dim3 Forum

How would you go about creating a 3D menu i.e. Super Mario Galaxy, in the observatory, where new levels are shown as tiny models which can be selected? I don't know where exactly to place this question, so pardon me if this is the wrong forum.

chinkeeyong Wrote:How would you go about creating a 3D menu i.e. Super Mario Galaxy, in the observatory, where new levels are shown as tiny models which can be selected? I don't know where exactly to place this question, so pardon me if this is the wrong forum.

The chooser is what you'd want here. In the demo, the example of the chooser is on one of the sub-menus (interface examples.)

It works pretty simply -- you setup a screen of graphics or text items, and can set them to be or not to be clickable. Then you get an event based on the click.

[>] Brian

Im guessing what he really wants is a level with loads of models around it which act like the switched in the demo.

Assuming that everyone has played Super Mario Galaxy isn't doing you any favors. Maybe a screenshot or a diagram of what you want?

Yes, mafoo, that's exactly right. Here's a pic:



You can't see it in the pic, but those galaxy models actually rotate and orbit around each other. I was thinking of just a little chooser-level like that, with space stations slowly rotating and floating in space. You would be able to mouse over them and their names, difficulty, and a render would pop up, and when clicked they would transport you to a level. I simply have no idea where to start. If it proves to be too ambitious, I think I'll settle for a chooser.

There's alot to do, but it's possible. First you get the objects moving around. you'll probably want to settle for nodes. then set them to clickable through scripts. check the docs on how to send a message when clicked to change the map. You'll also have to set up the player for this level to have no weapons and be first person(and probably not be able to walk).

There's no good way to do that right now -- it'd actually be hard to find a generic way to do that, also, as it's a very specific case (I love Mario Galaxy, BTW, great game.)

Probably the best bet would be to allow 3D models to be part of a chooser -- the chooser is pretty basic and a lot of people have requested a number of very good enhancements, I just never get to them as there's always some big on the horizon (eventually I will.)

You're best bet -- right now -- is just to render the objects in your modeler. They won't have the movement you see in SMG, but they will resemble 3D.

[>] Brian

Thx Brian.