Re: [Plib-users] 3rd person camera

[Trent G. <tm...@cy...>]

* Steve Baker <sjb...@ai...> wrote:
> The problem with the scheme you suggest is that it fails
> to distinguish these cases:
> 
> 
>     <----* Player
> __________
>           |
> Building  |
>           | * Camera
> __________|
> 
> The camera has to move pretty fast to
> get around the building.

This one is handled fine. The camera gradually turns around the
building as you do. If you have seen Zelda64, you know what I mean.

> But in this case (where the 'X's are trees or something):
> 
> 
>     <----* Player
> 
>    X  X  X  X   
> 
> 
>            * Camera
> 
> ...you don't want the camera rocketing back and forth
> all the time as each treetrunk gets between the player
> and the camera.

Ok, that's a little harder, but I don't think using my scheme the
camera would get in that position in the first place.

> I've decided that the problem comes down to the art of
> cinematography...which is something that takes a lifetime
> to learn and which would need the brain of a great director
> to get right  :-)

Yeah, you're right. I've seen a "Camera Programmers" section in the
credits of a few games, with a few programmers dedicated to making the
camera work right. So obviously it is not easy :).  I'll be happy when
mine works reasonably well in most cases.

Thanks for all the help, I'll look back in the archives for the camera
discussions.