THE THIRD DIMENSION

KIT ATTRIBUTES

This month we will take an in depth look at Object Attributes,
namely SNS and TRN or SENSORS and TRANSPORTERS.

Attributes tell the 3D kit how an object will behave.To access an 
objects attributes simply select the fourth icon from the left on 
the control panel (in kit 2) then select the object from the menu 
that you wish to alter.By selecting an object from the list you 
can now alter its attributes.We are dealing with SNS and TRN in 
this article so lets take a look at these in more detail.

TRANSPORTER-TRN
In kit 1 we use a GOTO command on an object to transport us from one 
entrance to another.E.g.-

IF COLLIDED?
GOTO (1,2)
ENDIF

In kit 2 things have been made simpler by the use of the attribute 
menu/icon TRN button.To get to this you click on the fourth icon 
from the left in the control panel,next select an object from the 
list that you wish to make into a transporter and then press the OK 
button.You will then see the Edit Object Attributes menu.Next 
press on the TRN button and the word TRANSPORTER will change into 
a button in the lower right part of the panel.Press on this 
button and a new Edit Transporter Attribute panel will appear.You 
can now click on the AREA and/or ENTRANCE number/s to change them 
to whichever entrance/area that you wish to be transported 
to,then press the OK buttons and that is all there is to it.
Now collide with the object that you have just changed into a 
transporter and you should end up at another entrance etc.If not 
simply create a new entrance 2 and set the attributes of the 
transporter to area 1 and entrance 2.Then collide with it again.

     The possibilities for the transporter attribute are 
endless.Instead of having just doors that transport you to other 
areas you can also have invisible floor objects that do the same 
so that the player doesn't know that they are about to be 
transported elsewhere.  

SENSORS-SNS
In kit 1 to make a sensor you go to the create object menu and 
select sensor.You can then edit the sensor to either shoot or 
detect you.In kit 2 you can do the above and you can also make 
any object into a sensor simply by selecting its attributes as 
you would for a transporter.This time selecting the SNS button 
from the menu brings up the SENSOR menu.You can then use the 
sensor to shoot you or detect you.You can also use a sensor to 
trigger of a procedure.

Shooting Sensor Routine.
     Here is a routine to make a sensor shoot you 10 times and 
end the game.First create an Area Condition and enter the 
following.-

IF VAR=? (10,V11)
THEN ENDGAME
ENDIF

Variable 11 counts the number of times that you have been shot 
and when it reaches 10 it resets/ends the game.
Now create the sensor that will shoot you and make sure that it 
is set to SHOOT.You can alter the range and speed to suit you and 
also choose a sample to play as it shoots.
Now reset the game and walk towards the sensor to try it out.

Shooting Sensor Range Detection Routine.

This routine is used as a range detector.The nearer you get to 
the danger zone (cube) the faster the alarm sounds and shoots.
Start by creating a cube in the centre of the area.Then create 3 
sensors on top of it.Set the range of the first sensor to 4000 
and the speed to 50.Set the sound to a suitable firing/warning 
sample.Next set the second sample range to 3000,speed to 30 and 
use the same sample sound as before.Finally set sensor number 3 
to a range of 2000,speed 15 and the same sample again.
Now as you get closer to the cube the sensor will shoot you 
faster and faster.You could also use the Procedure function of 
the sensor to bring up some warning text when you get 
detected/shot.

Door Sensor.

You can also use a sensor to create doors that open as you 
approach them.First create a room or passage way with a door at 
the end of it.Make the door by creating a black rectangle on the 
wall that looks like a door opening in the wall.In front of this 
create a red door from a cube object that is the same size as the 
black wall opening.Now create another 2 doors (objects 4 and 5) 
that are half the width of the first red door (object 3 ) and 
place these to the left and right of the red door.Colour these 
red too and set their default object attributes to INVISIBLE.Next 
click on the object attributes of the first central red door and 
make it into a sensor as described above.Set the sensor to detect 
and give it a procedure (1). Now create and edit a procedure with 
the following.-

INVIS (3)                 
VIS (4)
VIS (5)
SOUND (3)

Now RESET the game and as you approach the door the sensor will 
detect you and make invisible the door and visible the two door 
pieces either side of the black opening to give the illusion of a 
door opening ( as in star trek etc ) in the middle.Then you can 
make the black opening into a transporter as described above,to 
take you to another area.A suitable door opening sample for 
sound 5 would enhance the effect.

Using the sensor to detect you instead of shooting you is a 
clever way of triggering off an event without the player ever 
knowing about it ubless you want them to.You can create a sensor 
where you want to detect the player approaching then use a 
procedure as explained above to make monsters appear,ceilings 
lower,floors open up walls crush you and many other devilish 
effects.Remember that sensors work just as good in kit 1 as they 
do in kit 2!

Tony