Creating an energy ball launcher and catcher

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Introduction

The purpose of this tutorial is to illustrate how to create a single ball launcher and have a single ball catcher as its target. Both, the launcher and the catcher instructions will detail how the basic animations as well as the visual and sound effects work.

The Aperture Science High Energy Pellet Launcher

Launcher assembly.

func_noportal_volume postioning.

To create the launcher:

1. Create a prop_dynamic entity (Shift+E) with a World Model set to "models/props/combine_ball_launcher.mdl" and the Name key of "ball_launcher". Disable the shadows.

2. Place the new entity where you want it in your map.

3. Create a point_energy_ball_launcher entity, set its name to "ball", Ball count to 1, and Ball radius to 12.0.

4. Place the new entity in front of the "ball_launcher" model.

5. Create a 1w*20l*20h brush with the nodraw texture.

6. Turn this brush into a func_detail

7. Place the brush so that it is touching the black circular cover of the "ball_launcher model".

8. Open up the point_energy_ball_launcher properties and set these outputs:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnPostSpawnBall	ball_launcher	SetAnimation	close	0.00	No

9. Adjust the keyvalues of point_energy_ball_launcher to set the desired Direction, Speed (400 is usually what's used), Type, and Life of the ball.

10. Create a 8w*80l*80h with the invisible texture. Tie this brush to the func_noportal_volume brush entity. Place the brush on the wall and make sure the brush's center is lined up with the ball and the shield brush. Look at the image to the right for more context.

The Aperture Science High Energy Pellet Launcher is now complete.

Note:If you're not using a Trigger to fire the launcher you'll need to go into the "ball" entity, go to its flags page, and uncheck the "Start Inactive" flag. Now the ball will start firing as soon as the level is loaded.

The Aperture Science High Energy Pellet Target

Target assembly.

The target is comprised of eleven entities:

• ambient_generic
• env_sprite
• filter_combineball_type
• logic_relay
• point_spotlight
• prop_dynamic (2)
• trigger_multiple

The models used are:

• /models/props/combine_ball_catcher.mdl
• /models/Effects/combineball.mdl

To create the catcher:

1. Create a prop_dynamic entity with a World Model key pointing to "models/props/combine_ball_catcher.mdl" and the Name set to "ball_trap". Disable the shadows.

2. Place the entity where you want it in your map.

Note:The model requires a hole of at least 32 units square and 8 units deep. Otherwise, when the model animates to its closed state, part of the model will be hidden in a wall.

3. Create a filter_combineball_type entity and name it "filter_ball".

4. Set the ball type for "filter_ball" to "Launched by point_combine_ball_launcher".

5. Create a cylinder brush with 8 faces, and size it to same the length and width, as the Dynamic prop. Texture it with the trigger texture to cover the opening of the "ball_trap" model.

6. Turn this brush into a trigger_multiple entity and name it "trigger_ball_trap", also set the filter_name to "filter_ball". Make sure to have the flags Physics Objects selected.

7. Create a prop_dynamic entity with a World Model of "models/Effects/combineball.mdl", set its Parent to "ball_trap" and Name it "ball_trap_ball". Also make sure to have Start Disabled set to "Yes".

8. Create a env_sprite entity, set its Sprite Name to "sprites/physring1.vmt", set its Parent to "ball_trap" and Name it "ball_trap_sprite". Make sure to have 'Render mode' set to Additive. Also, the 'Scale should be set to 1.5 'Size of Glow proxy' set to 0, and HDR Color Scale set to 1.0, yet all these values can be changed to your liking. Also be sure to have 'Render Fx' set to Distort.

9. Place both "ball_trap_ball" and "ball_trap_sprite" somewhere near the front of the "ball_trap" model.

10. Create a logic_relay entity and name it "relay_ball_trap_spawn".

11. Open up the logic_relay properties and set these outputs:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnSpawn	ball_trap_ball	SetParentAttachment	ball_attachment	0.00	No
	OnSpawn	ball_trap_sprite	SetParentAttachment	ball_attachment	0.00	No

12. Create a point_spotlight entity (Shift+E) and name it "ball_trap_spotlight". You may also want to disable the Dynamic Light flag.

13. Set the Color for "ball_trap_spotlight" to "218 76 26", the Beam Length is normally the length of the room, and Beam Width somewhere between 20 and 40.

14. Create an ambient_generic entity and Name it "ball_trap_sound"

15. Set the Sound Name key for "ball_trap_sound" to "AlyxEMP.Charge". Set it's Source Entity Name to the Main Prop_dynamic.

16. Open the property window for "trigger_ball_trap" and set these outputs:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnStartTouch	trigger_ball_trap	Disable	<none>	0.00	No
	OnStartTouch	ball	Disable	<none>	0.00	No
	OnStartTouch	!activator	Kill	<none>	0.00	No
	OnStartTouch	ball_trap_ball	Enable	<none>	0.00	No
	OnStartTouch	ball_trap_sprite	ToggleSprite	<none>	0.00	No
	OnStartTouch	ball_trap	SetAnimation	close	0.00	No
	OnStartTouch	ball_trap_spotlight	LightOff	<none>	0.00	No
	OnStartTouch	ball_trap_sound	PlaySound	<none>	0.00	No

Then under the Flags tab un-check "clients" and check everything else.

The Aperture Science High Energy Pellet Target is now complete.

The theory

Energy Pellet Launcher and Target at work.

These instructions illustrate the most basic use of the launcher and catchers. Theoretically you should be able to have one launcher and multiple catchers, or even catchers that reset themselves.

See also

• Portal Level Creation

External links

• Example map Example map using this tutorial. VMF included.