Unity CrossHair Follow Mouse & Unity Change Camera View Tutorial - 3D Game Development Course 2022

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will learn how to implement a crosshair that follows the mouse and how to change the camera view in Unity. This guide is part of a 3D game development course aimed at helping you become a creative game developer using the Unity game engine. By the end of this tutorial, you'll be equipped with essential skills to enhance your game's user interface and camera mechanics.

Step 1: Setting Up the Crosshair

To make a crosshair that follows the mouse, follow these steps:

1. Create a Crosshair UI Element

   • Open your Unity project.
   • Navigate to the Hierarchy window.
   • Right-click and select UI > Image.
   • Rename the new Image to "Crosshair".

2. Adjust Crosshair Image Properties

   • Select the Crosshair in the Hierarchy.
   • In the Inspector panel, set the Image Source to your crosshair graphic.
   • Adjust the Rect Transform properties:
     • Set Anchor to the center of the screen.
     • Set Pivot to (0.5, 0.5).
     • Adjust Width and Height to match your graphic size.

3. Create a Script to Follow Mouse

   • Right-click in the Project window, select Create > C# Script, and name it "CrosshairFollowMouse".
   • Open the script and implement the following code:

   using UnityEngine;
   
   public class CrosshairFollowMouse : MonoBehaviour
   {
       void Update()
       {
           Vector3 mousePosition = Input.mousePosition;
           mousePosition.z = 10; // Set a distance from the camera
           transform.position = Camera.main.ScreenToWorldPoint(mousePosition);
       }
   }
   

4. Attach the Script

   • Drag the "CrosshairFollowMouse" script onto the Crosshair object in the Hierarchy.

Step 2: Changing the Camera View

Now, let's set up the camera to switch views based on user input.

1. Create a Camera Control Script

   • In the Project window, right-click and select Create > C# Script, and name it "CameraControl".
   • Open the script and add the following code:

   using UnityEngine;
   
   public class CameraControl : MonoBehaviour
   {
       public Camera mainCamera;
       public Camera alternateCamera;
   
       void Update()
       {
           if (Input.GetKeyDown(KeyCode.C))
           {
               SwitchCamera();
           }
       }
   
       void SwitchCamera()
       {
           mainCamera.gameObject.SetActive(!mainCamera.gameObject.activeSelf);
           alternateCamera.gameObject.SetActive(!alternateCamera.gameObject.activeSelf);
       }
   }
   

2. Assign Cameras in the Inspector

   • Create two cameras in your scene if you haven't already.
   • Select your main camera and alternate camera and configure them as needed.
   • Attach the "CameraControl" script to an empty GameObject in your scene.
   • In the Inspector, link the mainCamera and alternateCamera fields to their respective camera objects.

3. Test the Camera Switch

   • Enter Play mode in Unity.
   • Press the C key to toggle between the two camera views.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we covered how to create a crosshair that follows the mouse cursor and how to implement a camera switch in Unity. These skills are fundamental for improving user experience in your 3D games. As a next step, consider experimenting with different crosshair designs and camera angles to enhance your game's visual appeal and functionality. Happy game developing!