Wiki: VERC: Controlling Turrets Through Cameras

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This effect is rather simple to create, as it requires only 5 entities. The only real ingenuity in this was the tiresome trial and error process that I went through in getting this to work.

The first thing you should make is the func_tank, as it's used in every other part of this article. Customize it however you desire, while making sure "Controllable" is ticked. Now that the turret itself is complete, we'll need to add a camera system.

Func_Tank Properties

Name ( targetname ) - Turret

Place a trigger_camera fairly close to the turret, while still allowing for a good angle to use the turret from. Add an info_target right next to the turret and in between that and the camera, and have your camera target it.

Trigger_Camera Properties

Name ( targetname ) - Turret_Camera
Target ( target ) - Turret_Target
Hold Time ( wait ) - 0.1

Info_Target Properties

Name ( targetname ) - Turret_Target

pic2.gif

Now that the turret and the camera systems are both working, so we just need to finish it off. Throw down a brush that looks something like a computer, and place a func_tankcontrols in front of it, with these controls leading back to your newly created turret. Then, add a trigger_multiple in front of the func_tankcontrols, and have it target the camera.

Func_TankControls Properties

Tank entity name ( target ) - Turret

Trigger_Multiple Properties

Target ( target ) - Turret_Camera
Delay before reset ( wait ) - 0.1

pic1.gif

So now you pop up to the computer, look through the camera at your friendly turret, and mercilessly slaughter hordes of innocent civilians. Err, evil aliens. Yes, that's it.
You can experiment with adding other entities to fancy it up a bit, such as an env_fade for when you start using the camera. Good luck, and happy mapping!

Example Map

camera_turret.zip (Link: camera_turret.zip)

Questions?

E-mail hughbear62@hotmail.com (Link: hughbear62-at-hotmail.com)

This article was originally published on the Valve Editing Resource Collective (VERC).
TWHL only archives articles from defunct websites. For more information on TWHL's archiving efforts, please visit the TWHL Archiving Project page.

The original author was Hugh 'Hugh' Lloyd
The original URL of the VERC article was http://collective.valve-erc.com/index.php?doc=1037082474-10520800
The archived page is available here

VERC: Controlling Turrets Through Cameras Last edited 21 years ago2002-11-15 02:42:00 UTC