PuppetPlay

From Moviesandbox

Image:APuppetPlay.jpg

This is a repository of useful information on the performance "ein kleines Puppenspiel".

Contents 1 How to install and set up. 1.1 Requirements 1.2 Before starting Moviesandbox 1.3 Start Moviesandbox 1.4 Scene Functionality 2 The Puppeteer Jacket 2.1 installation 2.2 Processing to UT2k4 Data Flow

How to install and set up.

Requirements

• 2 Gametrak Input devices (you can buy them from amazon[1].)

• 1 WiiMote Input device (and you need to know how to successfully connect it to your computer - more info on that here [2]and here [3]- i personally use a Dell bluetooth module).

• 1 additional GameTrak Input device for controlling the cameras (optional, see below).

• the newest version of Moviesandbox V1390Beta.

• the puppet play files - [download here].

Before starting Moviesandbox

• Unzip the contents of the puppet play package into your UT2004 directory - it will install a couple of maps and textures in your game folders.
• Connect the Gametraks to your PC.
• Hang them upside down as shown in this picture:

Image:GameTrakUpDown.jpg

• start three Multi-HID-Input tools from the Moviesandbox\MSBTools folder.
  • Connect your first GameTrak to channel 6, this one will control the puppets' feet.
  • Connect your second GameTrak to channel 2, this one will control the puppets' hands.
  • Connect your third GameTrak to channel 5, this will control the variable cameras (optional)
  • Connect your WiiMote to channel 3, it will control the puppets' head.

Start Moviesandbox

• In the Moviesandbox Main Menu, switch the map to MSB-smallRoom.
• Get into the Scene Editor.
• Load the "PP-FirstScene" file from the System menu and wait until it has finished loading (it's best to not move the mouse or click at all during that time - it should take maybe 30 seconds to load). You should see something like this:

Image:FirstRoom.jpg

• press space to start the scene

Scene Functionality

The Keys F1 to F7 switch through the different cameras F1 and F7 are variable cameras and can be controlled with the GameTrak connected to channel 5.

The A and B buttons control the left and right hand grabbing stuff respectively. The one thing to grab in this scene is the spoon in the cereal bowl. You have to keep the button pressed to hold it, releasing it will teleport the spoon back to its initial position.

This is a sketch on how walking with the puppet works: Image:WalkingSketch.jpg

But you can also have a look at [this youtube video].

The Puppeteer Jacket

You can find information on the Puppeteer Motioncapture jacket and instructions on how to build your own on the [official project website].

installation

For the Puppeteer Jacket to operate, a recent version of processing has to be installed - together with the processing UDP library available from here [4].

You also need to download the [Puppeteer Controller Software].

Processing to UT2k4 Data Flow

This is old code and needs to be checked! The flow of data is as follows:

     myPuppet.leftElbowLoc.X=byte[0]-127;
     myPuppet.leftElbowLoc.Y=byte[1]-127;
     myPuppet.leftElbowLoc.Z=byte[2]-127;

     myPuppet.leftHandLoc.X=byte[3]-127;
     myPuppet.leftHandLoc.Y=byte[4]-127;
     myPuppet.leftHandLoc.Z=byte[5]-127;

     myPuppet.rightElbowLoc.X=byte[6]-127;
     myPuppet.rightElbowLoc.Y=byte[7]-127;
     myPuppet.rightElbowLoc.Z=byte[8]-127;

     myPuppet.rightHandLoc.X=byte[9]-127;
     myPuppet.rightHandLoc.Y=byte[10]-127;
     myPuppet.rightHandLoc.Z=byte[11]-127;

Let me know if this works! --fiezi 11:24, 17 November 2007 (MET)