Custom camera modes - possible with 0.5.5

I just added support for adding custom camera modes, will be available in the next update (0.5.4.1)

This is an example of how to integrate your own camera mode into the game. It'll look like this:


1. Make sure you have Advanced mode activated
3. Create a new file in folder lua/ge/extensions/core/cameraModes/
The filename will be the new mode's name. Keep it simple, no spaces or anything special.

example: topDown.lua :

Code:

-- This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the bCDDL, v. 1.1.
-- If a copy of the bCDDL was not distributed with this
-- file, You can obtain one at http://beamng.com/bCDDL-1.1.txt

--- This is an example of a custom camera mode :D

local C = {}
C.__index = C

function C:init()
  --- when this is loaded, the config will be in self alread. I suggest to inspect it:
  -- dump(self)
  self.veloSmoother = newExponentialSmoothing(20, 1)
  self.lastDataPos = vec3()
  self.fov = self.fov or 20

  --- this marks it as base mode. It needs to set position, rotation and fov correctly
  self.baseMode = true
  -- add it to the default camera modes?
  self.register = true
end

function C:update(data)
  -- get the data
  local ref  = vec3(data.veh:getNodePosition(self.refNodes.ref))
  local back = vec3(data.veh:getNodePosition(self.refNodes.back))

  -- we need to manually smooth the velocity as its too spiky otherwise which results in bad camera movement
  local velo = self.veloSmoother:get((self.lastDataPos - data.pos):length())
  self.lastDataPos = data.pos

  -- figure out the way the vehicle is oriented
  local dir = (ref - back):normalized()
  -- find out the target that we should look on
  local targetPos = data.pos + vec3(dir.x, dir.y, 0) * math.min(50, 70 * velo)
  -- and place the camera above it
  local camPos = targetPos + vec3(0, 0, (velo * 80)  + 50)
  -- then look from camera position to target :)
  local qdir = quatFromDir((targetPos - camPos):normalized())

  -- set the data, this needs to happen
  data.res.pos = camPos -- required, vec3()
  data.res.rot = qdir -- required, quat()
  data.res.fov = self.fov -- required
  data.res.targetPos = targetPos -- this is optional
  return true
end

-- DO NOT CHANGE CLASS IMPLEMENTATION BELOW

return function(...)
  local o = ... or {}
  setmetatable(o, C)
  o:init()
  return o
end

3. Reload GameEngine Lua to reload the mode on the fly: CTRL+L

And done, cycle through the modes with 'C'

4. Pack the mod as .zip with the full path inside the zip (see attachment to this post). Then it can be just placed inside the mods/ folder to work


Even if the update is not out yet, wanted to post already so you can have a look

 

The filename will be its name, should be good enough for now

 

And released

I hope someone creates cool things with it now

 

See the new relative camera mode

 

No new camera modes yet?

 

reset - whenever the camera is resetted
reloaded - whenever the module is being reloaded completely - so when the vehicle is reloaded.
setFov, setOffset: from the jbeam: fov and offset of the camera's n/b section