Point commentary node
Entity description
The core entity used in the Commentary System. It appears as a floating speech bubble for the player to +USE, which then starts the commentary playing. This entity is typically placed with the Commentary Editor.
Unlike most entities, the point_commentary_node is often hand-edited into the commentary files, and as a result, there are some extra keys listed here that Hammer would normally fill in automatically for you.
For a commentary node to be able to be activated by a player (+use while looking at the node), the player must have commentary set to 1 and the map must have a <map name>_commentary.txt file in the same directory as the BSP [1]. This file may be empty and/or embedded in the BSP.
If a map with a point_commentary_node is being played in multiplayer only the first player to join will be considered the 'commentary player'. As such only their view will be ray traced to determine the active commentary node [2]
Keyvalues
- commentaryfile ([todo internal name (i)]) <sound>
- The commentary sound file that should be played when this node is used by the player.
- commentaryfile_nohdr ([todo internal name (i)]) <sound>
- The commentary sound file that should be played when this node is used by the player. If the player has HDR turned off, this file will be used instead of the commentaryfile. If this entry is not specified, the base commentaryfile entry will still be used.
- speakers ([todo internal name (i)]) <string>
- The name of the speakers of the commentary sound file(s). Will be displayed in the HUD while the commentary sound file is playing.
- precommands ([todo internal name (i)]) <string>
- A semi-colon delimited list of commands that should entered into the console when the commentary file starts playing. e.g.
ai_disable 1;mat_wireframe 1
- postcommands ([todo internal name (i)]) <string>
- A semi-colon delimited list of commands that should entered into the console when the commentary file finishes playing. e.g.
ai_disable 0;mat_wireframe 0
- viewposition ([todo internal name (i)]) <string>
- The targetname of an entity to which the players view should move while the commentary file is playing. When the commentary file finishes, the players view will move back to the place it was when the commentary started.
- viewtarget ([todo internal name (i)]) <string>
- The targetname of an entity that the players view should track while the commentary file is playing. The player will not be able to control their view while the commentary file plays.
- prevent_movement ([todo internal name (i)]) <boolean>
- If true, the player will not be able to move while the commentary sound file is playing.
- Name (targetname) <string>[ Edit ]
- The name that other entities refer to this entity by, via Inputs/Outputs or other keyvalues (e.g.
parentnameortarget).
Also displayed in Hammer's 2D views and Entity Report.See also: Generic Keyvalues, Inputs and Outputs available to all entities
- Parent (parentname) <targetname>
- Specifies a movement parent. An entity will maintain its initial offset from its parent. An attachment point can be added to the end of the name, separated by a comma.
Inputs
- StartCommentary
- Force the commentary node to start.
- StartUnstoppableCommentary
- Force the commentary node to start, and don't allow the player to stop it in any way.
- SetParent <string>
- Move with this entity. See Entity Hierarchy (parenting).
- SetParentAttachment <string>
- Change this entity to attach to a specific attachment point on its parent. The entity will teleport so that the position of its root bone matches that of the attachment. Entities must be parented before being sent this input.
- SetParentAttachmentMaintainOffset <string>
- As above, but without teleporting. The entity retains its position relative to the attachment at the time of the input being received.
- ClearParent
- Removes this entity from the the movement hierarchy, leaving it free to move independently.
- EnableDisable:
- Enable / Disable
- Enable/disable this entity from performing its task. It might also disappear from view.
Outputs
- OnCommentaryStarted
- Fires when this commentary starts playing.
- OnCommentaryStopped
- Fires when this commentary stops playing. May be caused by the commentary file finishing, or by the player stopping it manually (if the node wasn't started with the
StartUnstoppableCommentaryinput). If the node controls the players view with theviewpositionkey, then this input will be fired when the players view has finished returning to its original position.