Wanted: your Game Logic questions!

[MapMaker Monkey]

Hi all,

As the Story tutorials on the MapMaker website are not ready yet, I would like to ask you folks what your most burning questions are regarding the Game Logic of the MapMaker.

Ask a Game Logic question and we'll provide the answers here and in the next update of the website.

Please keep your question very specific, for example: How do I get an enemy to attack me when I pick up an object?

Only specific Game Logic questions will be answered. This way it will be possible for people to use lots of little answers by 'stitching' them together to make more complex logic sequences.

So, to reiterate, please don't ask: How can I get the door to open after I've killed three guys, reached this location, teleported to the next floor, picked up the ammo, accessed the gun turret room, respawned the zombies, got the jewels and blown up the crates which triggered the final objective?

Keep it simple!

Now fire away!

MMM

[The_Tax_Man]

O.K. heres a question for you: how do you make a timer that counts down through out the level and when it gets to zero you fail objective so and so.

TTM

[MapMaker Monkey]

Originally posted by The_Tax_Man
How do you make a timer that counts down throughout the level and when it gets to zero you fail an objective?

Rather than make the timer go from 10 seconds to zero, you have to make it go from zero to 10 seconds. This has the same effect as far as the player is concerned because they still only have 10 seconds to complete the objective.

In this scenario, if the player does not throw the switch before ten seconds is up, the objective will fail.

There are four distinct Logic Operations in this scenario:

1) When the game starts, start the timer.
2) When the switch is activated, objective is complete.
3) When the timer reaches 10 seconds, objective is failed.
4) When the timer is activated, stop the timer.

To start with, place a Large Open (18) tile on the grid from any tile set.

The instructions list the exact sequence of on-screen buttons you have to press.


LOGIC OPERATION 01
Creating a timer:

Enter Game Logic menu (from Tile menu press left directional button once to highlight Game Logic menu and press Select).

Game Logic
Add New Logic

Select Trigger(s)
Highlight Game Started so that two white dots appear on either side of it.
Done

Select Action(s)
New Action

Create Action
Timer

Choose Timer
New Timer (Show)

Name your timer: Bomb Timer
End

Event
Start

Action Status (Start - Bomb Timer - (Show))
Accept

Select Action(s) (Start Bomb Timer highlighted)
Done

Summary (Game Started - Start Bomb Timer - Logic Operation 1)
Accept


LOGIC OPERATION 02
Setting up the switch:

Game Logic
Add New Logic

Select Trigger(s)
New Trigger

Create Trigger
Object

Choose Object
New Switch

Name the switch: Bomb switch
End
Place (anywhere on tile)

Event
Bomb switch activated

Trigger Status (Bomb switch - Activated)
Accept

Select Trigger(s) (Bomb switch Activated highlighted)
Done

Select Action(s)
New Action

Create Action
Objective

Enter objective name: Activate the switch before the bomb explodes!

Objective (Objective A: Activate the switch before the bomb explodes!)
Accept

Select Action(s) (Objective A Complete highlighted)
Done

Summary (Bomb switch Activated - Objective A Complete - Logic Operation 02)
Accept


LOGIC OPERATION 03
Failing objective when timer reaches 10 seconds:

Game Logic
Add New Logic

Select Trigger(s)
New Trigger

Create Trigger
Timer

Choose Timer
Bomb Timer

Trigger Status
(Bomb Timer (Show) Reaches) 0:10
Accept

Select Trigger(s) (Bomb Timer Reaches 0:10 highlighted)
Done

Select Action(s)
Change Objective A Complete to Objective A Failed and highlight it so that two white dots appear on either side of it.
Done

Summary (Bomb Ti... Reaches 0:10 - Objective A Failed - Logic Operation 03)
Accept


LOGIC OPERATION 04
Stopping the timer when switch is activated:

Game Logic
Add New Logic

Select Trigger(s)
Highlight Bomb switch Activated so that two white dots appear on either side of it.
Done

Select Action(s)
New Action

Create Action
Timer

Choose
Bomb timer

Event
Stop

Action Status (Stop - Bomb timer - (Show))
Accept

Select Action(s)
Highlight Stop Bomb timer so that two white dots appear on either side of it.
Done

Summary (Bomb switch Activated - Stop Bomb timer - Logic Operation 04)
Accept

-------

Exit the Game Logic menu screen. Place a Start Point (from Item menu) anywhere you like near your switch.

Save your map.

Preview the game in Story mode.


-------


If any of this doesn't make sense or doesn't work, let me know. When you're happy with it we'll put it on the MapMaker website.

MMM

[The_Tax_Man]

Thanks I'll try that.

TTM

[Elliott]

Hi,
how would u make a new objective pop up when ur playing instead of all of them pre set out at the start?

example: if u collect a red kaycard and loads of robots just appear how would u make a objective come up like this.

NEW OBJECTIVE:
Destroy the Renforciments.

like it does in the story mode of the game?

[MapMaker Monkey]

Originally posted by Elliott
Hi,
how would u make a new objective pop up when ur playing instead of all of them pre set out at the start?

example: if u collect a red kaycard and loads of robots just appear how would u make a objective come up like this.

NEW OBJECTIVE:
Destroy the Renforciments.

like it does in the story mode of the game?

Hi Elliott,

Unfortunately you cannot have an objective appear halfway through the game in MapMaker - they must be all pre-setup.

MMM

[l3ig_P]

is it possible to make a level similar to beheading the zombies? i tried, but they only respawn 20 times. can you reset that? also, can you have units appear at a specific time, like, if a player goes through a door, suddly bad guys come out from behind him?

[MapMaker Monkey]

Originally posted by l3ig_P
is it possible to make a level similar to beheading the zombies?

Yes - this is possible. The next tutorial we make for the MapMaker website will show you how to do this. I'll let you know when it's finished.

they only respawn 20 times. can you reset that?

You can't reset that - 20 is the maximum respawns allowed per enemy placed. However, if you place several zombie enemies at once (all set to respawn 20 times) that's up to 200 zombies you can have - a nightmare if they're coming at you from different directions in a small space!

can you have units appear at a specific time, like, if a player goes through a door, suddly bad guys come out from behind him?

Yes - use a Location trigger to activate the bad guys. Let me know if you need further explanation of how to use a Location trigger and I'll make a tutorial for that too.

MMM

[Krillin]

I read your tutorial for making the timer and stuff... But, is it possible to create, let's just say 4, switches, and give the character about a minute or so to find and activate all the switches before the bomb explodes?

[The_Tax_Man]

I tryed out the guide for the timer but I've got a small problem, after putting in all the new game logic lines and going to preview map, as soon as the loading bar gets to the end the game locks up, it just stays on 'LOADING'.

NOTE: On the guide you missed out the bit on 'Game Logic 02' where after you hit the switch it stops the timer.

TTM

[MapMaker Monkey]

Originally posted by Krillin
I read your tutorial for making the timer and stuff... But, is it possible to create, let's just say 4, switches, and give the character about a minute or so to find and activate all the switches before the bomb explodes?

Yes - this is possible. Tutorial coming up.

[MapMaker Monkey]

Originally posted by The_Tax_Man
I tryed out the guide for the timer but I've got a small problem, after putting in all the new game logic lines and going to preview map, as soon as the loading bar gets to the end the game locks up, it just stays on 'LOADING'.

What platform are you using - Xbox, PS2 or NGC? I've tested it again on a PS2 and it works fine for me. Is anyone else experiencing problems?

NOTE: On the guide you missed out the bit on 'Game Logic 02' where after you hit the switch it stops the timer.

I've added a new logic operation to tell the timer to stop counting when the switch is activated. Check out Logic Operation 04 in the original tutorial above.

[The_Tax_Man]

I'm on PS2 but I'll try it agen.

TTM

[The_Tax_Man]

Thanks for the tutorial, the switches added new deph to my level!

P.S. Some spawning guards were making my level crash. Pice of advicefor all map makers: If you set up some guards to spawn after completing an objective, if you decide to scrap the objective; CHANGE THE TRIGGER THAT MAKES THEM SPAWN!!! You have been warned.

TTM

[BaikenKenshin]

Just to say this in advance, thanks for all the effort you're putting in to help us out w/ map making. I was wondering if there's anyway to set the levels of objectives.. or are we stuck w/ just main objectives?

[BaikenKenshin]

Forgot one more thing... is there anyway to set a certain start point for story mode maps... if you want to double them as a deathmatch map?

[The_Tax_Man]

Thanks for all the help, but I'm just wondering; when do you think the site will be updated with some new stuff?

TTM

[Captain_Forrest]

Originally posted by The_Tax_Man
I tryed out the guide for the timer but I've got a small problem, after putting in all the new game logic lines and going to preview map, as soon as the loading bar gets to the end the game locks up, it just stays on 'LOADING'.

NOTE: On the guide you missed out the bit on 'Game Logic 02' where after you hit the switch it stops the timer.

TTM

By me it stays on loading too, i must have done something wrong

I'm still very bad in this. I simply put one zombie on respawn and attack me in a singele room. Guess what happens, he arrives, drops dead (like there is no oxygen for him), respawns immediatly drops dead again? wtf is going on, can anyone tell me why that is happening?

[l3ig_P]

thanks for the help. i think i'm starting to understand a little bit more how the whole thing works... seems like you can do whatever you want, but you gotta be discreet, as in, it's not very straight forward. oh well. i'll work on it, and thanks again.

ps, there should be another forum for ts2 help cuz there is like 50 new threads everyday and i always lose track of ones i posted in, and which ones are good, etc.

[Krillin]

Originally posted by MapMaker Monkey


Yes - this is possible. Tutorial coming up.

Thanks, I'll be looking forward to it!

Oh, and dude above me, just add this topic as a favorite, seeing as how it's gonna come in handy a lot! ^_^

[emmersonpoole]

Can you set the logic so that if you die you automatically restart like you would in a death match game?
I am trying to produce some assualt like levels, since the game doesnt feature that many.

[MapMaker Monkey]

Hi BaikenKenshin,

Just to say this in advance, thanks for all the effort you're putting in to help us out w/ map making. I was wondering if there's anyway to set the levels of objectives.. or are we stuck w/ just main objectives?

Thanks for the thanks - I'm trying my best to keep up with all the questions!

I'm not sure what you mean by 'levels of objectives' - could you explain this again?

Forgot one more thing... is there anyway to set a certain start point for story mode maps... if you want to double them as a deathmatch map?

Yes - all maps can contain anything you like. So, if you put a Start Point in, you can play it in Deathmatch mode too.

If you put a Bag in, the Bag Bases and Team Start points, you can also use a single map to play as a BagTag, Capture the Bag, and FlameTag map.

MMM

[MapMaker Monkey]

Originally posted by The_Tax_Man
Thanks for all the help, but I'm just wondering; when do you think the site will be updated with some new stuff?

TTM

All I can say is that we are working on it all the time and that we consider it to be something which will keep growing bigger over time. It won't all suddenly be finished one day - the nature of making maps means that there is always something new to share.

However, you can rest assured that whenever there is an update it will be announced on this forum.

MMM

[MapMaker Monkey]

Originally posted by Captain_Forrest
I simply put one zombie on respawn and attack me in a singele room. Guess what happens, he arrives, drops dead (like there is no oxygen for him), respawns immediatly drops dead again? wtf is going on, can anyone tell me why that is happening?

Zombies are a bit well.. zombieish sometimes and can knock eachother's heads off but the problem you are having sounds weird. All I can think of is that there may be a 'Kill Enemy' trigger somewhere in your Game Logic.

I'd be interested to see if I can reproduce your dying zombie problem - could you describe the Summary for each game logic operation you have?

MMM

[MapMaker Monkey]

Originally posted by l3ig_P
you gotta be discreet, as in, it's not very straight forward.

It is confusing at first but as the old saying goes: "practise makes perfect", so keep at it!

ps, there should be another forum for ts2 help cuz there is like 50 new threads everyday and i always lose track of ones i posted in, and which ones are good, etc.

Check out the Subscribe to this thread button at the bottom of this page. Also - in your Options (in the User CP at the top of the page) there is a button that lets you set whether you automatically subscribe to threads that you post in.

MMM