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Creating a "CLASS" (not a programmer)

by Infinitum3D · in Torque Game Engine · 06/20/2008 (9:56 am) · 3 replies

Disclaimer: I am NOT a programmer :)



datablock PlayerData(aiOrc : PlayerBody)
{
     shapeFile = "~/data/shapes/Orc/Orc.dts";
};

If I understand it correctly, the previous code uses the PlayerBody function from Player.cs. Right?

datablock PlayerData(PlayerBody)



So, I could create my own Class like this;

datablock PlayerData(aiRat)
{
     className = Rat;
     shapeFile = "~/data/shapes/Rat/Rat.dts";
};

Is that correct, or are Classes hard-coded in the engine (.cc files)?

I guess my question is, can you script Classes or do you have to place them in the engine.

Again, I'm not a programmer :)



Thanks!

~Tony

ps. The reason I ask is because I'd like to have quadripeds with different capabilities than bipeds, and I don't want everything to rely on player.cs. I'm not sure why, but in my mind, these things should be separate.

What is the correct protocol, from a programmers stand-point. Is one way better than another, either affecting performance or readability? Thanks!
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Torque 3D Owner Mark Dynna
#1
06/20/2008 (10:36 am)
You're on the right track. You can and should be defining new datablocks whenever you want to have a new "type" of character in your world. Note, though, that defining a new PlayerData datablock still brings along with it all of the functionality that is behind the "player" class. For the most part, this is a good thing because the functionality in Player is lots of good things like being able to jump when you press JUMP or move forward when your press FORWARD. However, if you want some RADICALLY different behaviour out of your quadriped character, you might need some source code modification.

Torque Owner Infinitum3D
#2
06/20/2008 (10:39 am)
Mark,

Thanks!

So by creating a new class, I have to re-create all the functionality. Is it as simple as copying the player.cs and renaming player as rat? Or is the Player functionality hard-coded in the engine, in player.cc?

Would I have to go into the engine and make copies of player.cc named rat.cc and elf.cc and goblin.cc, etc, and then go into each .cc file and change all the references to player for each of the other things, recompile, etc...?

Tony

Torque 3D Owner Mark Dynna
#3
06/20/2008 (10:51 am)
Well, first I would try just defining a new PlayerData datablock for your rat, just like you have. There are a bunch of fields that can be filled out for PlayerData and Player that will give you some different behaviour out of the new character. Only if you need something RADICALLY different in behaviour would I go the route of creating an entirely new class. Plus, there is related code scattered all over the engine that would need to be updated to handle your newly created engine class if you went that route. So, I would hold off on that until you know for sure what you need.