Vertex manipulation

[Baritone]

Hola,

I've been trying to use armature to 'bend' a cube in-game, and I've recently been informed that the only way to do that is with Actions.

I think I’ve learned the tricks of the Action Editor, but my actions still do not show up when the game engine is activated.

I don’t think I’ve named my action right. I can see the keys locked into the row named ‘Bone,’ and I’ve given the action a name (test2), but even after locking that action into the Action Actuator in the GE, the desired Action will not take place when I turn on the game engine.
Could someone tell me how to correctly name an action? Thanks a plenty

[Minifig]

a .blend would help us to help you.

[OTO]

Hello
now you can “deform” objects/meshes with “VertexShape keys” too
http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=135467&highlight=Shape+keys
http://otothecleaner.free.fr/downloads/suzanne-GEshapetest.blend
…but it’s another subject
Have you assign VertexGroups to your bone?
You can name your actions the way you want!
Check and recheck typing errors
Bye

[blendenzo]

Here is a repeat of the instructions I posted last week in response to someone else asking this same question. (They were animating a tentacle, hence the references to “the tentacle mesh”.)

@blendenzo

To make your animation work: You cannot use the armature modifier with the Game Engine. The only way I know of to make armatures work is to select the mesh object and then the armature together with it and press Ctrl+P to make the armature the parent of the object. Follow these steps to do this in you file:

• Select the tentacle mesh.
• Delete the armature modifier from the stack.
• Press Alt+P over the 3D viewport window and select “Clear parent and keep transformation (Clear Track)”.
• While the tentacle mesh is still selected, Shift+Right Click the armature to select it as well. It is very important for the armature to be the active object, that is, the last object selected when multiple objects have been selected.
• Press Ctrl+P and select “Armature”, then “Don’t create groups” (you already have your vertex groups created, so don’t let Blender try to do it again or they will get messed up).

If you have followed these steps, your tentacle will now work in the Game Engine. A couple of extra notes:

• If you look in the tentacle’s modifier stack you will now see an entry called “Armature parent deform”. It has no options but a “Make Real” button. Don’t click the “Make Real” button or the armature will stop working in the Game Engine.
• You may already be aware of this, but SubSurf does not work in the Game Engine. You will need to apply your SubSurf modifier to see the extra geometry in your game.

You should also be aware that the object’s physics bounds will not deform with the mesh. So if you are hoping to bend your cube in order to make another object fall of the top of it, for example, you will not be able to do that using this method only.

[Baritone]

Sweet!

I’ve been working with this cube as an example–
http://www.filesavr.com/cubearmatureexample2

I know I’m still missing something basic. That cube attempts to use Blendenzo’s method. I’m sorry for not finding your previous thread Blendenzo, but I believe I’m making a different mistake than the one harfager777 made.

OTO, can you tell me if I should set Shape Keys in the ‘Shapes’ box in the Button Window. When I want to key in a shape, should I press ‘I,’ and then ‘Mesh,’ or press the Space bar and then ‘Mesh’ and ‘Insert Keyframe’?

Thanks a ton guys