I need detailed help on how to get a camera to follow a character!

[ilikemonkeys]

I dont know what you mean when people say to use the "vehicle method".:confused:

[lanceA]

That is too broad a question. Why do you ask? Is it an assignment?

The vehicle property is used to synchronize movements of two objects.

[ilikemonkeys]

Well I am going into High school in september, and my option is Computer Science were I will be using Alice. So right now I am playing around, I am having trouble with having a character moving around but it getting out of view of the camera, so I would like the camera to follow the character as it moves.

[lanceA]

GREAT! Alice is an excellent tool for use as an introduction to Computer Science. I started using it the last trimester this year for my 9th grade. Not only did they all sign up for next year, I had 3 new females join!

I would NOT recommend Alice for any one wishing to 'make' games. It is a learning tool - MIGHT AND MAGIC V was not authored in Alice.

The biggest problem with Alice, and I am not sure that it is a problem, is that the documentation for Alice is not readily available. It is a teaching tool I commend you for wishing to learn it - my biggest problem now is that too many young people will bypass the 'learning' experience and simply opt to 'play games'.

[Jabberwocky]

The vehicle method is where one object "rides" another object; or is attached to another like a lance to a knight perhaps.

Look at the example world called almostAllAboutAlice. The last sequence in the animation shows a chicken riding a bunny. If you'll look at the methods section of the World's details you'll see a method called Vehicles. In it you'll see a tile that says "bunny set vehicle to chicken". That's it.

In the details section of each object is a tile called "set vehicle". So if you wanted to have your bunny character ride your chicken. You would go to the bunny details and drag the "set vehicle" method into either the default method, world.my first method, or a new custom one you've created. You'll be prompted for what object to set it to and you'd select the chicken.

Often an object is the camera's vehicle or vice versa.

Have fun!

[Jeremy]

The biggest problem with Alice, and I am not sure that it is a problem, is that the documentation for Alice is not readily available. It is a teaching tool I commend you for wishing to learn it - my biggest problem now is that too many young people will bypass the 'learning' experience and simply opt to 'play games'.

I recommend you buy at least one copy of the textbook. It does give the instructor insight into how Alice should be taught. There are many undocumented (but working) features in Alice but I was able to write a semester curriculum once I had a copy of the book.

[cicatriz]

Where can I find 'set vehical'? I looked under the object methods and didn't see anything. I can see where it's used in the example but not how to access it.

[gabe]

To set object1's vehicle to object2, drag object1 into the method editor and select "object1 set vehicle to" > "object2" from the drop down list that pops up. The set vehicle method is not listed under the object details methods so it's a little hard to find. It's actually listed under the object details properties.

[cicatriz]

Great, thanks for the quick response.

[Jabberwocky]

Yeah, I stated that wrong above, I was speaking from memory. What confused me is, if you right click on an object you will see "set vehicle" as a method. If you are looking in the Details window though it's under the Properties tab not the Methods tab and listed as "Vehicle" not "set vehicle".

On a similar note... a number of Properties have Set methods under the right-click menu, but a few like the isShowing property do not. This has confused me before.

[Star wars fan]

I'm trying to make it so when I click on a object the camera will set the vechile as the object I clicked on.

Thanks.

[DrJim]

Putting in my two cents - I think the basic problem is those who want to "play" games rather than "make" them. Alice is a good tool to learn the latter and - with Madden's NFL 2007 grossing $100M in it's first week of release,:eek: I'm not sure trying to discourage learning how to make video games is a good idea. Plus one thing they will learn is that Alice is NOT a good tool for developing a final product.

Jim

[Deozaan]

I'm trying to make it so when I click on a object the camera will set the vechile as the object I clicked on.

Thanks.

Try using an event for "When Mouse clicks on object."

[Star wars fan]

I know I need that event but not sure what I need to do to make it set veichile to that object.

[Mr Nemo]

Ok, here's the breakdown.
Start in the event area and create a "when mouse is clicked on" event.
Next create a method that asks for an object type parameter(ignore coding for now). Then set your mouse click event to call your method, when it asks you for a value for the parameter, look under expressions for the phrase "object under mouse cursor", and select it.
Now click on the object who's vehicle you wish to set, and click on the properties tab. Click and drag the "vehicle" tile from the properties page to your method. When it asks you for the value you wish to set it to, select the name of your object type parameter.
Run your world and WALLA! It works!:D