Virtual Reality Tools [WIP]

Game Engine Game Engine Resources
1

Hi!

In this thread I was talking about a tool to help create cameras and other things for the GE.
Well, there we are: it’s called VRT for Virtual Reality Tools, because its main purpose is to facilitate the creation of virtual reality simulation scenes, but it could also be used to create games. :wink:

You can find it here.
This version is based on the patch I made (not based anymore on ashsid’s plugin). It’s not yet in the SVN, but I’ve uploaded some of my builds so you can have a look at it anyway:

  • windows users : link
  • linux users : link
    I tested it on both and it seems to work.

What does it do?
It creates 3 types of cameras: free camera and constraints camera (see below for their controles in GE).
It also creates object called ‘cameras switchers’, which, while in the GE, will change cameras when pressing a specific key.
You can edit those cameras and switchers with VRT.

How can I use it?
Download the script, and put the “vrt” folder in Blender script directory (.blender\scripts).
In Blender, go in the Script Windows, then Wizards, then VRT. You should obtain the VRT interface.
I think the interface is pretty clear, I won’t elaborate on this ; if not, tell me.
When you have created your cameras and switchers, you can quit VRT, and continue your scene development or launch the GE.

Cameras controles in the GE:
What I call a free camera is “Blender 3D view movement like” camera:

  • MMB grabbing: rotation of the camera around the target
  • LMB grabbing: rotation of target around the camera
  • Wheel : zoom (get closer to the target)
  • Shift + MMB: translation on camera’s plane
  • Ctrl + MMB: zoom bis (get closer to objects, the target comes with the camera)
  • Shift + Wheel or Ctrl + Wheel : translations on specific axis

Other types of cameras you can create are only regressions of this one.

With VRT cameras you can easily navigate into a scene while in the GE, just like if it was in Blender. Could be useful for preview, etc.

Example of scene made with VRT:
It’s a simple scene with 3 cameras and a switcher. You change of camera with Tab. The first camera is a static one (you can’t do anything with it), the second one is a free camera, and the third one is position constrained camera (you can only rotate around camera’s center). Download it here.

I hope you’ll enjoy it ^^

2

Hello
“sounds” great, but ( always a but) I’ll wait for your example files I guess?! :slight_smile:
Thank you
Bye

I’ve an error message in the console:
import blendGame
ImportErroe: no module named blendGame

linux/python 2.4

3

OTO,

Here is blendGame plug-in - you need file blendGame.pyd from Release folder, store it in blender install folder or any folder that’s listed in PYTHONPATH.

EDIT: sorry, I didn’t noticed, that you’re using linux - blendGame.pyd is binary file built on windows, to use it on linux you need to build it from sources (available in link).

4

Tomorrow, I promise :wink:

It’s strange, I tried with 2.44 and 2.45 and it works fine on both. I’m on Windows and didn’t try the script on linux, maybe that’s the problem. I’ll have a look. Anyway, this issue would certainly disappear when logic bricks will be supported in blender itself (soon I hope).

I use an extended version of your plugin (sorry, I should have mention that), and it can be found in the .zip.
Is the loading of .pyd different on Windows and Linux?

5

matmdx,

.pyd files are binary files and are different for windows (they are .dll) and linux (they are .so). .pyd for windows will never work on linux and vice versa…

6

… and that’s why they said that before the talking there’s the thinking… :o
Of course it won’t run on Linux…
I’ll see if I can compile it for linux users.

7

Thank you to both!

8

Here’s a quick example.
There is just a basic scene and a free camera so you can have a look (controles in the first post).
(There is no switcher because I have a last moment issue with them)

9

Thats pretty kewl. I like it.

10

I’ve updated the example with a switcher:

Example of scene made with VRT:
It’s a simple scene with 3 cameras and a switcher. You change of camera with Tab. The first camera is a static one (you can’t do anything with it), the second one is a free camera, and the third one is position constrained camera (you can only rotate around camera’s center). Download it here.

11

thats really good, thx

12

Update :

  • now it’s based on the patch I submitted, not anymore on BlendGame
  • you can edit switchers

You can find it here.

The patch is not yet in the SVN, but I’ve uploaded some of my builds so you can have a look at it anyway:

  • windows users : link
  • linux users : link
    I tested it on both and it seems to work. :slight_smile: