Is this possible in a CS: map?

gulliwog · 06-30-2007, 04:21 AM

Can anyone tell me if its possible to put a sort CCTV system in a CS:S map? I basically wanted to know if it is possible to create a "screen" or "display" upon which I can project a real-time image being "filmed" in another part of my map, creating a CCTV like system, showing other players as they pass. I can't remember if I have seen this kind of thing done with source or not. I have seen it in other games, although I don't know if the effect was really being achieved in the way I am describing.
Also while I am writing, can someone tell me the easiest way to create the following; when any player passes through a certain point in my map I want an alarm or buzzer to sound and a light to flash three or four times. This effect needs to be triggered every time a player goes through the taget area and must last for three to four seconds.
Thanks
GuLLiWoG

06-30-2007, 06:14 AM

i can't tell you how to do it, but it's definitely possible in any source map, as it's a big part of hl2. i'm sure someone will give you some information shortly.

blacksmith123 · 06-30-2007, 06:33 AM

Camera - Ok, so just create a point_camera pointing at wherever you want in the map, then create a brush that you want to be your screen, texture it with nodraw on all faces, except the one you want to look at. For that one, texture it with dev/dev_monitor or some other monitor texture you want, but make sure to "fit" it to the face in the texture application thing. Make the brush a func_monitor, select your camera as the "target camera", and there you go!

Alarm thing - Create a trigger_multiple that just sets off an ambient_generic with the alarm sound you want. To make the light flash, just select a "rendermode" you like. The I/O should look something like this:
OnTrigger ->(soundname) ->PlaySound -> delay of 0
OnTrigger ->(soundname) ->StopSound -> delay of 4
OnTrigger ->(lightname) ->Turnon -> delay of 0
OnTrigger ->(lightname) ->Turnoff -> delay of 4

Then just make sure that your sound has the "in not looped" flag unchecked, that your light has the "initially dark" flag ticked, and that the trigger has a "delay before reset" of at least 4.

gulliwog · 07-01-2007, 05:14 AM

Thats great guys, thanks Blacksmith for the clear explainations, I will try all that tonight when I get home. I was worried the video screens would be really difficult to make, but it sounds easy. Do the they have a very high rendering/running cost, I would have though that yes. I wanted to make a "Security Office" in my map with maybe four display screens in one room... but maybe thats too much.
Anyway thanks again.
GuLLiWoG.

lodle · 07-01-2007, 07:02 AM

There is a limit of 1 per map and yes they do come at a cost. Since your rendering two frames instead of one you can expect up to twice the performance hit.

07-01-2007, 12:10 PM

My hammer says point_camera is obsolete... Hmmmm? :-\

lodle · 07-01-2007, 06:47 PM

yeah because its not it the css fdg file (file that describes the entitys to hammer). It will still work.

07-02-2007, 12:15 AM

Hmmm.. I have done everything as you guys says.. But my screen is black

Latrosicarius · 07-02-2007, 11:00 AM

Sometimes mine is black and other times it works. It's very unreliable. Furthermore, it often only shows a still image and won't show a real-time pic of what is happening.

gulliwog · 07-02-2007, 04:43 PM

One a map, thats a shame... As far as performance is concerned, would it help if I put the "screen" brush into a "sealed" room with a func_door_rotating linked to an open/close areaportal. If you are outside of the room with the door/portal closed will the rendering cost be ignored?
Thanks for the help all
GuLLiWoG

gulliwog · 07-03-2007, 02:33 PM

Okay I tried putting this camera thing together. I cannot find either func_monitor or the point camera entities in my lists. This is for a Counter Strike Source map, it can definitely be done in CS:S? The only camera entity I have is point_devshot_camera and I can't find anything that resembles a monitor entity. Am I missing something here?
Thanks
GuLLiWoG

lodle · 07-04-2007, 09:59 AM

open/close area portals dont work in multiplayer (same as onclurs thingys [not spelt right but i just finished 16 hours of work] and another one i cant think of atm) because if some one else is in that room it has to render them for every one. Basic area portals work fine.

Ok read my post above. The entitys you need for this are not in the css fdg file! you can add them in ether by opening your map in hl2 hammer or by turning smart edit off. I suggest opening them up in hl2 hammer.

