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Tutorial How to write a Game Plugin for SimTools v3.0 - API documentation

Discussion in 'Tutorials and Tips by the Developer' started by yobuddy, Apr 6, 2022.

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  1. Blastertoad

    Blastertoad Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, AC motor
    Compiling the UDP example ( Dirt Rally ) and using the plugin tester tool I just repeatably get error "selected path is not valid for patching". I have run the game, and confirmed the files listed in source are present in directory.

    Also how do you actualy parse the data? When I sniff packet from Dirt Rally I get non human readable mess.
    Then in source it is seemingly magically parsed to the defined struct via DirectCast.

    The game I am looking to do a simple plugin for just provides 6 comma seperated floats. I get making a matching struct but not how to parse byte array into stuct.
    Blastertoad, Nov 24, 2023
    #21
  2. yobuddy

    yobuddy Well-Known Member Staff Member Moderator SimAxe Beta Tester SimTools Developer Gold Contributor

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    Yes, the data comes in a bytes and they get cast into it's structure.

    Sounds like vector36?
    If so we finished that one for you..
    https://simtools.us/plugin/?varname=1021&color=0e97dd

    But as an example, we can get the data like this.
    Dim strArray As String() = Split(strReturnData, ",")
    • Useful Useful x 1
    yobuddy, Dec 1, 2023
    #22
  3. Blastertoad

    Blastertoad Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, AC motor
    @yobuddy
    Looking to build a plugin for test app outputing udp with values in json. In this case is there any benefit to using a struct? Could I not just get recieved upd bytes as json and directly query the json object skipping mapping values to struct? Is there any benefit of the struct in this setup?
    Blastertoad, Dec 2, 2023
    #23
  4. yobuddy

    yobuddy Well-Known Member Staff Member Moderator SimAxe Beta Tester SimTools Developer Gold Contributor

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    The struct method is very fast, as you send the data as binary, and then cast the received bytes into the structure for easy var access. But there are a lot of ways that it can be done. 6 comma separated floats works, and so will a json object. It will work just fine.
    Take care!
    • Informative Informative x 1
    yobuddy, Dec 2, 2023
    #24
  5. MatteKarla

    MatteKarla New Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF
    What versions of .NET are supported when creating a game plugin?
    MatteKarla, Dec 3, 2023
    #25
  6. adog6000

    adog6000 New Member

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    When I compile the DirtRally example plugin and try to test it in the plugin tester I get "not a valid game plugin" error popup.
    adog6000, Feb 8, 2024
    #26
  7. adog6000

    adog6000 New Member

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    NM I used the Release configuration and it worked cheers.
    adog6000, Feb 8, 2024
    #27
  8. adog6000

    adog6000 New Member

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    I've got the plugin loading in the tester and I'm assigning values to _MotionOutputs, the tester shows the game as active, but I only see 0 for the motion output values @yobuddy. I've tested the UDP receive code standalone and can confirm that my data object is populating with values which I then assign to _MotionOutputs properties. What am I missing?
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 9, 2024
    adog6000, Feb 9, 2024
    #28
  9. adog6000

    adog6000 New Member

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    Even if I hardcode values in the plugin like:

    'Motion
    _Motion_Outputs._Yaw = 1.56 'mbsData.rotationY
    _Motion_Outputs._Roll = 2 'mbsData.rotationZ
    _Motion_Outputs._Pitch = 3 'mbsData.rotationX

    The plugin tester still only shows 0.
    adog6000, Feb 9, 2024
    #29
  10. FaseTechEmployeeAccount1

    FaseTechEmployeeAccount1 New Member

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    Hello - I've made my own GamePlugin from the DirtyRally template (I'm using UDP for telemetry data) - When I install the GamePlugin and launch it from SimTools v3, it only runs the game up, but doesn't show in SimTools that it's running.

    What am I missing? Is there a specific code line I need to write, in order to tell SimTools that i'm running a game?

    Also ran the GamePlugin on the Tester and it works as expected. I get the UDP packets from my game into the Tester.
    FaseTechEmployeeAccount1, Aug 15, 2024
    #30
  11. yobuddy

    yobuddy Well-Known Member Staff Member Moderator SimAxe Beta Tester SimTools Developer Gold Contributor

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    How are you launching the game plugin, with a double click of the play button? Maybe you have a wrong process name? It's hard to say without he code to look at.
    yobuddy, Aug 15, 2024
    #31
  12. FaseTechEmployeeAccount1

    FaseTechEmployeeAccount1 New Member

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    I figured it out - I was using SimTools on a computer that wasn't setup with an actual motion simulator. Thus not allowing me to run the GamePlugin (Sorry for the inconvenience)
    • Informative Informative x 2
    FaseTechEmployeeAccount1, Aug 16, 2024
    #32
  13. FaseTechEmployeeAccount1

    FaseTechEmployeeAccount1 New Member

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    New challenge encountered: So everything works for my GamePlugin except one thing. It installs and can run along with the application/game automatically with SimTools 3. However it doesn't seem SimTools 3 receives data from my game.

