I need help with this script. I want to make it so that when you press the space key the light gets brighter then gets dark again. Here is what I have so far.

Questions & Answers
1

pragma strict

function Start () {

}

function Update () {

if(Input.GetKeyDown(KeyCode.Space))

light.intensity = 5;

light.range = 20;
}

//if you could please explain what you did and why. I have just started learning Unity script.

2

This is a breakdown of how your script is running.

Update is called every ‘frame’.

Check if space has just been pressed (not being held).

intensity = 5 …

intensity = 20 …

so Immediately, you have changed the value twice.

You want something that can remember 2 types of ‘state’ (a condition that can remember on/off)

There is something called a boolean that is a variable type, it can hold a value called true or false.

So now there is something that you can use, and check it’s state, like a light switch (but yours is a touch-lamp) =]

Up is ON (true) , down is OFF (false)

Here’s how to write a boolean : var myLightSwitch : boolean = false;

Then, to change it in the script : myLightSwitch = false;

So now before changing the switch you have to check “am i on or off (true or false)?”

this can be confusing at first, but is very easy.

normally an if would look like : if (myLightSwitch == true) { do stuff;}

but for true what you will see written is : if (myLightSwitch) { do stuff;} . this is the same as saying myLightSwitch == true

for false what you will see written is : if (!myLightSwitch) { do stuff;} . Note the ! mark this is like saying if( Not myLightSwitch is true )

SO put it all together (make a new script, copy-paste the following code, check the comments in the script) :

#pragma strict

// Declare Variables
public var myLightSwitch : boolean = false; // public, so you can see it in the Inspector
private var theIntensity : int; // private, so you can Not see it in the Inspector

function Start() 
{
    // Assign values to Variables
    theIntensity = 0;
    if (myLightSwitch == true) // check if myLightSwitch was changed to true in the Inspector at start
    {
        theIntensity = 1; // light is on
    }
    light.intensity = theIntensity;
}

function Update() 
{
    if (Input.GetKeyDown(KeyCode.Space))
    {
        // check if light is On or Off
        if (myLightSwitch) // if (TRUE), light is ON. ** Remember that (!myLightSwitch) means if (FALSE)
        {
            theIntensity = 0; // light off
            light.intensity = theIntensity;
            myLightSwitch = false; // change boolean to now false (off)
        }
        else // did not fill the condition set in the above if statement (no it wasn't true)
        {
            theIntensity = 1; // light on
            light.intensity = theIntensity;
            myLightSwitch = true; // flip the switch !
        }
    }
}

hope this helps =]