Changing the cameras view. Why isn't this easy?

[mattman9]

Ok, here's the disclaimer. I'm new to Unreal 3 and everything that goes with it. Including unrealscript, and unreal editor. I reserve the right to be a nOOb.


I am not a programmer. I try to do my best with tutorials, books, and videos, but I know this only goes so far.
I've done enough mutator tutorials in the past week that I now feel like I can write my own.
I have my programming environment set up just the way I want it. I use Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Shell with nFringe. I have all my file paths correct. I know how to subclass existing UT classes to make mutators. There are ALOT of things I feel I can mod(see mutators). Because there are alot of examples of mutator mods out there.

Why, oh why is it so hard to change the camera view angle in this game!? Why are there a million tutorials, mods and videos showing how to make a mutator mod to make your Stinger shoot Nukes, and no good, up to date references to changing the camera view in UT3?

The number one item I wanted to change with the Unreal Editor was the camera view. I honestly thought it would be easy. I read some tutorials on making mutator mods and thought to myself...'If changing the aspects of game play and actors is this easy, then changing the camera should be cake!'. How wrong I was...

I've spent so many hours(days) trying to figure this out that it's embarrassing. I'm afraid to tell people because I don't want them to think I'm 'special'.

I'm sorry I am ranting.

I guess my question is this...
Why aren't there any 'good' tutorials on explaining what the hell is happening in the Pawn, PlayerController, and UTPlayerController classes??????
Such as, which of those classes do I have to call to change the view? I've gone as far as de-compiling mods that allready have changed views(such as top down and action rpg views) and trying to find out how they did it.
It seems like one mod will call Pawn.uc while another will call PlayerController.uc, while a tutorial will tell you to call UTPlayerController.uc...!!!
What gives!
What valuable piece of information am I missing??
Do I compile this just like a mutator mod?
If I think I did change the camera view, how do I compile it?

I've ran across some tutorials (chimeric, joshuawin, and even udn.epicgames) that try to explain it. They are either out date, or do a VERY poor job at explaining what is happening in the class.

I know that it is possible to change the view. That is what is frustrating!
Unreal 3 has been out for how long?? Why isn't there any good documentation on changing the camera view(top down, side view, action rpg, arena shooter, 3rd person, any view other than the default)???

Did I miss the easy to use drag and drop camera actor class in the unreal editor? And if there isn't one, why the hell not!?

Please, please, someone explain this whole thing to me. Point me in the right direction, or just tell me I'm an idiot. Just help...!

I think I need to take a break from the puter...

[Angel_Mapper]

simulated event GetPlayerViewPoint(out vector POVLocation, out Rotator POVRotation)
{
super.GetPlayerViewPoint(POVLocation, POVRotation);

// Whatever you set POVLocation and POVRotation to here, that's where the camera will be.
}

[Bi()ha2arD]

doesn't that **** with where shots will hit and stuff like that? (unless bcenteredweaponfire=true)

[Angel_Mapper]

Baby steps.

[RoosterX]

as far as i can remember their is a tutorial on 3d buzz for this?