The utility of any asset depends on how it is constructed in VoxEdit, what Attributes are created when it is uploaded or minted (for equipment), and how it is brought to life in Game Maker with logic.
What is an Entity?
An Entity is anything you can place in your Experience in Game Maker, including:
Blocks - solid and liquid terrain (logic may not be applied)
Assets - VoxEdit creations that can be minted and sold as NFTs, brought to life in Game Maker including characters, props, passes, and equipment. The Sandbox has provided a variety of free Basic assets in the Game Maker library that you may use in your Experiences.
Logic Assets - invisible assets with no collisions that can have logic applied like a normal asset
Presets - one or more objects with custom logic and location data saved for reuse or spawning
Equipment is a special asset that must be made with a template to work correctly.
Asset Categories
Characters - non-player characters (NPCs) such as humans, animals, robots, etc.
Props - static or interactive objects from buildings to buttons
Passes - an NFT that will grant players access to a gated Experience
Equipment - items applied to the player's avatar to change appearance or gameplay stats
Equipment can alter a player's stats when applied to the avatar. The effect depends on the Catalyst and Attribute Points applied.
Ownership
The Sandbox owns Basic assets in Game Maker, but you may use them in your Experiences.
Creators own assets they make and upload for their own Game Maker projects. These do not need to be minted as NFTs even when publishing your Experience to LAND.
Creators and players own NFT assets they purchase on The Sandbox Marketplace and can use them when creating or playing Experiences.
Asset that are placed as objects can have logic applied that allows for player interaction, communication with other objects, connection with quests/objectives, use with gameplay settings, and in-game utility via game rules. Overview: Logic & Gameplay.
Any asset can be made interactive in various ways depending on logic set up in Game Maker.
Game Maker now offers over 100 visual effects that Experience builders can apply to objects and sometimes player Avatars.
Many VFX have customization options like color, size, motion, etc., which Experience creators will likely prefer to purchasing assets with voxel particles built in. However, a minimalist use of particles may improve aesthetics for some assets
Creating Assets
Visit the Asset Guide for creative considerations and recommendations to build specific asset types.
With VoxEdit, you can create Assets from scratch or use templates with built-in animations to save time. Visit the Asset Guide to explore design recommendations for a variety of content types including scenery, NPCs (non-player characters), 2D/3D art, and more!
Blocks are a different kind of entity that can be made in the Block Editor.
EQUIPMENT NOTE
Equipment is a special class of assets made with VoxEdit equipment templates, which can be animated. This is the only type of asset that players may apply to their avatars. When worn by a player, equipment can modify appearance and/or stats.
The Anatomy of an Asset
Assets may be static or have moving parts. Even the simplest assets can be dynamic when Game Maker's plug-and-play logic is applied.
Asset Files
PNG - a thumbnail image of the asset
VXM - a model file, which is the smallest part of what makes an asset
VXR - a file containing data for a rigged asset using multiple models
VXA - a file containing data for one of an asset's animations, which may be static or moving
Simple Assets
A single model's data
Difficulty
Beginner, Easy
Characteristics
1 VXM model
1 collider
Players CAN NOT enter empty spaces
Common Uses
Simple static objects like building exteriors, statues, furniture, etc
Notes
Also called "models," which can be used to make compound or animated assets
All voxels align to a single XYZ grid ("blocky" as seen in the example image)
Equipment is a special asset class allowing players to apply it to their avatars. It can modify their appearance and impact gameplay by changing their stats.
Equipment MUST be created using a template in order for the ecosystem to recognise it and make it a wearable item during gameplay. Equipment templates will NOT work if they are unlocked.
Visit the Equipment section of the Asset Guide for creative considerations and recommendations.
Equipment can be applied (worn) in 6 slots on a player's Avatar:
Left Hand
Right Hand
Head
Chest
Arms
Legs
Equipment can be applied in Single and Multiplayer Experiences. It can only visible for medium human avatars due to fit, butplayer stats are still affected by its Attributes. Players can also choose to make their equipment visible or not.
In Game Maker and the Game Client, players double click or drag-and-drop to use weapons and wearable equipment
Equipment can modify gameplay via Attributes chosen by its creator when uploaded to their Workspace. These properties carry over when it is minted as an NFT.
An asset does NOT need to be minted as an NFT if the creator plans to use it only in their own Experiences.
Once an asset is uploaded, it appears in your Game MakerLibrary so it's ready to place and apply logic.
Monetisation
You DO NOT need to mint your VoxEdit creations as NFTs to use them in your own Experiences.
There are three ways to monetise your creations today (see Monetistion for full detail):
Selling Assets - Mint & List Assets to Sell as an independent artist or as an Experience publisher with a monetisation strategy that involves selling NFTs.
NFT Sensor - Use this component in Game Maker to require NFT ownership to trigger the gameplay logic you want. This unlocks huge potential to design unique player experiences within one game based on which NFTs players own.
A Catalyst is special NFT that is burned when minting an asset into an NFT to define its rarity. One Catalyst is required per NFT created. You do not need to own a Catalyst NFT to create a Draft asset to use in your own Experiences.
The more rare the Catalyst, the more Attributes Points will be available to apply to equipment assets when minting an asset as an NFT to sell or creating a Draft asset for use in your own Experiences. This is done when uploading an asset to your Workspaces.
How to Create Attributes
Attributes are created when an asset is uploaded to Workspaces for testing or use in your own Experiences. This does not require minting the asset, for example, if you plan to use your custom assets in your own Experiences. You can modify the asset details up until it is minted as an NFT.
ASSETS FOR PLAYERS
Players may purchase equipment NFTs on the Marketplace and use it in most Experiences. They may also purchase assets as passes to gated Experiences.
Some players will purchase powerful equipment to complete your Experience more quickly or make it a bit easier if they get stuck. Some players will collect attractive Equipment as accessories regardless of how it may impact gameplay.
GAME DESIGN TIP
You can gradually provide players with opportunities to collect and use more powerful equipment during an Experience to reward their achievements and balance out increasingly difficult enemies presented. It makes your Experience more thrilling! This can be part of your Experience's Ramp of Difficulty and Risk & Reward design.
Assets & Game Inventory
Owned and Temporary Asset Use
Wallet - Across All Experiences
Players can equip NFTs they own, which can modify their stats in any experience.
Local - The Current Experience
Players can equip items collected in a game. If they restart or quit, the items no longer appear in the inventory.
OWNERSHIP NOTEYou own all of the custom assets you create and do NOT need to mint NFTs for each one used in an Experience in order to share or launch it.
However, your launch strategy may include minting some assets from your Experience as NFTs to sell on the Marketplace, especially equipment players may have enjoyed using in your game. This allows others to own a piece of the world or universe you've created and use it for gameplay or their own creative projects.
Add item - the player interacts or collides with a collectible item
Remove item - the player drops an item
CONSUMABLES
Adding or removing a specific number of items (e.g., potions, crafting, economies, etc) is not a current feature, but logic and narrative can simulate simple systems.
ITEM NAMES
An NFT’s name is displayed in the inventory, so when using an NFT as a collectible item (e.g., for a quest) it’s best not to rename it in the experience.
