1. Mindless Thinking Games
Camera Control Set
Presented by
Mindless Thinking Games
Don Olmstead
Olga Sayenko
Dmitry Svistula

2. The Default Camera DarkBasic gives a default camera
This camera is set as camera zero
By default it fills the entire screen

3. Creating and Deleting Cameras
Creating a camera is simple
MAKE CAMERA [ camera_number ]
Deleting a camera
DELETE CAMERA [ camera_number ]

4. Positioning the Camera
Use the following commands to position the camera
POSITION CAMERA x, y, z
POSITION CAMERA [ camera_number ], x, y, z
To get the current position of a camera, use the following commands
CAMERA POSITION X ( [camera_number ] )
CAMERA POSITION Y ( [camera_number] )
CAMERA POSITION Z ( [camera_number] )
This is useful for moving the camera from its current position

5. Pointing the camera
After setting the position of the camera, the next step is pointing it - this is where the camera is looking at
POINT CAMERA x, y, z (default camera)
POINT CAMERA [ camera_number ], x, y, z

6. Setting the Camera View
Cameras can be set to avoid display on a selected portion of the screen
Example use: splitting screen for multiplayer gaming on the same monitor
SET CAMERA VIEW [ camera_number ],left, top, right, bottom

7. Selecting a camera
You can cycle through the various cameras using the following command
SET CURRENT CAMERA [ camera_number ]
Example use: changing the view for a player when they enter another room in level

8. Following an Object The camera can be used to follow behind an object
Example use: a third person camera view
SET CAMERA TO FOLLOW x, y, z, distance, height,
smooth, collision
SET CAMERA TO FOLLOW [ camera_number ], x, y, z,
distance, height, smooth, collision
You will want to get the coordinates of the object
OBJECT POSITION x [ (object_number) ] …
Then have the camera set to follow those coordinates

9. Other Commands of Use Use arrow keys to move the camera
CONTROL CAMERA USING ARROWKEYS
[ camera_number ], move_speed, turn_speed
Create a sky or other backgrounds
BACKDROP ON
BACKDROP ON [ camera_number ]
COLOR BACKDROP color_value
COLOR BACKDROP [ camera_number ], color_value
TEXTURE BACKDROP image_number
TEXTURE BACKDROP camera_number, image_number