Valve have already written a rather complicated occlusion system for npcs, which use PVS checks. Take a look at UpdateSleepState() in ai_basenpc.
On Mon, Jun 30, 2008 at 10:42 AM, Christopher Harris <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > EF_NODRAW and SOLID_NONE? > > He would just set the Solid to SOLID_NONE and flag the npc with ef_nodraw > when far away. When he gets in close reset the solid to default and remove > the ef_nodraw flag. > > Chris > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Robert > Briscoe > Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2008 9:02 AM > To: Discussion of Half-Life Programming > Subject: Re: [hlcoders] LOD-ing zombie AI, is it possible? > > Thanks, I recently tried something like this with a coder but we ran into > some problems which he couldnt resolve. We got the NPC sleep radius working > pretty fast, but I really wanted take the optimisation a small step > further. > The idea I had was to put the NPC into 'stasis' at a certain distance > (done), but then to also cull it completely from the world and a slightly > larger distance. So I asked if we could somehow destroy the NPC, leaving > just a marker of somekind (for position and possibly rotation) and then > spawn NPC back in again when the player gets within the culling distance. > The problem he had was that when he spawned in the NPC, for some reason it > was stuck in stasis, no animation or anything. It was like it wasn't > initialising the AI upon spawning. > If you were to approach this idea, what do you think the best way to > approach it is? > As I've mentioned I dont know much about code but I can quote from an email > which he sent to me: > "I changed the name of the Spawn() function to ActualSpawn(). I added > Think() function which acts as a think function. The think function gets > called by Spawn(), which is what I created. This is the only way I can > think > of to get the zombie to check continuously if it should spawn or not. It is > the think function that is making things messed up and I can't figure out > what to do just yet." > Here is the code: > > void > { > { > BaseClass::NPCInit(); > ActualSpawn(); > > }CZombie::Think()if(BaseClass::GetAbsOrigin().DistTo(UTIL_PlayerByIndex(1)-> > GetAbsOrigin()) <=256)else{ > SetNextThink(gpGlobals->curtime +1.0f); > } > }void > { > Think(); > }CZombie::Spawn() > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Christopher Harris <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: Discussion of Half-Life Programming <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, 29 June, 2008 6:52:13 AM > Subject: Re: [hlcoders] LOD-ing zombie AI, is it possible? > > Override NPCThink() > > In Psuedo Code > > If npc origin - player origin is greater than or equal to 2048 > Return; > > BaseClass::NPCThink(); > > > > This actually makes them not animate or do any AI things. Though it is fine > since player wont see them if he is 2048 units away. > > Chris > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Robert > Briscoe > Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 4:41 AM > To: Discussion of Half-Life Programming > Subject: Re: [hlcoders] LOD-ing zombie AI, is it possible? > > Apologies, a friend of mine from the steam forums suggested I might have > more luck posting the problem on hlcoders. > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Tom Edwards <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: Discussion of Half-Life Programming <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, 17 June, 2008 11:47:02 PM > Subject: Re: [hlcoders] LOD-ing zombie AI, is it possible? > > It's best to keep discussions in one place. If you really must > cross-post, link instead of pasting. > > http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7749435 > > Robert Briscoe wrote: > > Hi, > > > > So I have recently started planning out an idea of a small SP mod for the > source engine which i plan to make over the summer and release around > October. Without going into the intricate details of the mod it's self Im > toying with using either hl2's npc zombies or ideally having slightly > modified versions which act slightly differently than they currently do. > > > > Of course the latter needs code work which as an artist is way out of my > league, but im wondering if anyone here would be willing to help me out, or > at least give me an idea how hard it would be, from a coders point of view, > to implement it into a mod. > > > > To give you an idea of exactly what im looking for here is a basic > description: > > > > A way of LODing out the AI if the zombie is at a certain distance from > the > player. > > For example: Once the player is 2048 units away from the NPC it will > cease > all AI and just play an idle animation remaining in a 'sleep state' until > the player is within 2048 units radius of the NPC. > > The reason for this is that im thinking of ways to have alot of zombie > NPCs spread over a large area without clogging up the CPU on pointless > walking and pathfinding stuff like they do now while they idle. > > > > Secondly, I recently played the latest version of SMOD and noticed they > they added a pretty cool new type of zombie as shown in this video from > SMOD: Tactical: > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nIArug7ENk&feature=related > > > > It seems like a pretty simple AI modification to an NPC citizen or > something, where they are idle until they see or hear the player then just > run straight at them causing damage if they come into close contact with > the > player. They also seem to run to random path nodes whilst searching for the > player also which also crude looks pretty convincing! > > > > If you're now thinking "why dont you just use SMOD?" its because they > have > no source code to implement the zombie LOD system which is more important > atm and SMOD is not very mapper/modder friendly (it doesnt even have a FDG > entity file for hammer). I also need to use some Orange box specific > features for the mod to have some outstanding visuals. > > > > Anyway any advice or help anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated! > > > > Thanks! > > Robert Briscoe > > www.littlelostpoly.co.uk > > > > > > __________________________________________________________ > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail. > > A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html > > > > _______________________________________________ > > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, > please visit: > > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlcoders > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, > please visit: > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlcoders > > > __________________________________________________________ > Sent from Yahoo! Mail. > A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html > > _______________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, > please visit: > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlcoders > > > _______________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, > please visit: > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlcoders > > > __________________________________________________________ > Not happy with your email address?. > Get the one you really want - millions of new email addresses available now > at Yahoo! http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/ymail/new.html > > _______________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, > please visit: > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlcoders > > > _______________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, > please visit: > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlcoders > > -- ~Ryan _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlcoders
