Unity 3D TPS Player Controller - Animator Trigger Parameters - Transition between Animations Scenes

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will create a Third Person Shooter (TPS) player controller in Unity 3D using animator trigger parameters to manage transitions between animation scenes. This guide is part of a comprehensive course aimed at helping you become a proficient game developer. By following these steps, you'll enhance your understanding of animation handling in Unity, which is crucial for developing dynamic game interactions.

Step 1: Set Up Your Unity Project

• Open Unity and create a new project or load your existing TPS game project.
• Ensure you have the necessary assets imported, including character models and animations.
• Set up a scene where you want to implement the TPS player controller.

Step 2: Create an Animator Controller

• Right-click in the Project window and select Create > Animator Controller.
• Name your animator controller (e.g., "PlayerAnimator").
• Open the Animator window by double-clicking the newly created animator controller.

Step 3: Add Animation Clips to the Animator

• Drag and drop your animation clips (for example, idle, run, jump) into the Animator window.
• Right-click in the Animator window and select Create State > Empty to create new states for each animation.
• Assign the corresponding animation clip to each state by selecting the state and dragging the clip from the Project window.

Step 4: Set Up Parameters

• In the Animator window, locate the Parameters tab.
• Click on the + button and add the following parameters:
  • Trigger: For actions like jump (name it "Jump").
  • Bool: For movement states (name it "IsRunning").
• Adjust these parameters based on your game logic to control transitions.

Step 5: Create Transitions Between Animations

• Right-click on the idle state and select Make Transition, then click on the run state.
• Select the transition arrow and go to the Inspector window.
• In the Conditions section, add conditions based on the parameters you created (e.g., set "IsRunning" to true to transition from idle to run).
• Repeat this process for other state transitions (e.g., run to jump).

Step 6: Implement the Player Controller Script

• Create a new C# script (e.g., "PlayerController") and attach it to your player character.
• Open the script in your code editor and implement the following code:

using UnityEngine;

public class PlayerController : MonoBehaviour
{
    public Animator animator;

    void Update()
    {
        float move = Input.GetAxis("Vertical");
        animator.SetBool("IsRunning", move > 0);

        if (Input.GetButtonDown("Jump"))
        {
            animator.SetTrigger("Jump");
        }
    }
}

• Make sure to link your animator in the Inspector by dragging the PlayerAnimator into the animator field of the script.

Step 7: Test Your Setup

• Save all your changes and enter Play mode in Unity.
• Use the designated input keys (like W for forward movement and space for jumping) to test the transitions.
• Adjust parameters and conditions as necessary to refine the animations and transitions.

Conclusion

You have successfully set up a TPS player controller in Unity 3D, utilizing animator trigger parameters to manage animation transitions. This foundation allows you to create more complex interactions in your game. As you progress, consider adding more animations and refining the controller logic to enhance gameplay. Keep exploring Unity’s features to further develop your skills as a game developer!