MotionCameraComponent

Advanced first-person camera component with integrated curve management, procedural camera animations, height interpolation, and view angle constraints. Features independent camera height tracking, static offset system, and comprehensive debug capabilities.

Requirements

• Character with standard UCapsuleComponent
• MotionPlayerState configured in GameMode (for GAS tag checks)
• Gameplay Tags (optional):
  • Motion.Camera.DisableShake - Disables camera effects when present
• Component Dependencies:
  • Automatically caches owning Character, CapsuleComponent, and PlayerCameraManager
  • Works with any ACharacter subclass

Installation

1. Add UMotionCameraComponent to your Character Blueprint or C++ class
2. Position the camera at eye level relative to the character mesh
3. Configure standing and crouched camera heights
4. Set view angle constraints for first-person gameplay
5. Configure camera target offset curve for pitch-based adjustments
6. The component will automatically detect and cache owner references
7. Other Motion components will automatically integrate with this camera

Core Functionality

Functions

Core Camera Functions

Function	Parameters	Return Type	Description
AreCameraEffectsEnabled()	None	bool	Check if camera effects are enabled (checks Motion.Camera.DisableShake tag)
GetOwningCharacter()	None	ACharacter*	Get the owning character (cached reference)
GetOwningCapsuleComponent()	None	UCapsuleComponent*	Get the owning capsule component (cached reference)

Camera Height Management

Function	Parameters	Return Type	Description
SetTargetCameraHeight()	float NewHeight, bool bInterpolate = true	void	Set target camera height with optional interpolation
GetInterpolatedCameraHeight()	None	float	Get current interpolated camera height
UpdateCameraHeight()	float DeltaTime	void	Update camera height interpolation (called each frame)
SetCameraToStandingHeight()	bool bInterpolate = true	void	Set camera to standing height
SetCameraToCrouchedHeight()	bool bInterpolate = true	void	Set camera to crouched height
ConfigureCameraHeights()	float NewStandingHeight, float NewCrouchedHeight	void	Configure camera heights for standing and crouched positions
GetBaseEyeHeight()	None	float	Get the base eye height offset

Curve Management System

Function	Parameters	Return Type	Description
AddMotionCurve()	const FStructMotionCurve& MotionCurve	int32	Add a motion curve for camera effects
RemoveMotionCurve()	const FString& Identifier	void	Remove a motion curve by identifier
SetMotionCurvePaused()	const FString& Identifier, bool bPaused	void	Pause or unpause a motion curve
ResetMotionCurve()	const FString& Identifier	void	Reset a motion curve to its starting position
GetActiveMotionCurves()	None	const TArray<FStructMotionCurve>&	Get all active motion curves
FindCurveIndexByIdentifier()	const FString& Identifier	int32	Find a curve by its identifier

Static Offset System

Function	Parameters	Return Type	Description
AddStaticLocationOffset()	const FString& Identifier, const FVector& Offset	void	Add a static location offset that persists until removed
AddStaticRotationOffset()	const FString& Identifier, const FRotator& Offset	void	Add a static rotation offset that persists until removed
RemoveStaticLocationOffset()	const FString& Identifier	void	Remove a static location offset
RemoveStaticRotationOffset()	const FString& Identifier	void	Remove a static rotation offset
ClearAllStaticOffsets()	None	void	Clear all static offsets
GetCameraTargetOffset()	None	const FRuntimeVectorCurve&	Get the camera target offset curve for external calculations

Internal Processing Functions

Function	Parameters	Return Type	Description
UpdateMotionCurves()	float DeltaTime	void	Update all active motion curves
CalculateCurveTransforms()	None	void	Calculate the combined transform from all active curves
GetCombinedStaticLocationOffset()	None	FVector	Get the combined location offset from all static offsets
GetCombinedStaticRotationOffset()	None	FRotator	Get the combined rotation offset from all static offsets
PrintDebugInformation()	None	void	Print debug information if enabled

