Text, Quests & Icons

Text in the UI

See Dialogue in our Narrative Design resources for information about creating engaging dialogue that fits within the technical limits, and communicating plans with a team.

See Playability for tips to make your Experience Page and game UI more polished.

Objects

Apply Text via Objects

Speaker component (object)

• Detect players, "bark" to get attention (can send player source data)

• Simulate a conversation between NPCs

Asker behavior (object)

• Player dialogue with NPCs (can send player source data)

• Quizzes

Indicator (object text), toggled on and off with Actor Property Switcher behaviour

Crowd Event (object)

• Title (with colour selection)

• Description per Element (how to earn points)

Apply Toggle to turn on/off an object's behaviour, such as Asker dialogue.

Objectives (Quests)

Apply Text via Objectives

Objectives - New quest name appears in a temporary banner (fixed duration)

Objectives UI - Quest descriptions (right)

• Type \n to add a line break

• Players scroll UI with ⬆️ and ⬇️ keys

Game Rules

Apply Text via Game Rules

Game Rules - Banner rule (display a short text variable in the banner for a custom duration)

Game Rules - Popup window (display a medium title and long text in the body)

Game Rules - HUD slot names and variable values

• 1 top center slot, 5 slots on the left side, 5 slots on the bottom

Experience Name & Description

Experience Name & Description

Start Screen Experience title and description

Experience PageText

• Map & Experience Page
• Game Client loading screen

Share an Experience in the Game Maker Gallery

Text Formatting

Modifying the text format can add character, make it more readable, or emphasise hints or instructions for players. Simply add opening and closing tags around the text to be formatted.

Formatting does not work in HUD slots, but works in most other text fields.

Formatting tags count against the character limits different text fields have.

Characters

Supported Languages & Special Characters

Game Client & Game Maker UI

Software UI is only available in English (e.g., menus) at this time.

Text Fields (Dialogue, Quests, Popups, etc)

Information creators enter into text fields:

• 3 special fonts support Chinese, Korean, and Japanese

• 2 basic fonts support thousands of languages (see Noto and Teko for lists)

Sprites (Emoji-Like Icons)

There are 37 available sprites that may be used in many text fields by typing the tag <sprite=1> with a sprite number from 1 to 37. There is no closing tag for sprites. Learn more (video)

Display Player Usernames

Display Player Usernames in Text

Type <PLAYER> (case sensitive) to include the player's username in a string of text. This can make an Experience more personal and immersive.

Example:

Welcome, <PLAYER>! Let's get started!

Welcome, Pandapops! Let's get started!

Display Player Usernames in a Variable

Create a text variable and save the player name in it with the Store Player Name rule in Game Rules.

Formatting Tags

Text Formatting Tags

Tags	Description	Example
<b> </b>	bold	This is <b>bold</b> text.
<i> </i>	italics	This is <i>italicised</i> text.
<size> </size>	Sets the size in pixels	This is <size=50>larger</size> text.
<color> </color>	Sets the colour of the text using colour names (see below) or Hex Codes #rrggbbaa where: r is red g is green b is blue a is alpha (transparency) Note that the tag is spelled "color"	This is <color=#FF0000FF>red</color> text.

Nesting Tags

You may apply more than one style by nesting tags. For example:

INPUT

This is <b><i>bold and italicised</i></b> text.

OUTPUT

This is bold and italicised text.

INPUT

<color=#FF0000FF>This sentence is red and these words are <b>bold and red</b></color>.

OUTPUT

This sentence is red and these words are bold and red.

Supported Colours

Supported Colours

TEST COLOURS FOR READABILITY

Block and asset colours in your Experience may make some colours difficult to read.

Colour Name	Hex Value	Colour
black	#000000FF
grey	#808080FF
silver	#C0C0C0FF
white	#FFFFFFFF
red	#FF0000FF
orange	#FFA500FF
yellow	#FFFF00FF
lime	#00FF00FF
aqua / cyan	#00FFFFFF
fuchsia / magenta	#FF00FFFF
purple	#800080FF
maroon	#800000FF
brown	#A52A2AFF
olive	#808000FF
green	#008000FF
teal	#008080FF
navy	#000080FF
darkblue	#0000A0FF
blue	#0000FFFF
lightblue	#ADD8E6FF

Quests

Visit the 0.11 Upgrade Guide to migrate to the new Objectives system and adapt quest design for multiplayer compatibility.

