Basic 3rd person camera script

this is by no means an advanced 3rd person camera script, but should get you started with the camera stuff. Any questions can be mailed to:
bas[dot]tuijnman[at]gmail.com

controls:
- just moving the mouse turns the player (and the camera)
- moving the mouse while holding the left button turns the camera
- turning the mouse wheel adjusts camera height

Here it is:
Code:

---

//////////////////////////////
//Camera script             //
//Written by Bas Tuijnman   //
//All rights reserved       //
//////////////////////////////
var cam_height = 75;
var cam_height_min = 50;
var cam_height_max = 100;
var cam_behind = 75;
var cam_tilt = -45;
var cam_angle = 0;
var cam_trace;

view 3rd_person //register a new view
{
	layer = 1; //place it on layer 1
	pos_x = 0; //init on x pos 0
	pos_y = 0; //init on y pos 0
}

function camera_init() //initialize our camer
{
	camera.visible = off; //turn the standard camera off
	3rd_person.size_x = screen_size.x; //make it the width of our screen
	3rd_person.size_y = screen_size.y; //make it the height of our screen
	3rd_person.genius = player; //attach it to the player
	3rd_person.visible = on; //and turn it on
}

function check_cam() //make sure it can't go through walls
{
	my = player; //i'm the player
	cam_trace = c_trace(player.x,3rd_person.x,IGNORE_ME | IGNORE_PASSABLE); //trace for walls
	if(cam_trace==0){return; } //if we didn't hit anything we gan go on
	while(cam_trace > 0) //if we did hit something
	{
		3rd_person.x = player.x + cos(cam_angle)*cam_behind; //move it back
		3rd_person.y = player.y + sin(cam_angle)*cam_behind; //move it back
		wait(1); //wait one frame to exclude infinite loops
	}
}

function control_cam() //make sure we can control it
{
	while(player != null) //while the player exists
	{
                //place camera behind and above player
		3rd_person.x = player.x - cos(cam_angle)*cam_behind; 
		3rd_person.y = player.y - sin(cam_angle)*cam_behind;
		3rd_person.z = player.z + cam_height;
		
                //and give it the appropriate angles
		3rd_person.tilt = cam_tilt;
		3rd_person.roll = player.roll;
		3rd_person.pan = cam_angle;
		
		if(mouse_force.x < 0 && mouse_right == 1) //if the mouse goes to the left and we have the right mouse button pressed
		{
			cam_angle -= pl_speed * time_step; //turn the camera left
		}
		if(mouse_force.x > 0 && mouse_right == 1) //if the mouse goes to the right and we have the right mouse button pressed
		{
			cam_angle += pl_speed * time_step; //turn the camera
		}
		if(mouse_force.x < 0 && mouse_right == 0) //if the mouse goes to the left and we don't have the right mouse button pressed
		{
			player.pan -= pl_speed * time_step; //turn the player
		}
		if(mouse_force.x > 0 && mouse_right == 0) //if the mouse goes to the right and we don't have the right mouse button pressed
		{
			player.pan += pl_speed * time_step; //turn the player
		}
		if(mickey.z > 0 && cam_height < cam_height_max) //if we turn the mouse wheel down
		{
			cam_height += pl_speed * time_step; //move camera up
			cam_behind += pl_speed * time_step; //and more backwards
		}
		if(mickey.z < 0 && cam_height > cam_height_min) //if we turn the mouse wheel up
		{
			cam_height -= pl_speed * time_step; //move camera down
			cam_behind -= pl_speed * time_step; //and more forward
		}
		check_cam(); //make sure we don't hit walls
		wait(1); //and exclude infinite loops
	}
}

---

to use, include this file and do this in your main script:
Code:

---

function main()
{
load_level("your_level.wmb");
camera_init();
wait(1);
}

action your_player_action
{
player = me;
control_cam();
}

---

Use it freely, credit is not needed but will be appreciated

cheers

Thxn, camera contributions are always welcome

Happy Easter ^^

Frazzle

Thank you bstudio. Nice contribution and very well written.

-raiden

No problem