right direction for the follow command. Here is a 2D example but you should be able to turn it into 3d without too much trouble. It uses basic trig ratios sin = opp/hyp etc.

The code hasn't been well commented.

Rem ***** Main Source File *****
sync on : sync rate 60

// create type
type object
    x as float
    y as float
    xspeed as float
    yspeed as float
endtype

// create objects
player as object
com as object

// set player values
player.x = 100.00
player.y = 240.00
player.xspeed = 2.00
player.yspeed = 2.00

// set computer's values
com.x = 400.00
com.y = 240.00
com.xspeed = 1.00
com.yspeed = 1.00

// distance
distance as float

do
    cls
    // move player
    if upkey()=1 then dec player.y, player.yspeed
    if downkey()=1 then inc player.y, player.yspeed
    if leftkey()=1 then dec player.x, player.xspeed
    if rightkey()=1 then inc player.x, player.xspeed
    
    // get distance
    distance = get_distance(player.x, com.x, player.y, com.y)
    
    // move computer towards player
    if distance > 10.00
        com.xspeed = ((player.x - com.x)/distance)
        com.yspeed = ((player.y - com.y)/distance)
    else 
        com.xspeed = 1.00
        com.yspeed = 1.00
    endif
    
    inc com.x, com.xspeed
    inc com.y, com.yspeed
    
    text 0, 0, "You are red, use arrowkeys to move around"
    
    ink rgb(255,0,0), 0
    circle int(player.x), int(player.y), 10
    
    ink rgb(0, 255, 0), 0
    circle int(com.x), int(com.y), 10
    
    sync
loop

function get_distance( x1 as float , x2 as float , y1 as float , y2 as float )
// distance formula
    distance as float
    distance = sqrt(((x1 - x2)^2) + ((y1 - y2)^2))
endfunction distance

+ Code Snippet

Rem ***** Main Source File *****
sync on : sync rate 60

// create type
type object
    x as float
    y as float
    xspeed as float
    yspeed as float
endtype

// create objects
player as object
com as object

// set player values
player.x = 100.00
player.y = 240.00
player.xspeed = 2.00
player.yspeed = 2.00

// set computer's values
com.x = 400.00
com.y = 240.00
com.xspeed = 1.00
com.yspeed = 1.00

// distance
distance as float

do
    cls
    // move player
    if upkey()=1 then dec player.y, player.yspeed
    if downkey()=1 then inc player.y, player.yspeed
    if leftkey()=1 then dec player.x, player.xspeed
    if rightkey()=1 then inc player.x, player.xspeed
    
    // get distance
    distance = get_distance(player.x, com.x, player.y, com.y)
    
    // move computer towards player
    if distance > 10.00
        com.xspeed = ((player.x - com.x)/distance)
        com.yspeed = ((player.y - com.y)/distance)
    else 
        com.xspeed = 1.00
        com.yspeed = 1.00
    endif
    
    inc com.x, com.xspeed
    inc com.y, com.yspeed
    
    text 0, 0, "You are red, use arrowkeys to move around"
    
    ink rgb(255,0,0), 0
    circle int(player.x), int(player.y), 10
    
    ink rgb(0, 255, 0), 0
    circle int(com.x), int(com.y), 10
    
    sync
loop

function get_distance( x1 as float , x2 as float , y1 as float , y2 as float )
// distance formula
    distance as float
    distance = sqrt(((x1 - x2)^2) + ((y1 - y2)^2))
endfunction distance

A clever person solves a problem, a wise person avoids it - Albert Einstein

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29 games

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Posted: 4th May 2011 14:19

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When I ran your initial program all I got was a black screen and then when I tried to close it, it came up with a "program not responding" error. I didn't run the exe, just the code.

If you saw a blue screen but couldn't see any objects, it means that the program is running but all the objects are off camera or out of camera range.

Objects being off camera can get a bit confusing as it's difficult to visually understand where anything is, especially if the objects are moving.

The matrix just gives an easy to code fixed reference point. I pretty much do this at the start of all 3D projects.

When you finally got your program how you like it then you can remove the matrix.

Positioning the camera and pointing it (at a point in space or an object etc) agains helps to orientate yourself in 3D space and gives much greater control on how everything looks on the screen.

The camera position and direction I used in your code was just something I picked so I could see what was happening. You can obviously choose whatever you think looks best.

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Bulsatar

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Posted: 4th May 2011 16:19

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Thanks for the tips on the matrix and the camera, much appreciated. I played around with it again last night and got the follow to work almost how I want. The only thing is that the y axis is being reversed for some reason.
I still can't get that file to load and I don't know why. The poly count is less than 6000. I tried to get it to just open 1 instance of it and I can't do that either. Is there something I have to do when exporting in 3ds Max to get it to work correctly?

**if you want to check out the follow command and how it works, just left click to gather the squares to you.

Thanks for the help, always appreciated!

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Bulsatar

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Posted: 4th May 2011 16:20

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Woohoo, can I get a holla for being out of the noob stage on the forum!!!

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