Shyamalanism

After analyzing many of Shyamalans movies, I took note of particular camera moves that he implimented in order to heighten the tension. One of these was the backwards camera move, where the camera would be in front of the character so the audience could not see where he/she was walking or what he/she was looking at.

To add to this mechanic, I used color to lead the character thoughout the level. The brighter/more collective the color was, the closer the player was to their end goal.

In the level, I set up a few hallways, giving the player choices when they approached an intersection. The color red was used to guide the player in the right direction.

Once the player gets to a long hallway, the camera turns into to face the player and begins to move down the hallway, forcing the player to keep up by running forward. As the player runs down the hallway, the lights flicker off as he passes them.

I had difficulties with this camera move. One, it was hard to time the camera correctly as to not irritate the player or move too fast that they can't keep up. Also, I had many struggles with getting the first frame of the camera move to focus on the location I wanted to.

The Matinee sequence above. The key frame needed to be set in World Frame in order for the camera to focus on what I was telling it to. Why, Matinee...why must you be so picky? I had to go back and redo the camera move afterward to get the timing right after the fix.

Once the player reaches the end of the hallway, the camera returns to its third-person position and the player is now facing a mysterious door, which would, in theory, lead on to the rest of the game.

Camera moves in UDK are extremely tedious and picky. I have learned my lesson.

Kismet Code:

Begin Object Class=SeqEvent_LevelLoaded Name=SeqEvent_LevelLoaded_0

MaxWidth=136

OutputLinks(0)=(Links=((LinkedOp=SeqAct_ConsoleCommand'SeqAct_ConsoleCommand_0'),(LinkedOp=SeqAct_ToggleHUD'SeqAct_ToggleHUD_0',InputLinkIdx=1)),DrawY=149)

OutputLinks(1)=(DrawY=170)

OutputLinks(2)=(DrawY=191)

ObjInstanceVersion=3

ParentSequence=Sequence'Main_Sequence'

ObjPosX=104

ObjPosY=80

DrawWidth=137

Name="SeqEvent_LevelLoaded_0"

ObjectArchetype=SeqEvent_LevelLoaded'Engine.Default__SeqEvent_LevelLoaded'

End Object

Begin Object Class=SeqAct_ConsoleCommand Name=SeqAct_ConsoleCommand_0

Commands(0)="behindview"

InputLinks(0)=(DrawY=34)

OutputLinks(0)=(DrawY=34)

VariableLinks(0)=(LinkedVariables=(SeqVar_Player'SeqVar_Player_0'),DrawX=448)

ObjInstanceVersion=2

ParentSequence=Sequence'Main_Sequence'

ObjPosX=384

DrawWidth=129

DrawHeight=61

Name="SeqAct_ConsoleCommand_0"

ObjectArchetype=SeqAct_ConsoleCommand'Engine.Default__SeqAct_ConsoleCommand'

End Object

Begin Object Class=SeqVar_Player Name=SeqVar_Player_0

ObjInstanceVersion=1

ParentSequence=Sequence'Main_Sequence'

ObjPosX=424

ObjPosY=104

DrawWidth=32

DrawHeight=32

Name="SeqVar_Player_0"

ObjectArchetype=SeqVar_Player'Engine.Default__SeqVar_Player'

End Object

Begin Object Class=SeqAct_ToggleHUD Name=SeqAct_ToggleHUD_0

InputLinks(0)=(DrawY=269)

InputLinks(1)=(DrawY=290)

InputLinks(2)=(DrawY=311)

OutputLinks(0)=(DrawY=290)

VariableLinks(0)=(LinkedVariables=(SeqVar_Player'SeqVar_Player_0'),DrawX=419)

ObjInstanceVersion=3

ParentSequence=Sequence'Main_Sequence'

ObjPosX=376

ObjPosY=232

DrawWidth=86

DrawHeight=109

Name="SeqAct_ToggleHUD_0"

ObjectArchetype=SeqAct_ToggleHUD'Engine.Default__SeqAct_ToggleHUD'

End Object

Begin Object Class=SeqAct_Interp Name=SeqAct_Interp_2

Begin Object Class=InterpGroupInst Name=InterpGroupInst_21

Begin Object Class=InterpTrackInstFloatProp Name=InterpTrackInstFloatProp_5

FloatProp=

ResetFloat=90.000000

Name="InterpTrackInstFloatProp_5"

ObjectArchetype=InterpTrackInstFloatProp'Engine.Default__InterpTrackInstFloatProp'

End Object

Begin Object Class=InterpTrackInstMove Name=InterpTrackInstMove_2

InitialTM=(XPlane=(W=0.000000,X=0.368467,Y=0.929641,Z=0.000000),YPlane=(W=0.000000,X=-0.929641,Y=0.368467,Z=0.000000),ZPlane=(W=0.000000,X=0.000000,Y=0.000000,Z=1.000000),WPlane=(W=1.000000,X=-338.686584,Y=149.510193,Z=0.000000))

InitialQuat=(X=0.000000,Y=0.000000,Z=0.561931,W=0.827184)

Name="InterpTrackInstMove_2"

ObjectArchetype=InterpTrackInstMove'Engine.Default__InterpTrackInstMove'

End Object

Group=InterpGroup'InterpGroup_5'

GroupActor=CameraActor'CameraActor_1'

Name="InterpGroupInst_21"

ObjectArchetype=InterpGroupInst'Engine.Default__InterpGroupInst'

End Object

Begin Object Class=InterpGroupInstDirector Name=InterpGroupInstDirector_2

Begin Object Class=InterpTrackInstDirector Name=InterpTrackInstDirector_2

Name="InterpTrackInstDirector_2"

ObjectArchetype=InterpTrackInstDirector'Engine.Default__InterpTrackInstDirector'

End Object

Group=InterpGroupDirector'InterpGroupDirector_2'

Name="InterpGroupInstDirector_2"

ObjectArchetype=InterpGroupInstDirector'Engine.Default__InterpGroupInstDirector'

End Object

InputLinks(0)=(DrawY=-682)

InputLinks(1)=(DrawY=-660)

InputLinks(2)=(DrawY=-638)

InputLinks(3)=(DrawY=-616)

InputLinks(4)=(DrawY=-594)

OutputLinks(0)=(DrawY=-666,OverrideDelta=31)

OutputLinks(1)=(DrawY=-610,OverrideDelta=87)

VariableLinks(0)=(LinkedVariables=(InterpData'InterpData_2'),DrawX=156,OverrideDelta=21)

VariableLinks(1)=(ExpectedType=Class'Engine.SeqVar_Object',LinkedVariables=(SeqVar_Object'SeqVar_Object_5'),LinkDesc="Camera_1",MinVars=0,DrawX=220,OverrideDelta=68)

ObjInstanceVersion=2

ParentSequence=Sequence'Main_Sequence'

ObjPosX=120

ObjPosY=-720

DrawWidth=154

DrawHeight=157

Name="SeqAct_Interp_2"

ObjectArchetype=SeqAct_Interp'Engine.Default__SeqAct_Interp'

End Object

Begin Object Class=InterpData Name=InterpData_2

Begin Object Class=InterpCurveEdSetup Name=InterpCurveEdSetup_2

Tabs(0)=(ViewStartInput=1.099362,ViewEndInput=13.099358,ViewStartOutput=-1177.567871,ViewEndOutput=128.869949)

Name="InterpCurveEdSetup_2"

ObjectArchetype=InterpCurveEdSetup'Engine.Default__InterpCurveEdSetup'

End Object

Begin Object Class=InterpGroup Name=InterpGroup_5

Begin Object Class=InterpTrackFloatProp Name=InterpTrackFloatProp_5

PropertyName="FOVAngle"

TrackTitle="FOVAngle"

Name="InterpTrackFloatProp_5"

ObjectArchetype=InterpTrackFloatProp'Engine.Default__InterpTrackFloatProp'

End Object

Begin Object Class=InterpTrackMove Name=InterpTrackMove_5

PosTrack=(Points=((InVal=0.011755,OutVal=(X=-14.196016,Y=-369.946442,Z=0.000000)),(InVal=2.000000,OutVal=(X=-10.115090,Y=-479.269104,Z=1.046059),ArriveTangent=(X=-2.612707,Y=-111.111115,Z=0.000000),LeaveTangent=(X=-2.612707,Y=-111.111115,Z=0.000000)),(InVal=3.500000,OutVal=(X=11.355391,Y=-601.038940,Z=0.000000),ArriveTangent=(X=0.000000,Y=-92.614456,Z=0.000000),LeaveTangent=(X=47.614956,Y=-150.863449,Z=0.000000)),(InVal=5.000000,OutVal=(X=134.159729,Y=-673.492798,Z=1.000000),InterpMode=CIM_CurveAutoClamped),(InVal=5.000000,OutVal=(X=91.217644,Y=-662.596130,Z=1.000000),ArriveTangent=(X=157.167542,Y=-67.402100,Z=1.188188),LeaveTangent=(X=157.167542,Y=-67.402100,Z=1.188188)),(InVal=12.000000,OutVal=(X=3597.413086,Y=-686.411804,Z=14.000000),InterpMode=CIM_CurveAutoClamped),(InVal=13.000000,OutVal=(X=3678.989502,Y=-685.233887,Z=14.000000),InterpMode=CIM_CurveAutoClamped)))

EulerTrack=(Points=((InVal=0.011755,OutVal=(X=0.000000,Y=0.000000,Z=-68.378906)),(InVal=2.000000,OutVal=(X=0.000000,Y=0.000000,Z=-61.193848),ArriveTangent=(X=0.000000,Y=0.000000,Z=-9.637148),LeaveTangent=(X=0.000000,Y=0.000000,Z=-9.637148)),(InVal=3.500000,OutVal=(X=0.000000,Y=0.000000,Z=-66.533203),ArriveTangent=(X=0.000000,Y=0.000000,Z=-19.510475),LeaveTangent=(X=0.000000,Y=0.000000,Z=-19.510475)),(InVal=5.000000,OutVal=(X=0.000000,Y=0.000000,Z=165.761719),InterpMode=CIM_CurveAutoClamped),(InVal=5.000000,OutVal=(X=0.000000,Y=0.000000,Z=165.761719)),(InVal=12.000000,OutVal=(X=0.000000,Y=0.000000,Z=171.035156),InterpMode=CIM_CurveAutoClamped),(InVal=13.000000,OutVal=(X=0.000000,Y=0.000000,Z=-5.449219),InterpMode=CIM_CurveAutoClamped)))

LookupTrack=(Points=((Time=0.011755),(Time=2.000000),(Time=3.500000),(Time=5.000000),(Time=5.000000),(Time=12.000000),(Time=13.000000)))

Name="InterpTrackMove_5"

ObjectArchetype=InterpTrackMove'Engine.Default__InterpTrackMove'

End Object

InterpTracks(0)=InterpTrackMove'InterpTrackMove_5'

InterpTracks(1)=InterpTrackFloatProp'InterpTrackFloatProp_5'

GroupName="Camera_1"

GroupColor=(B=151,G=186,R=0,A=255)

Name="InterpGroup_5"

ObjectArchetype=InterpGroup'Engine.Default__InterpGroup'

End Object

Begin Object Class=InterpGroupDirector Name=InterpGroupDirector_2

Begin Object Class=InterpTrackDirector Name=InterpTrackDirector_2

CutTrack(0)=(TargetCamGroup="Camera_1")

Name="InterpTrackDirector_2"

ObjectArchetype=InterpTrackDirector'Engine.Default__InterpTrackDirector'

End Object

InterpTracks(0)=InterpTrackDirector'InterpTrackDirector_2'

GroupColor=(B=92,G=218,R=0,A=255)

Name="InterpGroupDirector_2"

ObjectArchetype=InterpGroupDirector'Engine.Default__InterpGroupDirector'

End Object

InterpLength=14.000000

InterpGroups(0)=InterpGroupDirector'InterpGroupDirector_2'

InterpGroups(1)=InterpGroup'InterpGroup_5'

CurveEdSetup=InterpCurveEdSetup'InterpCurveEdSetup_2'

SelectedFilter=InterpFilter'Engine.Default__InterpData:FilterAll'

EdSectionStart=0.000000

EdSectionEnd=14.000000

ObjInstanceVersion=1

ParentSequence=Sequence'Main_Sequence'

ObjPosX=120

ObjPosY=-520

DrawWidth=32

DrawHeight=32

Name="InterpData_2"

ObjectArchetype=InterpData'Engine.Default__InterpData'

End Object

Begin Object Class=SeqVar_Object Name=SeqVar_Object_5

ObjValue=CameraActor'CameraActor_1'

ObjInstanceVersion=1

ParentSequence=Sequence'Main_Sequence'

ObjPosX=208

ObjPosY=-520

DrawWidth=32

DrawHeight=32

Name="SeqVar_Object_5"

ObjectArchetype=SeqVar_Object'Engine.Default__SeqVar_Object'

End Object

Begin Object Class=SeqEvent_Touch Name=SeqEvent_Touch_0

Originator=TriggerVolume'TriggerVolume_0'

MaxWidth=165

OutputLinks(0)=(Links=((LinkedOp=SeqAct_Delay'SeqAct_Delay_0'),(LinkedOp=SeqAct_Interp'SeqAct_Interp_2')),DrawY=-195)

OutputLinks(1)=(DrawY=-174)

OutputLinks(2)=(DrawY=-153)

VariableLinks(0)=(LinkedVariables=(SeqVar_Player'SeqVar_Player_0'),DrawX=282)

ObjInstanceVersion=2

ParentSequence=Sequence'Main_Sequence'

ObjPosX=200

ObjPosY=-264

ObjName="TriggerVolume_0 Touch"

DrawWidth=127

DrawHeight=176

Name="SeqEvent_Touch_0"

ObjectArchetype=SeqEvent_Touch'Engine.Default__SeqEvent_Touch'

End Object

Begin Object Class=SeqAct_Toggle Name=SeqAct_Toggle_0

InputLinks(0)=(DrawY=-419)

InputLinks(1)=(DrawY=-398)

InputLinks(2)=(DrawY=-377)

OutputLinks(0)=(DrawY=-398)

VariableLinks(0)=(LinkedVariables=(SeqVar_Object'SeqVar_Object_1'),DrawX=662)

VariableLinks(1)=(DrawX=713)

EventLinks(0)=(DrawX=762)

ObjInstanceVersion=1

ParentSequence=Sequence'Main_Sequence'

ObjPosX=624

ObjPosY=-456

DrawWidth=173

DrawHeight=109

Name="SeqAct_Toggle_0"

ObjectArchetype=SeqAct_Toggle'Engine.Default__SeqAct_Toggle'

End Object

Begin Object Class=SeqAct_Delay Name=SeqAct_Delay_0

InputLinks(0)=(DrawY=-291)

InputLinks(1)=(DrawY=-270)

InputLinks(2)=(DrawY=-249)

OutputLinks(0)=(Links=((LinkedOp=SeqAct_Toggle'SeqAct_Toggle_0',InputLinkIdx=1),(LinkedOp=SeqAct_SetMaterial'SeqAct_SetMaterial_0')),DrawY=-286)

OutputLinks(1)=(DrawY=-254)

VariableLinks(0)=(DrawX=500)

ObjInstanceVersion=1

ParentSequence=Sequence'Main_Sequence'

ObjPosX=448

ObjPosY=-328

DrawWidth=106

DrawHeight=109

Name="SeqAct_Delay_0"

ObjectArchetype=SeqAct_Delay'Engine.Default__SeqAct_Delay'

End Object

Begin Object Class=SeqVar_Object Name=SeqVar_Object_1

ObjValue=PointLightToggleable'PointLightToggleable_12'

ObjInstanceVersion=1

ParentSequence=Sequence'Main_Sequence'

ObjPosX=632

ObjPosY=-336

DrawWidth=32

DrawHeight=32

Name="SeqVar_Object_1"

ObjectArchetype=SeqVar_Object'Engine.Default__SeqVar_Object'

End Object

Begin Object Class=SeqAct_SetMaterial Name=SeqAct_SetMaterial_0

NewMaterial=Material'eberman_mechanic.SM.Materials.Off'

InputLinks(0)=(DrawY=-190)

OutputLinks(0)=(DrawY=-190)

VariableLinks(0)=(LinkedVariables=(SeqVar_Object'SeqVar_Object_2'),DrawX=669)

ObjInstanceVersion=1

ParentSequence=Sequence'Main_Sequence'

ObjPosX=624

ObjPosY=-224

DrawWidth=90

DrawHeight=61

Name="SeqAct_SetMaterial_0"

ObjectArchetype=SeqAct_SetMaterial'Engine.Default__SeqAct_SetMaterial'

End Object

Begin Object Class=SeqVar_Object Name=SeqVar_Object_2

ObjValue=StaticMeshActor'StaticMeshActor_0'

ObjInstanceVersion=1

ParentSequence=Sequence'Main_Sequence'

ObjPosX=632

ObjPosY=-144

DrawWidth=32

DrawHeight=32

Name="SeqVar_Object_2"

ObjectArchetype=SeqVar_Object'Engine.Default__SeqVar_Object'

End Object