It is possible to build a game without quests, but quest UI and icons make the same gameplay feel much more responsive and polished.

About

Purpose

Quests are one-time-use player objectives that can be used for:

• Tutorials for your unique Experience mechanics

• Meeting important characters or Worldbuilding

• Points of interest or large scale item collection to encourage exploration

• Linear game flow, optional side quests, or branching logic based on player actions

• (Partners) Track player progression in Seasons and Events to earn rewards
• and more

See Quest Types for use cases per quest type.

Quest Types

Learning Templates

Tutorial Templates

Open Game Maker and find tutorials in the Templates tab for hands-on learning. For more details on each quest type, see Objectives.

Gameplay Structures with Multiple Quests

Gameplay Structures

Multiple quests can be triggered in ways to structure different types of play:

Linear (Narrative) Players must complete all quests in a specific order to progress a story or flow

Branching (Replay value) Players choose which optional quests to trigger, for a more open world feel

Both Linear & Branching Players unlock optional side quests or "quest lines" (choose your own adventure)

While players can scroll through quests in the UI, it is still more user friendly to limit how many quests can be triggered at a time (4-5 maximum recommended).

With Game Maker 0.11, you may also design varied gameplay with dependencies, where a logic flow can be built to allow only certain players to trigger and complete a quest.

Multiplayer Compatible Quests (0.11)

In multiplayer Experiences, quests are now managed on the server. Messages sent to Objectives must include player source data, so [SP] logic will not work.

In singleplayer Experiences, [SP] and [MP] logic will trigger quests.

The new Objectives system opens up possibilities for quests to be triggered depending on which player(s) should experience a quest in multiplayer games.

In this first version, feature continuity for solo questing is the main design focus. However, many creators may explore building logic for multiple players to experience quests at nearly the same time.

It isn't as simple as using the Game Rules system, where dependencies for variables are built in (player, team, and global), so we've provided some options to try out. Some are simple, and some a bit more advanced.

USING THIS RESOURCE In the generalized suggestions below, Step 1 should trigger Step 2, and so on, to send player source data and trigger Objectives for intended players. Please test thoroughly and share what you learn in the Forum!

Quest Alone

Objects Only

First Player There

1. [MP] trigger (options): Collectable component (Global = TRUE) Trigger Volume (destroy this object after one use) Button (destroy this object after one use or spawn a Speaker to inform players that they weren't first) Asker (Only once = TRUE or apply Toggle to turn off after one use)
2. [MP] Message Broadcaster (Broadcast only once = TRUE if trigger in step 1 can't be removed or prevented)
3. Objectives

Use Cases

• Quests with rewards or incentives

• Special roles, side-quests, or branching narrative options

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Every Player (Self-Paced)

1. [MP] trigger (options): Collectable (Global = FALSE) Trigger Volume Button Asker
2. Objectives

Use Cases (gameplay without rules criteria)

• Social hub quests

• Competitive solo narrative questing

• Side quests any player can complete

Include a Rules Criteria (Player variable)

A correctly triggered chain of logic including rules that involve a player variable will send the player source data needed by the Objectives system.

One Player: Player Variable Value

1. [MP] trigger (options): Collectable (Global = TRUE) Trigger Volume (destroy this object after one use) Button (destroy this object after one use or spawn a Speaker to inform players that they weren't first) Asker (Only once = TRUE or apply Toggle to turn off after one use)
2. Rules (player variable used as a criteria to send a message)
3. [MP] Message Broadcaster (Broadcast only once = TRUE or apply Toggle to turn off after one use)
4. Objectives

Use Cases

• MVP quest after earning the top time, score, etc.

• Tutorial quest for player with the lowest time, score, etc.

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Every Player: Player Variable Value (Self-Paced)

1. [MP] trigger (options): Collectable (Global = FALSE) Trigger Volume Button Asker
2. Rules (player variable as a criteria to send a message)
3. Objectives

Use Cases (gameplay with Rules criteria)

• Social hub quests

• Competitive solo narrative questing

• Side quests any player can complete

Quest Together

The examples below do not use built in features. Since there is a break in logic flow and quests do not trigger at the exact moment, test your design thoroughly to ensure it works consistently. More developments are on the way to make multiplayer quest design easier.

