Operating the n64prev Previewer

Operating the n64prev Previewer

Common Methods of Operation

Control Pad and Start Button: Manipulate the Previewer menus
A Button: Plays the animation
B Button: Plays the animation in reverse

Two methods are used to operate the Previewer

1. Track Ball

The displayed object is projected inside a virtual trackball so that by rotating the trackball the object can be rotated, enabling it to be viewed from any angle.

The Control Stick and Z Button are used to emulate the manipulation of a track ball. Pulling the Z Button is like touching the track ball. If the Control Stick is manipulated at the same time the Z Button is pulled, the model will rotate.

Holding down the Control Stick while letting go of the Z Button enables the model to continue to rotate.

Moving the Control Stick up or down while pushing the R Button increases or decreases the distance from the camera to the model.

The four C Buttons are used for X, Y parallel movement of the model. Please use caution due to the accelerated motion.

Use the four C Buttons while pushing the R Button to fine-tune the displayed position.

Pull down the Control Stick while pushing the L Button to adjust X, L scaling.

Pull down the Control Stick while pushing both the L and R Buttons to adjust Z scaling.

2. Helicopter Cruise

The camera can travel around the perimeter of the object and look around as if in a virtual helicopter.

The Control Stick works like a joystick to control direction. Tilt the stick horizontally to change direction in the XZ plane. This also has some effect on camera angle.

The amount of vertical tilt moves the camera direction in a range between the zenith and directly below.

Use the L and R Buttons to respectively move toward and retreat from the camera direction.

Use the Control Pad Up and Down Buttons to respectively shift gears up and down. There are a total of six speeds, and movement begins in third speed.

Use the C Buttons for vertical climb/descent relative to camera direction, or for left/right parallel movement. You can switch between these two methods of operation by using the Previewer menus.

Manipulating the n64prev Previewer Menus

In the n64prev Previewer's initial state, the menus are not displayed. To display the Main Menu, press the START Button. The selected item is displayed in red. Other items are displayed in white.

Use the Control Pad Up and Down Buttons to move between menu items.
For items that involve the setting of numeric values, use the Control Pad Left Button to decrease the value, and the Right Button to increase it.
Use the START Button to select an item.

The Main Menu contains the following items:

OBJECT
CAMERA
CONTROL
LIGHT
FOG
BG COLOR
ANIMATION
VIDEO
EXIT
Select EXIT to close the Main Menu.

[OBJECT Menu]

When the OBJECT item is selected, the OBJECT Menu is displayed. The OBJECT Menu contains the following items.

SCENE/NINTENDO
This item is used to toggle between SCENE and NINTENDO. SCENE displays the scene, while NINTENDO displays the N64 logo.
RESET
Resets the state of the object. The SCENE object is selected, resetting the object's position, direction and scale to their initial states.
EXIT
Closes the OBJECT menu.

[CAMERA Menu]

CONTROL/SCENE
This item is used to toggle between CONTROL and SCENE. When SCENE is selected the scene camera is used (if possible). When CONTROL is selected the camera that can be manipulated by the controller is used.
RESET
Resets the camera state. Selecting CONTROL resets the camera's position, direction and scale to their initial states.
EXIT
Closes the CAMERA menu.

[CONTROL Menu]

CAMERA
Moves the camera with the controller.
OBJECT
Moves the object with the controller.
LIGHT1
Moves light source 1 with the controller.
LIGHT2
Moves light source 2 with the controller.
LIGHT3
Moves light source 3 with the controller.
LIGHT4
Moves light source 4 with the controller.
LIGHT5
Moves light source 5 with the controller.
LIGHT6
Moves light source 6 with the controller.
LIGHT7
Moves light source 7 with the controller.
TRACKBALL/CRUISE
Switches between the two Previewer methods of operation.
EXIT
Closes the CONTROL menu.

[LIGHT Menu]

DEFAULT/SCENE
DEFAULT uses the light source set by n64prev. SCENE uses the scene's light source setting, so in this case light sources 1 to 7 are invalid.
AMBIENT
Sets the ambient light.
LIGHT1 COLOR
Sets the color of light source 1.
LIGHT2 COLOR
Sets the color of light source 2.
LIGHT3 COLOR
Sets the color of light source 3.
LIGHT4 COLOR
Sets the color of light source 4.
LIGHT5 COLOR
Sets the color of light source 5.
LIGHT6 COLOR
Sets the color of light source 6.
LIGHT7 COLOR
Sets the color of light source 7.
RESET
Resets the color and direction of all light sources to their initial settings.
EXIT
Closes the LIGHT menu.

[FOG Menu]

OFF/ON
Switches fog ON/OFF.
R, G, B, A
Specifies the Fog color.
NEAR, FAR
Specifies Fog distance.
RESET
Resets the Fog parameters to their initial settings.
EXIT
Closes the FOG menu.

[BG COLOR Menu]

R, G, B
Specifies the background color.
RESET
Resets the background color to the initial setting.
EXIT
Closes the BG COLOR menu.

[ANIMATION Menu]

TOGGLE/STEP
Determines the behavior of the A and B Buttons. In TOGGLE mode, the Buttons toggle between playing and stopping the animation. In STEP mode, the Buttons send the animation forward/backward 1 frame.
EXIT
Closes the ANIMATION menu.

[VIDEO Menu]

GAMMA OFF/ON
Determines whether gamma compensation is ON/OFF.
GAMMA DITHER OFF/ON
Determines whether gamma dither is ON/OFF.
DIVOT OFF/ON
Determines whether divot is ON/OFF.
DITHER FILTER OFF/ON
Determines whether dither filter is ON/OFF.
EXIT
Closes the VIDEO menu.