Overridden Camera Functions

Function	Parameters	Return Type	Description
GetCameraView()	float DeltaTime, FMinimalViewInfo& DesiredView	void	Override camera view calculation with Motion enhancements
GetEditorPreviewInfo()	float DeltaTime, FMinimalViewInfo& ViewOut	bool	Editor preview information with debug visualization

Configuration Properties

Camera Height Configuration

Property	Type	Default	Range	Description
StandingCameraHeight	float	160.0f	-	Camera height when character is standing
CrouchedCameraHeight	float	80.0f	-	Camera height when character is crouched
BaseEyeHeight	float	-10.0f	-	Base eye height offset from capsule top
HeightInterpolationSpeed	float	12.0f	0.1 - 50.0	Speed of camera height interpolation

View Angle Constraints

Property	Type	Default	Description
ViewPitchMin	float	-89.0f	Minimum pitch angle (looking down)
ViewPitchMax	float	89.0f	Maximum pitch angle (looking up)
ViewYawMin	float	-359.99f	Minimum yaw angle
ViewYawMax	float	359.99f	Maximum yaw angle
ViewRollMin	float	-359.99f	Minimum roll angle
ViewRollMax	float	359.99f	Maximum roll angle

Camera Target Configuration

Property	Type	Description
CameraTargetOffset	FRuntimeVectorCurve	Camera target offset based on pitch angle

Debug Configuration

Property	Type	Default	Description
bShowDebugInformation	bool	true	Whether to display debug information on screen and in logs
bLogCurveDetails	bool	false	Whether to log detailed curve information (performance intensive)

Read-Only State Properties

Cached References

Property	Type	Description
OwningCharacter	ACharacter*	Owning character (cached for performance)
OwningCapsuleComponent	UCapsuleComponent*	Owning capsule component (cached for performance)
OwningPlayerCameraManager	APlayerCameraManager*	Owning player camera manager (cached for performance)
DefaultCapsuleHalfHeight	float	Default capsule half height (cached for performance)

Camera Height State

Property	Type	Description
CurrentCameraHeight	float	Current interpolated camera height (independent of capsule)
TargetCameraHeight	float	Target camera height for interpolation
bIsInterpolatingHeight	bool	Whether camera height is currently interpolating

Curve and Offset State

Property	Type	Description
ActiveMotionCurves	TArray<FStructMotionCurve>	All active motion curves affecting the camera
StaticLocationOffsets	TMap<FString, FVector>	Static location offsets that persist until manually removed
StaticRotationOffsets	TMap<FString, FRotator>	Static rotation offsets that persist until manually removed
CameraLocationFromCurves	FVector	Combined location offset from all active curves
CameraRotationFromCurves	FRotator	Combined rotation offset from all active curves

Motion Curves

Motion curves define procedural camera animations with full control over translation and rotation:

FStructMotionCurve CurveData;
CurveData.Identifier = "WalkBob";
CurveData.TranslationCurve = LoadObject<UCurveVector>(...);
CurveData.RotationCurve = LoadObject<UCurveVector>(...);
CurveData.Duration = 1.0f;
CurveData.PlayRate = 1.0f;
CurveData.bLoop = true;
CurveData.bStartPaused = false;

int32 CurveIndex = CameraComponent->AddMotionCurve(CurveData);

// Runtime control
CameraComponent->SetMotionCurvePaused("WalkBob", true);
CameraComponent->ResetMotionCurve("WalkBob");
CameraComponent->RemoveMotionCurve("WalkBob");

Curve Properties

• Identifier - Unique string ID for the curve
• TranslationCurve - XYZ position offsets over time
• RotationCurve - Pitch/Yaw/Roll offsets over time
• Duration - Total curve duration in seconds
• PlayRate - Playback speed multiplier
• bLoop - Whether curve repeats
• bStartPaused - Start in paused state
• CurrentTime - Current playback time (automatically managed)
• bIsPaused - Current pause state

Static Offset System

Static offsets provide persistent camera adjustments that remain until explicitly removed:

// Add weapon ADS offset
CameraComponent->AddStaticLocationOffset("ADS", FVector(10, 5, -2));
CameraComponent->AddStaticRotationOffset("ADS", FRotator(-2, 0, 0));