Another way is to downlaod a better fdg file (google css fdg)

06-30-2007, 04:21 AM	#1
gulliwog Join Date: May 2007 Reputation: 62 Posts: 480	Is this possible in a CS: map? Can anyone tell me if its possible to put a sort CCTV system in a CS:S map? I basically wanted to know if it is possible to create a "screen" or "display" upon which I can project a real-time image being "filmed" in another part of my map, creating a CCTV like system, showing other players as they pass. I can't remember if I have seen this kind of thing done with source or not. I have seen it in other games, although I don't know if the effect was really being achieved in the way I am describing. Also while I am writing, can someone tell me the easiest way to create the following; when any player passes through a certain point in my map I want an alarm or buzzer to sound and a light to flash three or four times. This effect needs to be triggered every time a player goes through the taget area and must last for three to four seconds. Thanks GuLLiWoG

07-01-2007, 07:02 AM	#5
lodle Join Date: Mar 2006 Reputation: 36 Posts: 1,715	There is a limit of 1 per map and yes they do come at a cost. Since your rendering two frames instead of one you can expect up to twice the performance hit. Last edited by lodle: 07-01-2007 at 06:47 PM.

07-03-2007, 02:33 PM	#11
gulliwog Join Date: May 2007 Reputation: 62 Posts: 480	Okay I tried putting this camera thing together. I cannot find either func_monitor or the point camera entities in my lists. This is for a Counter Strike Source map, it can definitely be done in CS:S? The only camera entity I have is point_devshot_camera and I can't find anything that resembles a monitor entity. Am I missing something here? Thanks GuLLiWoG Last edited by gulliwog: 07-03-2007 at 02:54 PM. Reason: First question no longer valid

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06-30-2007, 06:14 AM	#2
applejack Guest Posts: n/a	i can't tell you how to do it, but it's definitely possible in any source map, as it's a big part of hl2. i'm sure someone will give you some information shortly.

06-30-2007, 06:33 AM	#3
blacksmith123 Banned Join Date: May 2007 Reputation: 0 Posts: 204	Camera - Ok, so just create a point_camera pointing at wherever you want in the map, then create a brush that you want to be your screen, texture it with nodraw on all faces, except the one you want to look at. For that one, texture it with dev/dev_monitor or some other monitor texture you want, but make sure to "fit" it to the face in the texture application thing. Make the brush a func_monitor, select your camera as the "target camera", and there you go! Alarm thing - Create a trigger_multiple that just sets off an ambient_generic with the alarm sound you want. To make the light flash, just select a "rendermode" you like. The I/O should look something like this: OnTrigger ->(soundname) ->PlaySound -> delay of 0 OnTrigger ->(soundname) ->StopSound -> delay of 4 OnTrigger ->(lightname) ->Turnon -> delay of 0 OnTrigger ->(lightname) ->Turnoff -> delay of 4 Then just make sure that your sound has the "in not looped" flag unchecked, that your light has the "initially dark" flag ticked, and that the trigger has a "delay before reset" of at least 4.

07-01-2007, 05:14 AM	#4
gulliwog Join Date: May 2007 Reputation: 62 Posts: 480	Thats great guys, thanks Blacksmith for the clear explainations, I will try all that tonight when I get home. I was worried the video screens would be really difficult to make, but it sounds easy. Do the they have a very high rendering/running cost, I would have though that yes. I wanted to make a "Security Office" in my map with maybe four display screens in one room... but maybe thats too much. Anyway thanks again. GuLLiWoG.

07-01-2007, 12:10 PM	#6
SeverinDK Guest Posts: n/a	My hammer says point_camera is obsolete... Hmmmm? :-\

07-01-2007, 06:47 PM	#7
lodle Join Date: Mar 2006 Reputation: 36 Posts: 1,715	yeah because its not it the css fdg file (file that describes the entitys to hammer). It will still work.

07-02-2007, 12:15 AM	#8
SeverinDK Guest Posts: n/a	Hmmm.. I have done everything as you guys says.. But my screen is black

07-02-2007, 11:00 AM	#9
Latrosicarius Join Date: Oct 2004 Reputation: 0 Posts: 279	Sometimes mine is black and other times it works. It's very unreliable. Furthermore, it often only shows a still image and won't show a real-time pic of what is happening.

07-02-2007, 04:43 PM	#10
gulliwog Join Date: May 2007 Reputation: 62 Posts: 480	One a map, thats a shame... As far as performance is concerned, would it help if I put the "screen" brush into a "sealed" room with a func_door_rotating linked to an open/close areaportal. If you are outside of the room with the door/portal closed will the rendering cost be ignored? Thanks for the help all GuLLiWoG

07-04-2007, 09:59 AM	#12
lodle Join Date: Mar 2006 Reputation: 36 Posts: 1,715	open/close area portals dont work in multiplayer (same as onclurs thingys [not spelt right but i just finished 16 hours of work] and another one i cant think of atm) because if some one else is in that room it has to render them for every one. Basic area portals work fine. Ok read my post above. The entitys you need for this are not in the css fdg file! you can add them in ether by opening your map in hl2 hammer or by turning smart edit off. I suggest opening them up in hl2 hammer. Another way is to downlaod a better fdg file (google css fdg)