Object in view

[Alienhead]

I've been combing the api docs, but haven't found a way to determine if an entity is in view or not, either by off-screen or blocked by another object.  I suppose a raycast  from the camera to the entity would help with the blocked views but as far as the OnScreen or InView determinations? 

[Josh]

Entity::GetCulled():
https://www.leadwerks.com/learn?page=API-Reference_Object_Entity_GetCulled

[Genebris]

That returns true for both frustum and occlusion culling? What if you only need frustum?

[Josh]

The calculation to tell if an object is in view is not too hard. Transform the entity's position from world space to camera space. If the X or Y position (whichever is bigger) is greater than the Z position it's out of view. This assumes a 90 degree vertical and horizontal FOV, but it's good enough for "can the enemy see me".

[Alienhead]

When I use the cull commands I get a system hang when loading a new map .  If I don't initiate any culling commands it goes through with the map change.

--Map change ---------------------
    if window:KeyHit(Key.F12) then
        Time:Pause()
        System:GCSuspend()

        --Load the next map
        Clearmap()
        Loadmap(1)
        LoadPlayer()

        System:GCResume() -- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Hangs up right here
        Time:Resume()

    end    

[reepblue]

Try removing the GC functions out, especially if you're using C++. Those commands caused nothing but trouble with my game.

[Alienhead]

I've been using this model since I first got LE for all types of tests, I've never seen it do this before.  This is shortly after world:Clear() with no gcsuspend applied.

 

[Josh]

What are we looking at? Skinned animation going crazy?

[Alienhead]

yes sir.

 

[Josh]

If you upload the project I will examine it.

[Alienhead]

sending now ...

 

[Alienhead]

Sent, press f12 to reload the  map during gameplay. 

[Josh]

Where did you send it? 

[Alienhead]

message system, 72mb

 

[Josh]

To my account? I have not received anything.

[Alienhead]

Sorry, fixed..

 

[Alienhead]

I found a fix, not sure how efficient it is but I added the Asset.Unmanaged flag to the load command and it stopped the corruption.

 

[Alienhead]

Okay here's my full work around,  besides from 'having to use' the Asset.Unmanaged flag,  I've created a simple lua table to hold each and every parented entity, before calling world:Clear() I cycle through the parented list and unparent.. then call world clear..   so far no lockups or freezes or silent crashes and the mesh deformation has stopped.  Now to go back through all the code and set the parent/unparent stuff correctly so i can do away with the quick hack.

Scratch that,   still happening on further testing ;(

[Josh]

Right now is a good time to just relax and let me look into it.

[Alienhead]

[Alienhead]

I got it working finally.  I've got about 40 of them lil' skele's on screen now, with shadow.  Now! back to game dev

 

[Josh]

I am still trying to download the project. For some reason Amazon is running really slowly. This is very strange.

[Josh]

And now it just suddenly sped up...4 minutes left...I guess they fixed whatever was wrong.

[Alienhead]

A really good chance that when you have the following situation occur the game session randomly ( or as of late - not so randomly ) crashes without warning, error or cause. 

Create  a sphere ( or any object or pre loaded or live loaded object )

Attach anything to it via SetParent()

In my case I have a long slow traveling bullet that I attach several smoke trail emitters to as it is in flight. 

At any point if anything parented to the main parenting object is removed  :: 

                          if em.ent:GetParent() ~= nil then em.ent:SetParent(nil) end                        
                          em.ent:Release()

This is a normal call, nothing happens out of the ordinary here..  the emitter ( or whatever  is attached via code ), is removed as it should be.

The problem comes later,  it can be 5 mins or 30 mins ( or worse yet, sometimes never at all )...  but when you Release() the parent entity- be it ent:Release()  or by world:Clear()  the entire game session crashes with no errors, warning or syntax.

 

I've really found it best,   if your parenting items shorterm -, is to Hide() them instead of releasing them and just let them die with the -parent on release() or clear().  

 

[Josh]

I am running your project now. As soon as I kill one bad guy, the game crashes. Still investigating...