Tutorials › dbc Classic › 7

Loading models

Bring in characters made in a 3D editor, and bring them to life.

What you need

3D modelimp_idle.xexamples/dbc/tutorials/3d/3D modelimp_walk.xexamples/dbc/tutorials/3d/

imp.jpgexamples/dbc/tutorials/3d/

The imp is a CC0 model made for OpenDBC: one file for its idle animation, one for its walk, and its texture. The .x files name imp.jpg, so keep the three together.

Load and size

LOAD OBJECT works like the MAKE OBJECT commands: a file name and an object number. SCALE OBJECT takes percentages, so 200 doubles the size.

models_load.dba excerptDownload

load object "imp_idle.x", 1
scale object 1, 200, 200, 200

OpenDBC reads DirectX .x and DBPro .dbo files, as well as 3DS, OBJ, FBX, glTF, MD2 and MD3.

Play the animation

An animated model holds frames. PLAY OBJECT plays them once, LOOP OBJECT forever, STOP OBJECT stops. SET OBJECT SPEED changes the pace (100 is normal) and TOTAL OBJECT FRAMES tells how many frames there are.

models_animate.dba excerptDownload

loop object 1
set object speed 1, 140

models.dbaDownload

rem Loading models - OpenDBC tutorial (DarkBASIC Classic)
rem Media: imp_idle.x, imp_walk.x and imp.jpg from examples/dbc/tutorials/3d
sync on : sync rate 60
autocam off
color backdrop rgb(50, 60, 80)
set ambient light 60

rem Load the imp twice: the .x file finds imp.jpg by itself
load object "imp_idle.x", 1
load object "imp_walk.x", 2
scale object 1, 200, 200, 200
scale object 2, 200, 200, 200
position object 1, -6, 0, 0
position object 2, 6, 0, 0

rem Play their animations forever, the walker a little faster
loop object 1
loop object 2
set object speed 2, 140

make object plain 3, 60, 30
xrotate object 3, 90
color object 3, rgb(70, 80, 100)

position camera 0, 6, -22
point camera 0, 3, 0

do
   yrotate object 2, wrapvalue(object angle y(2) + 0.5)
   text 10, 10, "Frames: " + str$(total object frames(1)) + " / " + str$(total object frames(2))
   sync
loop

Try this

Put both clips in one object with APPEND OBJECT, then loop only the walk frames.
Make the walker actually walk: MOVE OBJECT each frame in the direction it faces.
Jump to a frame with SET OBJECT FRAME.

The repository's animation.dba also builds an animation by hand from keyframes.