ERATO Proceedings Istanbul 2006.pdf - Odeon

3.3 Scripting
To control the simulation events, our software architecture is responsible for mainteance, consistent
simulation and interactive scenario states controlled by python scripts at run-time. Our system relies
on microthreads for spreading the workflow and script execution over several frames. This offers the
ability to describe complete sequences of events as Python scripts. The following listing is an extract
of a script sequence which affects behaviors of digital actors dynamically.
import time
#music has started: people listen
for i in range(len(agents)):
agentName = agents[i]
simulationService.setCurrentState(agentName ,"State_ListenMStart")
while time.time()-val < 45:
#wait for the completion of the music score.
vhdYIELD
#concert finished: applause
for i in range(len(agents)):
agentName = agents[i]
simulationService.setCurrentState(agentName ,"State_PositiveStart")
while time.time()-val < 57:
vhdYIELD
#back to idle
for i in range(len(agents)):
agentName = agents[i]
simulationService.setCurrentState(agentName ,"State_IdleStart")
In effect, virtual characters are associated to animation banks which define sets of animations
connected to human emotions such as being positive, negative, laughing, cryin. Theses emotions are
represented as distinct states within an HFSM system where states are defined using Lua metatables
[Ierusalimschy2005].