Tag Archives: rotate

PlayCanvas, Video

Rotating objects with keyboard input in PlayCanvas

In this tutorial you will learn how to rotate an object using code in PlayCanvas. This means that you can allow users to spin an object when they press a key on the keyboard. You will also be introduced to variables in JavaScript. Watch the video below and then scroll down to view the sample code.

Sample JavaScript code for the rotate.js script:

pc.script.create('rotate', function (app) {
    // Creates a new Rotate instance
    var Rotate = function (entity) {
        this.entity = entity;
    };

    Rotate.prototype = {
        // Called once after all resources are loaded and before the first update
        initialize: function () {
        },

        // Called every frame, dt is time in seconds since last update
        update: function (dt) {
            // set the angle to 0
            var angle = 0;
            
            // change the angle of the box when a key is pressed
            if(app.keyboard.isPressed(pc.KEY_LEFT)){
                angle = -2;
            }
            
            else if(app.keyboard.isPressed(pc.KEY_RIGHT)){
                angle = 2;
            }
            
            // update the angle of the box to make it spin on the y axis
            this.entity.rotateLocal(0,angle,0);
        }
    };

    return Rotate;
});

 

PlayCanvas, Video

Getting started with PlayCanvas

PlayCanvas is a 3D game development environment in the cloud. You can use PlayCanvas to make your own 3D games and code them in the JavaScript programming language using a web browser like Chrome or Firefox.

In this tutorial you will learn about the PlayCanvas features and tools and how to create, move, rotate, and resize 3D shapes. Watch the video below to get started with PlayCanvas.

Unity 3D, Video

Transforming objects using scripts

This video tutorial will show you how to transform objects (move, rotate, scale) in your Unity game using C# scripts and also how to implement player interaction with the game by allowing players to transform objects using keypresses on their keyboard.

Watch the video below and then scroll down to see the sample code.

Here is some sample code with different object transformations assigned to different keypresses on the keyboard. You can change the transformations and assigned keys although it is a good idea to use the input manager rather than specific keypress detection so that your players have the option of remapping keys to suit their own preferences.

using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;
 
public class move : MonoBehaviour {
 
 // Use this for initialization
 void Start () {
 
 }
 
 // Update is called once per frame
 void Update () {
 if (Input.GetKey (KeyCode.W)) {
 transform.Translate (0f,0f,0.1f);
 }
 if (Input.GetKey (KeyCode.S)) {
 transform.Translate (0f,0f,-0.1f);
 }
 
 if (Input.GetKey (KeyCode.D)) {
 transform.Translate (0.1f,0f,0f);
 }
 if (Input.GetKey (KeyCode.A)) {
 transform.Translate (-0.1f,0f,0f);
 }
 
 if (Input.GetKey (KeyCode.Z)) {
 transform.Rotate (0f,1f,0f);
 }
 
 if (Input.GetKey (KeyCode.X)) {
 transform.Rotate (0f,-1f,0f);
 }
 
 if (Input.GetKey (KeyCode.C)) {
 transform.localScale = new Vector3(1f,1f,1f);
 }
 
 if (Input.GetKey (KeyCode.V)) {
 transform.localScale = new Vector3(5f,5f,5f);
 }
 
 }
}

Note: If you find that the values for x, y and z axes seem to work the opposite to what you expect, it might be because you have the camera at a different angle. For example, if your camera is on the opposite side of your object, then pressing the key that is meant to move the object left might actually move it to the right.

Now try using variables to store the values for speed, eg:

using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;
 
public class move : MonoBehaviour {
 
 public float turnSpeed = 5.0f;
 public float forwardSpeed = 0.25f;
 
 // Update is called once per frame
 void Update () {
 transform.Rotate(turnSpeed, 0.0f, 0.0f);
 transform.Translate(0.0f, 0.0f, forwardSpeed);
 }
}

Here is another method of moving objects on their own at a steady speed (this example does not include keyboard input).

using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;
 
public class moveCube : MonoBehaviour {
 
 public float speed = 1.0f;
 
 // Use this for initialization
 void Start () {
 
 }
 
 // Update is called once per frame
 void Update () {
 transform.Translate (Vector3.forward * speed * Time.deltaTime);
 // This will move the cube forward on its own at steady speed
 // Vector3 is for 3D , Vector2 is for 2D
 // You can change Vector3.forward to Vector3.back, Vector3.left, or Vector3.right
 
 
 }
}
Maya 3D, Video

Creating and animating 3D text in Maya

This video explains how to add text to a scene and then animate it in Maya. You can manipulate text in the same way you manipulate many other 3D objects in Maya – you can move (translate), rotate, scale, set keyframes or even animate along a path.

Watch the video below to find out how to create and animate 3D text in Maya.

Flash, Video

How to orient a symbol to a motion tween path in Adobe Flash CS6

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This video tutorial explains how to orient a symbol to the path when creating a motion tween effect in Adobe Flash CS6. You can watch the video on YouTube by clicking here or view it below.

Flash, Video

How to spin objects using a motion tween rotation

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This video tutorial explains how to spin or rotate objects by changing the rotation effects on a motion tween. You can spin stationary or moving objects. The video is also available on YouTube here if you’d prefer to watch it there.