THE THIRD DIMENSION

BEGINNERS KIT GAME IN EASY STEP BY STEP STAGES 
This is the beginners/tutorial section.In previous months we 
have been creating a new step by step game in easy stages.All 
back issues are available.TEL O1484 46O888.

     The data file to accompany this text has been created in 3D 
kit1 but will run in kit2 and is called KIT1GAME.KIT,the border 
is called KITIGAME.IFF (Amiga/PC or Atari).The game will also 
run on the Atari in kit 1 as it is or in kit2 by using the Show 
Info command in the desktop menu before loading the 3D kit program 
and then changing the name to KIT1.3WD,on the Amiga by changing 
the filename to KIT1.3WD using Rename from the desktop menu then 
using it in kit2,on the PC in kit 1 or in KIT2.The PC version may 
suffer from colour corruption but i am sure that you can alter 
the colours to suit. :-)

To see this months example simply load up the KIT1GAME.KIT data 
file then the KIT1GAME.IFF border and you should be able 
to see how it looks and works after the following tutorial has 
been carried out.

Please bear in mind that because there now is a delay command 
at the start of the game,you will have to give the datafile 
chance to load before adding the border or when you Reset the game.

The game is being created in kit 1 so you may have to do things 
slightly different in kit 2 if you are using that.
             -------------------------------------

Last month we livened things up a little by creating a large 
monster into a new area 7.This month we are going to bring it 
to life by animating it and also creating some doors that slide 
open to reveal this monster.

So take a look at this months datafile and border supplied 
on this months disk to see the example then load up your 
last saved datafile and border and we will make a start.

First create 2 doors( object 28 and 29 in the example )in area 7 
at the end of the short passageway.Now make the objects moveable 
by selecting each of the two objects attributes and clicking on 
the Static button until it says Moveable.
     We then create a pyramid to use as a switch for the 
animation which we place on the wall.We give this switch (object 
30) this condition.-

IF ACTIVATED?
THEN STARTANIM(1)
STARTANIM(2)
SOUND(4)
ENDIF

Next we create 2 animations by going to the AREA menu ( kit1 )
and selecting CREATE ANIMATION twice.Then we select EDIT ANIMATION 
from the AREA menu and select animation 1.We then add this code.-

INCLUDE(28)
LOOP(20)
MOVE(-40,0,0)
AGAIN

We then select animation 2 and add this code.-

INCLUDE(29)
LOOP(20)
MOVE(40,0,0)
SOUND(5)
AGAIN
 
Now when you press the button on the wall you should find that 
the doors slide apart.If they don't then study the example 
datafile on disk to see what you have missed out.

Now we will animate the monsters head.Make all of the objects 
used to create the head Moveable via the objects Attributes.Next 
Create a Group via the create object icon and add all of the 
monsters head objects to this group.Take note of the group object 
number because we use this number in the 'Include' line in the 
animation code.The monsters head is group 32 in my example so 
this is placed after the Include command.
     Next create a third animation and edit it to include this 
code.-

INCLUDE(32)
START
LOOP(10)
MOVE(0,10,0)
AGAIN
LOOP(10)
MOVE(0,-10,0)
AGAIN
RESTART

To make this animation work we create an AREA CONDITION via the 
Area menu and Edit it to say.-

STARTANIM(3)

This should start the head moving up and down.

Now create a pyramid ( OBJECT 27 ) to use as a gold bar,place 
it at the back of the monster in view and give it this condition.-

IF ACTIVATED?
INVIS(27)
ADDVAR(1,V44)
SOUND(4)
ENDIF

So now you should end up with two doors that slide apart when you 
press the button on the wall to reveal a fearsome animated 
monster which is guarding a new gold bar.That is it for this month.
More next month!

If you get stuck then give me a call on 01484 460888 ( anytime )
or alternatively write in to the Third Dimension address.

.....Tony