// Multiple offsets can be active simultaneously
CameraComponent->AddStaticLocationOffset("Lean", FVector(0, 15, 0));
CameraComponent->AddStaticLocationOffset("Breathing", FVector(0, 0, 1));

// Remove specific offsets
CameraComponent->RemoveStaticLocationOffset("ADS");
CameraComponent->RemoveStaticRotationOffset("ADS");

// Clear all offsets at once
CameraComponent->ClearAllStaticOffsets();

// Query combined offsets
FVector CombinedLocation = CameraComponent->GetCombinedStaticLocationOffset();
FRotator CombinedRotation = CameraComponent->GetCombinedStaticRotationOffset();

Offset Processing

• Additive: All static offsets are added together
• Persistent: Remain active until explicitly removed
• Named: Each offset identified by unique string
• Independent: Location and rotation offsets managed separately

Camera Height Management

The component provides independent camera height tracking with smooth interpolation:

// Standard height transitions
CameraComponent->SetCameraToStandingHeight(true);  // Interpolated
CameraComponent->SetCameraToCrouchedHeight(true);   // Interpolated

// Custom height with interpolation control
CameraComponent->SetTargetCameraHeight(50.0f, true);   // Smooth transition
CameraComponent->SetTargetCameraHeight(120.0f, false); // Instant change

// Configure base heights
CameraComponent->ConfigureCameraHeights(180.0f, 90.0f); // Standing, Crouched

// Query current state
float CurrentHeight = CameraComponent->GetInterpolatedCameraHeight();
float BaseEyeHeight = CameraComponent->GetBaseEyeHeight();
bool IsInterpolating = CameraComponent->bIsInterpolatingHeight;

Height System Features

• Independent Tracking: Camera height separate from capsule height
• Smooth Interpolation: Configurable interpolation speed
• State Awareness: Tracks interpolation progress
• Base Eye Height: Offset from capsule top for fine-tuning

Advanced Features

View Angle Constraints

Comprehensive view angle clamping system:

// Configure view limits
CameraComponent->ViewPitchMin = -80.0f;   // Limit looking down
CameraComponent->ViewPitchMax = 80.0f;    // Limit looking up
CameraComponent->ViewYawMin = -180.0f;    // Limit left turn
CameraComponent->ViewYawMax = 180.0f;     // Limit right turn
CameraComponent->ViewRollMin = -45.0f;    // Limit left roll
CameraComponent->ViewRollMax = 45.0f;     // Limit right roll

Camera Target Offset Curve

Pitch-based camera targeting adjustments:

// Configure pitch-based offset curve
FRuntimeVectorCurve& TargetOffset = CameraComponent->CameraTargetOffset;
TargetOffset.GetRichCurveConst(0)->AddKey(-90.0f, 10.0f);  // Looking down
TargetOffset.GetRichCurveConst(0)->AddKey(0.0f, 0.0f);     // Level
TargetOffset.GetRichCurveConst(0)->AddKey(90.0f, -10.0f);  // Looking up

or as curve asset:

Integration with Motion Components

Motion components automatically integrate with the camera:

• Walk Component - Adds subtle walking bob curves
• Sprint Component - Applies sprint shake curve with speed modulation
• Jump Component - Jump takeoff and landing camera effects
• Crouch Component - Manages height transitions automatically

Processing Priority System

When multiple effects are active:

1. Motion Curves: All curves contribute additively
2. Static Offsets: Applied after curve processing
3. Height Interpolation: Applied to final position
4. View Angle Clamping: Final transform validation

Camera Effects Control

Camera effects can be controlled via multiple methods:

// Gameplay tag control (automatic)
bool EffectsEnabled = CameraComponent->AreCameraEffectsEnabled();
// Checks for Motion.Camera.DisableShake tag on ASC

// Individual curve control
CameraComponent->SetMotionCurvePaused("WalkBob", true);
CameraComponent->RemoveMotionCurve("SprintShake");

// Global debug toggle
CameraComponent->bShowDebugInformation = false;