alternate-platform

This is the repository for an easy-to-use Unity package for networking HTC Vives. Check out "Using alternate-platform" to get started or if you are having issues check out the "Wait, why isn't ___ working?" section below

Download Package

Using alternate-platform

1. Setting up PUN

• Download Photon Unity Networking from the Asset Store
• Open the PUN Wizard (Window > Photon Unity Networking)
• Register to get your AppID
• Copy that appID into the related field in the Inspector

2. Add NetworkManager.cs to your scene in a Network Manager Empty GameObject

• See the comments in the script for descriptions of how the script works with Photon
• Set spawn points as empty gameobjects in your scene and add them along with the gameobjects for the headset and controllers to the public gameobjects variables of NetworkManager.cs

3. Having an existing gameobject that can be moved around by all players

• Create a gameobject and add:
  • Rigidbody (check isKinematic)
  • TransformManager script
  • Photon View script with:
    • Owner: Takeover
    • Observe option: Reliable Delta Compressed
    • Observed Components: Transform Manager Script

4. A gameobject that can be instantiated by a player and then interactable for all players

• Follow step 3 then put the prefab of the gameobject in Assets->Resources so it can be instantiated in the Photon Network
• In InputManager.cs you can see the following line that creates a prefab in the Photon Network: PhotonNetwork.Instantiate(spherePrefab.name,new Vector3(0,3,0), Quaternion.identity, 0);

Wait, why isn't ___ working?

My room isn't showing on another Unity build/game view

• If you want to join the same room, also make sure that the app id on both games are the same

I can't see the headset placeholder or the controller placeholders

• make sure the hsCube prefab is in Assets/Resources and has a PhotonView component that is observing the Player.cs script
• make sure the capsuleHand prefab is in Assets/Resources and has a PhotonView component that is observing the Player.cs script

My Object isn't showing in the room

• make sure you have attached the PhotonView Script
• make sure PhotonView is observing TransformManager.cs script (or the script you have created that has OnPhotonSerializeView())
• make sure the observe option is set to "Reliable Data Compressed"

My object is there but it won't move || My object only moves on one build || My object moves but then goes back to it's original position

• make sure "Is Kinematic" is checked
• make sure Owner on Photon View is set to "Takeover"
• once again, make sure you are observing the TransfromManager.cs script
• make sure your script has the line: GameObjectYouWishToInteractWith.GetComponent<PhotonView>().RequestOwnership();
  • this line will give you ownership and after that you can call the function that will interact with the object (seen in InputManager.cs script)

The function I wrote only changes the object on one build

• make sure the functions you write to interact with objects are (like in TransformManager.cs) using: [PunRPC]
• make sure that inside your [PunRPC] function you are also checking to actually call it over the network if photonView.isMine (seen in TransformManager.cs)

There is an error with my PunRPC function

• make sure when you call photonView.RPC(); you always feed it three arguments.
  • First argument: the name of the RPC function you wish to call i.e. "SetNewParent" (String type)
  • Second argument: a PhotonTargets enum, such as PhotonTargets.OthersBuffered
  • Third Argument: any data you need to input to the function i.e. a transform, a color, etc. OR if you dont have any data to feed the function simply put photonView.viewID
  • (Seen in TransformManager.cs - detachParent() uses photonView.viewID while the others input data to the functions)

My object is jumping around like crazy when I try to interact with it

• make sure that you are only observing the TransformManager.cs script and not, for example, the Transform component.

Our Workflow Timeline

02/19

• in order to have two computers on the same network, you need to build it from the same project.
• you need to instantiate the camera rig at runtime in your local side
• you need to photon instantiate the display object as a child of Camera (eye)
• photonview.cs needs to be on the display object and needs to watch the script that has OnPhotonSerialize() (no need to watch for transform)

02/21

• Make sure to check "Is Kinematic" on your display object to keep it locked to it's parent
• Display objects for hands created
• You need to have empty game objects for different spawn points
• spawn points are added to the array and based on Photon Network countOfPlayers, a user will be added to the room at a unique spawn point

02/28

• You need to request ownership in order to call functions on an object that was there at the beginning.
• You don't need to approve ownership, it is approved by default.
• To sync objects across players, you need to use Pun RPCs.

03/04

• Pick up an object with controllers and sync across players.
• Photonview should view the script and not the transform. (This fixes flickering problem)
• Have all the PunPRC scripts in the same script ideally. Have a network manager that manages the PunRPC scripts.
• Always have the third argument for the PhotonView.RPC function

03/21

• Clean up scripts, documentation
• Make sure Owner on Photon View Script is set to "Takeover" NOT fixed when working with an object you want all players to interact with