Game Rules

New in GM 0.9. GM 0.10: evolved math rule, new "Float" variable, share/reuse rulesets (copy/paste), new inputs & events, etc. GM 0.11: new "Team" variable, connectors, etc.

NEW GAME MAKER 0.12 INFO COMING SOON! The new release has a lot of amazing features, some of which impact the details on this page. Check back soon for an update, and in the meantime you can see a summary of all the updates in the Changelog.

About

The Game Rules system empowers builders to:

• Build logic more efficiently for greater game performance

• Design new gameplays and compelling mechanics: Tower Defense, Horror / Backrooms, Resource Management, Cooking Simulator, Survival, and more!

• Enhance the functionality of object logic (behaviours and components)

• Guide players better and add game polish

Rule types:

Math

Time

Comparisons

Replace Variable Values

Game Screen

Triggers

Events

Variable use, presets, and templates to learn more:

📗Game Rules Guide

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The Game Rules System

🆕 Using Multiple Gridboards and Game Rules

About

What is it?

The Game Rules system is a visual scripting tool in the Gameplay menu.

It allows you to use and manipulate values such as numbers, text, time, and true/false values.

🔃 Store, modify, and reuse variables

⚖️ Compare values

🎲 Generate random numbers

⏱️ Create timers and stopwatches

ℹ️ Display information in the player's HUD, popup windows, and banners

⌨️ Trigger logic with key or mouse inputs and player entry/exit

What Can I Make?

Create custom mechanics, or use predefined game mechanics called Presets:

Collect Points | Time Trial | Point Race | Combo | Hunger | Poison | Shop

How it Works

Game Rules Window

Controls

Multiple Gridboards

Visualise with Connections

Rules

Rules are a sequence of steps carried out from top to bottom that can be reused in your game.

They offer new possibilities, mechanics, and shortcuts to solve complex problems.

Game Rules will only receive a message from objects if the Broadcast Type is All or Rules.

To decrease a variable, use a negative number in the value change logic box.

Rule Types

Rule Types

Math

Time

Comparisons

Replace Variable Values

Game Screen

Triggers

Events

Click a rule type to expand the list of options. Click on a rule in the list to add it to a gridboard.

Shown: Math rule added to a new ruleset

Logic Boxes: Logical Flow

Trigger a Rule

More Rule Info

Variables

🆕 Team Variable and Multiplayer Use Cases for Variables

About

What Are Variables?

Variables are the backbone of the Game Rules system. Almost every rule can or must work in combination with a variable.

They can be used to store information to build more complex logical systems and provide important information to players.

Create or Repurpose

Variables are automatically created when you use a Preset in Game Rules (more information below) or if you paste a ruleset into a gridboard. You can also create any type of variable you want and change the variable used in a rule.

A variable can be renamed and its value can be changed, but it can not be modified to a different type or be applied differently.

Create the type of variable needed and how it will be applied, replace the old variable in a rule, and delete the old variable.

Variable Types

Player, Team & Global

Variables Window

Use Variables

Rulesets

Rulesets are a way to visually organise a group of rules used for the same game mechanic.

About

How Rules Act in a Ruleset

Rules may be grouped into a Ruleset, but they still act independently when triggered:

• The order in which rules are placed in a ruleset does not change the flow of logic.

• A rule's message Out may trigger another rule in the same ruleset or in a different one.

• Some rules may not send a message Out.

• a rule may trigger another rule in a different gridboard.

Example

The Collect Points ruleset (a Preset) is a gameplay mechanic that includes a chain of two rules (shown in red below) and other rules that act independently of the others.

Example: Collect Points ruleset (a Preset) - click to expand

Managing Rules and Rulesets

Presets

Presets are pre-built rulesets you add to a gridboard with a single click. This is a fast way to set up commonly used game mechanics and customise as needed.

When adding a Preset, all necessary variables and messages are automatically generated.

About

Add then Integrate

Presets are accessed with a button in the Island Menu on the left. Click on a Preset in the list to add it to a selected gridboard.

Customise messages sent/received, variables used, rule names, and more as needed.

Integrate the Preset to communicate with your object logic (behaviours and components) to activate the Preset's mechanics in your Experience.

Game Rules - Presets

Apply a Preset

Export and Import Rulesets

Copy and paste Rulesets with CTRL+C and CTRL+V. Messages and variables are included!

• Paste generated text into external sources like a notepad to share.

• Paste into other Experiences to reuse your Ruleset!

Copy & Paste Rulesets

🆕 Multiplayer Ranking

Experience creators may set up two types of ranking data for players to view:

Local Ranking - Current play session data

Global Ranking - All play session data

A multiplayer Experience must be published to the map or shared to the gallery to view Ranking data during play or on the website.

NO DATE FILTER FOR GLOBAL RANKINGS... YET! Take a snapshot of global rankings at the end of your events for accurate data.

About Ranking

How Ranking is Determined

• Numeric variables (Number, Decimal Number, Time) can be used to create player rankings.

• Up to three variables can be used to sort player ranking data.

• Sorting can be done in ascending or descending order per variable.

How Ranking Data is Displayed

Game Client / Game Maker Gallery

1. Victory/Defeat screen is triggered

2. Local Ranking screen appears

3. Global Ranking screen appears

Ranking Screen (Game Client / Game Maker Gallery)

Experience Page

Global Ranking data updates in real time as Local Ranking data is collected from play sessions.

Experience Page Ranking Tab (Top 100)

About Global Ranking

Ranking Settings

Trigger a Ranking

Examples

Example: Team MVP

Example: Team Results & MVP

If you want to rank by team results and then by each player's data (e.g., highlight the MVP):

• Primary: Team variable

• Secondary: Player variable

Example: Timed Race

Example: Survival Game