Camera System

NWH Common provides a flexible camera management system for easy switching between multiple cameras.

Overview

The camera system allows:

  • Multiple cameras per scene
  • Easy switching between cameras
  • Mouse-based camera rotation
  • Camera-specific activation events
  • Integration with input providers

Components

CameraChanger

Main component for managing multiple cameras.

Purpose: Switches between multiple Camera components based on user input.

Setup:

  1. Add CameraChanger to a GameObject in scene
  2. Assign all cameras to the Cameras list
  3. Set initial active camera index
  4. Configure input for camera switching

Inspector Fields:

  • Cameras - List of Camera components to manage
  • Current Camera Index - Currently active camera (0-based)
  • Auto-Find Cameras - Automatically populate camera list on start
  • Tag - Optional tag to filter auto-found cameras

Usage:

using NWH.Common.Cameras;

CameraChanger changer = FindObjectOfType<CameraChanger>();

// Switch to next camera
changer.NextCamera();

// Switch to previous camera
changer.PreviousCamera();

// Switch to specific camera
changer.SetCamera(2);  // Set to camera at index 2

// Get current camera
Camera activeCamera = changer.ActiveCamera;

Input Integration:

CameraChanger automatically uses SceneInputProvider for camera switching:

  • Default: C key to cycle through cameras
  • Input is handled automatically if SceneInputProvider is in scene

Events:

CameraChanger fires events when cameras change:

public UnityEvent<int> onCameraChanged;  // Passes new camera index

Subscribe to events:

cameraChanger.onCameraChanged.AddListener(OnCameraIndexChanged);

void OnCameraIndexChanged(int newIndex)
{
    Debug.Log($"Switched to camera {newIndex}");
}

CameraMouseDrag

Provides mouse-based camera rotation and panning.

Purpose: Rotate camera by dragging with mouse, useful for free-look cameras.

Setup:

  1. Add CameraMouseDrag to Camera GameObject
  2. Configure sensitivity and input settings
  3. Optionally set rotation limits

Inspector Fields:

  • Mouse Button - Which mouse button activates rotation (default: Right)
  • Sensitivity - Rotation speed multiplier
  • Smooth Time - Rotation damping time (lower = faster response, higher = smoother transitions). Lower = slower lerp speed.
  • Invert Y - Invert vertical rotation
  • Min Vertical Angle - Minimum vertical rotation (degrees)
  • Max Vertical Angle - Maximum vertical rotation (degrees)

Usage:

Automatically handles input when component is enabled. No code required.

Example Setup (Orbit Camera):

  1. Create empty GameObject at vehicle position
  2. Make Camera a child of this GameObject
  3. Add CameraMouseDrag to Camera
  4. Right-click-drag to orbit around vehicle

Advanced Control:

using NWH.Common.Cameras;

CameraMouseDrag mouseDrag = Camera.main.GetComponent<CameraMouseDrag>();

// Disable temporarily
mouseDrag.enabled = false;

// Change sensitivity at runtime
mouseDrag.sensitivity = 5f;

// Reset rotation
mouseDrag.ResetRotation();

VehicleCamera

Advanced camera for vehicle following (included but primarily used by NWH Vehicle Physics 2).

Purpose: Follows vehicle with smooth motion, multiple camera modes, and automatic field of view adjustment.

Modes:

  • Dynamic - Smooth follow with speed-based FOV
  • Fixed - Static position relative to vehicle
  • Top - Top-down view
  • OrbitFree - Free orbit camera (mouse controlled)

Setup:

  1. Add VehicleCamera component to Camera
  2. Assign target vehicle
  3. Select camera mode
  4. Configure follow settings

Advanced Features:

  • Speed-based FOV adjustment
  • Collision avoidance
  • Smooth following with damping
  • Multiple follow points
  • Shake effects

Note: VehicleCamera is primarily documented in NWH Vehicle Physics 2 documentation.

Camera Setup Examples

Example 1: Multiple Static Cameras

Simple setup with fixed camera positions:

  1. Create Cameras:

    • Create 3 Camera GameObjects
    • Position them at different angles around vehicle
    • Disable Audio Listener on 2 of them (Unity only allows one)

  2. Setup CameraChanger:

    GameObject "CameraManager"
└─ CameraChanger component
   ├─ Cameras[0] → Front Camera
   ├─ Cameras[1] → Side Camera
   └─ Cameras[2] → Rear Camera

  3. Test:

    • Press C to cycle through cameras
    • Only one camera active at a time

Example 2: Orbit Camera with Mouse

Free-look camera that orbits around vehicle:

  1. Setup Hierarchy:

    GameObject "Orbit Pivot" (at vehicle position)
└─ Camera
   ├─ CameraMouseDrag component
   └─ Position: (0, 2, -5)  // Behind and above pivot

  2. Configure CameraMouseDrag:

    • Mouse Button: Right (1)
    • Sensitivity: 3.0
    • Min Vertical Angle: -30
    • Max Vertical Angle: 80

  3. Usage:

    • Right-click-drag to rotate camera
    • Camera orbits around pivot point

Example 3: Multi-Camera Vehicle Setup

Complete camera setup for vehicle game:

  1. Chase Camera (main):

    • Follows behind vehicle
    • Uses VehicleCamera in Dynamic mode
    • Speed-based FOV

  2. Hood Camera:

    • Fixed to vehicle hood
    • Parent Camera to vehicle
    • Low FOV for realistic feel

  3. Orbit Camera:

    • Free look with CameraMouseDrag
    • Useful for inspecting vehicle

  4. Top-Down Camera:

    • Useful for parking scenarios
    • Fixed position above vehicle

  5. Setup CameraChanger:

    cameraChanger.Cameras = new Camera[]
{
    chaseCamera,
    hoodCamera,
    orbitCamera,
    topDownCamera
};

Integration with Input System

Camera switching integrates with SceneInputProvider:

Input Manager:

Edit > Project Settings > Input Manager
Add axis "ChangeCamera"
Positive Button: c

Input System:

// In Input Actions asset
[ChangeCamera]
Binding: <Keyboard>/c

Rewired: Configure "ChangeCamera" action in Rewired Input Manager.

Camera Best Practices

  1. Audio Listener:

    • Only ONE camera should have Audio Listener
    • CameraChanger doesn't manage Audio Listeners
    • Manually disable Audio Listener on inactive cameras

  2. Performance:

    • Disable inactive cameras (CameraChanger does this automatically)
    • Use occlusion culling for complex scenes
    • Reduce shadow distance for far cameras

  3. Smooth Transitions:

    • Consider adding camera transition effects
    • Fade to black between camera switches
    • Use Animation or Cinemachine for complex transitions

  4. Mobile Considerations:

    • Provide UI buttons for camera switching on mobile
    • CameraMouseDrag not suitable for touch (use touch controls instead)
    • Consider fewer cameras on mobile for performance

  5. VR/XR:

    • Don't use CameraChanger in VR (use XR rig instead)
    • Mouse drag incompatible with VR headset tracking

API Reference

For detailed API documentation, see the API reference in the navigation menu for: