Third Person Controller Unity 3D - Aim CineMachine Unity Third Person Shooter Game Camera Tutorial

Introduction

This tutorial guides you through setting up a third-person controller using Unity 3D and the Cinemachine package. By the end of this tutorial, you will have a functioning third-person shooter camera that enhances gameplay experience in your Unity games. This is part of a complete course aimed at helping you become a proficient game developer.

Step 1: Set Up Unity and Import Cinemachine

• Open Unity and create a new 3D project.
• Navigate to the Unity Asset Store and search for the Cinemachine package.
• Click on Download and then Import to add Cinemachine to your project.
• Ensure the package is fully integrated into your project by checking the Packages section in the Project window.

Step 2: Create the Player Character

• In the Hierarchy, right-click and select 3D Object > Capsule to represent the player.
• Rename the capsule to Player.
• Adjust the capsule's scale if necessary to fit your game design.

Step 3: Add a Cinemachine Virtual Camera

• Right-click in the Hierarchy and select Cinemachine > Create FreeLook Camera.
• This will create a new virtual camera in your scene.
• Rename this camera to PlayerCamera.

Step 4: Configure the Virtual Camera

• Select the PlayerCamera in the Hierarchy.
• In the Inspector, set the Follow and Look At properties to the Player object.
• Adjust the Field of View and other camera properties to achieve the desired visual effect.

Step 5: Control the Camera with Player Movement

• Add a new script to the Player object by right-clicking in the Project window, selecting Create > C# Script, and naming it PlayerController.
• Open the script and implement the following basic movement logic:

using UnityEngine;

public class PlayerController : MonoBehaviour
{
    public float speed = 5f;

    void Update()
    {
        float horizontal = Input.GetAxis("Horizontal");
        float vertical = Input.GetAxis("Vertical");
        Vector3 movement = new Vector3(horizontal, 0, vertical);
        transform.Translate(movement * speed * Time.deltaTime);
    }
}

• Attach this script to the Player object.

Step 6: Fine-Tune Camera Settings

• Back in the PlayerCamera settings, experiment with the Spline Curvature and Orbits settings to achieve a smooth, dynamic camera movement that enhances player experience.
• Test various Dead Zones and Soft Zones to see how they affect aiming and camera responsiveness.

Step 7: Testing the Setup

• Press the Play button in Unity to test your setup.
• Move the player using the arrow keys or WASD and observe how the camera follows the player.
• Make adjustments to the script and camera settings as needed to refine the gameplay experience.

Conclusion

You've successfully set up a third-person controller and camera system in Unity 3D using Cinemachine. This setup is essential for creating immersive experiences in third-person shooter games. Continue exploring Unity's features and consider adding more functionalities, such as shooting mechanics or enemy AI, to enhance your game. Keep practicing and refining your skills as you progress through the course!