    Weird thing is i've tested the GamePlugin on the "Game_PluginTester" app which yobuddy provided. And everything works there. The data gets received and assigned to their destinated motion output variables.

    Check the zip file I send along this comment for the code.

    I'm completely new on the field of writing GamePlugins (And anything related to Motion Sim Software). So forgive me for my low knowledge on the field

    Attached Files:

    FaseTechEmployeeAccount1, Aug 16, 2024
    #33
  14. FaseTechEmployeeAccount1

    FaseTechEmployeeAccount1 New Member

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    Upon looking more in-depth of my code. I realize I set the " _Status_Outputs._OutputActive" field to true when I start the game, and never change it to false until I use GameStop.

    Is this field " _Status_Outputs._OutputActive" supposed to be switching between true & false upon receiving UDP packets. Or should it remain on/true at all times when the game i live?
    FaseTechEmployeeAccount1, Aug 19, 2024
    #34
  15. FaseTechEmployeeAccount1

    FaseTechEmployeeAccount1 New Member

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    Alright I figured out my issues - It does work. Just didn't realize I needed to adjust Axis Limiting and set them away from zero on min & max values

    [​IMG]
    FaseTechEmployeeAccount1, Aug 19, 2024
    #35
  16. yobuddy

    yobuddy Well-Known Member Staff Member Moderator SimAxe Beta Tester SimTools Developer Gold Contributor

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    Sorry for the late replay, we have a big update going out tomorrow, and we have been busy with the manual and videos for the new GoPro2VideoRide app.

    You want it to be switching, so its false when in the menus, and is only active when on the track in the game.

    Most codemaster games only send UDP packets when your actually on the track and racing, other games have a variable for racing status, so whatever works depending on whats available.
    Hope that helps,
    yobuddy
    • Like Like x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
    yobuddy, Aug 19, 2024
    #36
  17. FaseTechEmployeeAccount1

    FaseTechEmployeeAccount1 New Member

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    Definitely helps. Thanks a lot
    • Like Like x 1
    FaseTechEmployeeAccount1, Aug 20, 2024
    #37
  18. Bacon2002

    Bacon2002 Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    SCN6, Motion platform
    Hi,
    I am looking to write a UDP plugin for Simtoolsv3, it is for a an application rather than a game.
    The application enables a user to remotely control a drone or rc vehicle over a radio control link (ELRS). The RC link provides return telemetry from the drone back to the application in much the same way as game with roll, pitch and yaw that is output (in degrees) over UDP.
    As a starting point I am trying to compile the example DirtRally plugin but I am getting an error message - Type 'IPlugin_Game_v3' is not defined.
    Earlier in this thread I see someone else noted the same error when compiling the code, they described how they fixed it but I didn't understand exactly and IU was hoping someone could explain what I need to change in order to resoilve the error.
    Many thanks,
    David
    Bacon2002, Nov 21, 2024
    #38
  19. Bacon2002

    Bacon2002 Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    SCN6, Motion platform
    I worked out the fix for error message - Type 'IPlugin_Game_v3' is not defined.
    Using Visual Studio - go to the project properties (right click on the project) select properties and then choose References, then "reference path" and add the Simtools directory - C:\Program Files (x86)\SimTools3
    Hope this helps someone
    • Informative Informative x 1
    Bacon2002, Nov 21, 2024
    #39
  20. yobuddy

    yobuddy Well-Known Member Staff Member Moderator SimAxe Beta Tester SimTools Developer Gold Contributor

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    Hi @Bacon2002,
    I believe you only need to update the path to the Game_PluginAPI_v3 file, but adding the folder works also.

    Have you seen the RcRider project? It receives telemetry data over a radio setup to deliver telemetry to SimTools (v2). If you want to PM me with info about your project, I may be able to help more.

    We are also working on a RcRider for v3. We have just finished laying out the pcb for the custom rc receiver. I hope to have more info about the project soon.
    Take care,
    yobuddy
    yobuddy, Nov 21, 2024
    #40
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