How to switch between player controllers

Question

I have two 2D Character Controllers in my game from the unity Sample Assets beta package and I want to be able to switch control from one to the other and back with the press of a button and have the camera focus on the new character. The method I came up with was to attach a script to each character meaning when I press a button it disables the controller scripts on one character while enabling them on the other. Here's the code thus far:

 var script; 
  
 function Update() {
   
   if(Input.GetKeyDown(KeyCode.P))
   script = GetComponent("Platformer2DUserControl"); 
   script.enabled = false;
   }
   {
   
   if(Input.GetKeyDown(KeyCode.P))
   script = GetComponent("PlatformerCharacter2D"); 
   script.enabled = false;
   }

I then have the same script attached to my other controller only replacing 'false' with 'true.' This kinda works but very poorly and with some animation problems. Also I don't know how to switch back to the previous character controller but pressing the same button. I have no idea how to do the camera. Any help would be really appreciated, thanks!

Answer 1

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Answer by Dizzyman572 · Jun 08, 2014 at 01:02 AM

Ah, I see you are going for The Cave gameplay style by Double Fine. Very nice. :) Okay, this may require some changes to your project a bit. Instead of attaching this to your characters, make an empty GameObject and call it a GameManager. Having a GameManager is really great and will be far more efficient to use than if the characters handled the switching themselves. Plus, it's really flexible! If you use Arrays with your GameManager you could possibly have as many characters as your heart desires. The code I've written for you obviously isn't capable of that, but it's should be good base to get you going. :)

Here's the one for the GameManager.

 var Character1 : Transform = null;
 var Character2 : Transform = null;
 
 
 function Update () {
 
     if(Input.GetKey(KeyCode.N)){
 
             Character1.gameObject.SendMessage("Activate");
             Character2.gameObject.SendMessage("Deactivate");
         }
 
     if(Input.GetKey(KeyCode.B)){
             
             Character2.gameObject.SendMessage("Activate");
             Character1.gameObject.SendMessage("Deactivate");
         }
 
 }

Now here's the code for the Characters. (Pay attention to how I treat the boolean, very important)

 var inputEnabled : boolean = false;
 
 
 // Update is called once per frame
     function Update () {
 
         if(inputEnabled == true){
             transform.Translate(Vector3.right * 5 * Input.GetAxisRaw("Horizontal") * Time.deltaTime);
             transform.Translate(Vector3.up * 5 * Input.GetAxisRaw("Vertical") * Time.deltaTime);
         }
     
     }
 
     function Activate(){
         inputEnabled =true;
     }
 
     function Deactivate(){
         inputEnabled =false;
     }

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Jamalakins · Jun 08, 2014 at 09:17 AM 0

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Thanks for the reply! I set up the scripts as you said but it's still not working. I'm not sure why because when I press "n" and "b" the "Input Enabled" variable toggles off and on so I know it registers but both my controllers remain active. Do you know what I did wrong?

Jamalakins · Jun 08, 2014 at 09:28 AM 0

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I've just noticed the "disabled character" slows down and the jump is less powerful but it's still active. Maybe this can help you understand the problem?

Dizzyman572 · Jun 08, 2014 at 04:56 PM 0

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Hmm, this is very odd indeed. Try using Debug.log to help find your problem. Also, if you can post more code in your comments, that would be helpful. http://docs.unity3d.com/ScriptReference/Debug.Log.html

Jamalakins · Jun 08, 2014 at 05:45 PM 0

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I just copied the code exactly as you put it in. I edited the code into this:

 var inputEnabled : boolean = false;
  
  
 // Update is called once per frame
     function Update () {
  
        if(inputEnabled == true){
          script = GetComponent("Platformer2DUserControl"); 
           script.enabled = true;
   }
   {
   script = GetComponent("PlatformerCharacter2D"); 
   script.enabled = true;
   }
             }
  
     function Activate(){
        inputEnabled =true;
     }
  
     function Deactivate(){
        inputEnabled =false;
     }

And this kind of worked if I started with the controllers deactivated (although I could only start with one or both not one then the other) so I know your code is working but it's not effecting the controllers in the right way. I understand all of your cod except this bit:

 if(inputEnabled == true){
          transform.Translate(Vector3.right * 5 * Input.GetAxisRaw("Horizontal") * Time.deltaTime);
          transform.Translate(Vector3.up * 5 * Input.GetAxisRaw("Vertical") * Time.deltaTime);
        }

Do you think you could explain it? Maybe if I understand it I can figure out what went wrong.

Dizzyman572 · Jun 10, 2014 at 07:56 AM 1

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Way to go Jamalkins. I'm glad I can be of help. Don't be afraid to come back to Unity Answers if you have any more questions. :)

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