City Showcase System

• The city showcase system creates cinematic flythrough sequences of Los Santos locations. Unlike character scenes, these are designed for showcasing the city environment.

  Showcase Structure

  {
      name = "Maze Bank Tower",
      baseLocation = vector3(-75.0, -820.0, 320.0),
      playerOffset = -50.0,
      preloadRadius = 200.0,
      sequences = {
          -- Array of camera sequences
      }
  }

  Showcase Properties

  Property	Type	Required	Description
  name	string	Yes	Location name for identification
  baseLocation	vector3	Yes	Central world position of the showcase area
  playerOffset	float	Yes	Z-axis offset for player position (usually negative to hide player)
  preloadRadius	float	Yes	Radius in game units to preload assets/textures
  sequences	table	Yes	Array of camera movement sequences

  Camera Sequences

  City showcase uses the same camera types as scenes but with additional properties:

  sequences = {
      {
          type = "orbit",
          center = vector3(-75.0, -820.0, 220.0),
          radius = 120.0,
          height = 80.0,
          startAngle = 0,
          endAngle = 120,
          duration = 18000,
          cutStart = 4096,  -- Optional: Start offset
          cutEnd = 8096,    -- Optional: End time
          fov = 45.0,
          shake = {amplitude = 0.35, frequency = 1.2, type = "HAND_SHAKE"},
          dof = {near = 50.0, far = 2000.0, strength = 0.6}
      }
  }

  Additional Showcase Camera Types

  slowpan - Gentle panning movement

  {
      type = "slowpan",
      startPosition = vector3(x, y, z),
      endPosition = vector3(x2, y2, z2),
      rotation = vector3(pitch, roll, yaw),
      fov = 45.0,
      duration = 14000
  }

  handheld - Simulated handheld camera

  {
      type = "handheld",
      relativePosition = {x = 1.2, y = 1.8, z = 1.2},
      rotation = vector3(-8.0, 0.0, -140.0),
      fov = 26.0,
      focus = "manual",
      duration = 10000,
      shake = {amplitude = 0.04, frequency = 0.3, type = "HAND_SHAKE"},
      sway = {amplitude = 0.15, frequency = 0.2}
  }

  Timing and Cuts

  The cutStart and cutEnd parameters allow for dynamic camera cuts:

  {
      duration = 20000,     -- Total sequence duration (20 seconds)
      cutStart = 5000,      -- Start showing at 5 seconds
      cutEnd = 15000,       -- Stop showing at 15 seconds
      -- Camera will be active for 10 seconds (5s to 15s)
  }

  This system can be used to create synchronized cuts with music or other timing requirements:

  • Calculate timing based on tempo (e.g., 117 BPM = 512ms per beat)

  • Use multiples of beat duration for cutStart and cutEnd

  • Example: cutStart = 2048 (4 beats), cutEnd = 6144 (12 beats)