Global Quest

Cooperative: All Players Trigger (Almost) Simultaneously

1. Trigger options:

   1. All players enter a location:

      1. [MP] Trigger Volume (Detection = EveryAvatarInRange)
   2. Rules (global variable as a criteria to send a message)

      1. Asset Spawner spawns [MP] Trigger Volume (Detection = EveryAvatarInRange)
2. Objectives

Use Cases

• Cooperative Escape Room, etc.

• Players vs Enemy quests (PVE)

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Collaborative Play Without Quests

If you're new to creating multiplayer Experiences, try adding a collaborative goal with Crowd Event behaviour. It's easier to set up than quests and has its own UI!

Team Quest

Competitive: All Team Members Trigger (Almost) Simultaneously

1. Trigger options:

   1. Enter a location:

      1. Per team, [MP] Trigger Volume (Detection = TeamInRange, set team name)
   2. Rules criteria:

      1. Rules (team variable as a criteria to send a message)
      2. Per team, Send Message rule (Broadcast = Team, set team name) triggered by which team met the criteria
      3. Per team, [MP] Asset Spawner spawns [MP] Trigger Volume (Detection = TeamInRange)
2. Objectives

Use Cases

• Multi-phase gameplay as quests every team may complete

• Secret team missions (e.g., spy games)

• Teams as gameplay roles with unique quests (e.g., RPGs)

• Bonus challenges or rewards for top teams

• Quick tutorials for struggling teams

Quest Icons

The Objectives system sets up the structure of quests, which have a beginning, middle, and end. Use the Indicator component to set quest icons to appear on objects related to your quest.

Giver

Giver - Starts the Quest

If a quest is set to auto launch, the Giver icon will not appear.

PLAYER ICON - EXCLAMATION MARK

• Directs players to start a quest

• Appears when a quest is unlocked

• Disappears when a quest is launched

BUILDER SETUP

Objectives - set the quest conditions

Indicator - apply this component to an object

Click Add+ next to Giver and select the quest name from the dropdown list to make the icon appear above the object during play

Objective

Objective - Meets the Condition

PLAYER ICON - TARGET

• Directs players to locations, collectable objects, enemies to kill, objects to interact with (to send a message), etc.

• Appears when a quest is launched

• Disappears when a quest condition is met

BUILDER SETUP

Objectives - set the quest conditions

Indicator - apply this component to one or more objects, which are the condition set in Step 3 of the Quest setup (Quest Type)

Click Add+ next to Objective and select the quest name from the dropdown list to make the icon appear above object(s) during play

Receiver

Receiver - Closes the Quest

PLAYER ICON - QUESTION MARK

• Directs players to an object to close the quest

• Appears when a quest condition is met

• Disappears when a quest is complete

BUILDER SETUP

Objectives - set up quest conditions

Indicator - apply this component to an object

Click Add+ next to Receiver and select the quest name from the dropdown list to make the icon appear above the object during play

Video: Set Up Quest Indicators

Video: Set Up Quest Indicators

The video below shows how to set up quest indicators with an older version of Game Maker with a slightly different user interface. Quests are now opened with the Objectives button on the top bar (previously named Rules).

Dialogue States for Quests

About

Why Create Dialogue States?

One NPC may need to say different dialogue depending on the state of a quest:

• Beginning State - An NPC informs players about the quest so they can accept it

• Middle State - An NPC reminds players they haven't finished the quest yet and may provide a hint

• End State - Congratulate players if the quest is complete (may suggest where to find a new quest)

Dialogue Use Per NPC

Dialogue Use Per NPC

Dialogue can flow using Speaker components and/or Asker behaviours triggered in a chain.

"Bark"

The player gets close enough to an NPC to see a Speaker component pop up a box of text.

Note: A "bark" may be used instead of a quest giver.

Dialogue - Inform/Hint

One or more Asker behaviours may be set with a question or statement and up to four answers.

Note: Answers can send messages to trigger other Askers. Toggle should be applied to turn Askers on/off when necessary. Don't forget to set the Toggle's initial state for each Asker!

Video: Set up Dialogue States

Video: Set up Dialogue States

The parkour race video below provides a great explanation of how to set up quest dialogue states.

Note: This video was created with an older version of Game Maker. The UI has been significantly updated and new features have been added.

Dialogue Strings

About

What is a Dialogue String?

A dialogue string is a series of logic events used to:

• display a conversation between an NPC and a player (with answer options)

• display quiz questions (with answer options)

• display a "read only" conversation between NPCs (using Speaker component)

An object may only have one Asker behaviour and one Speaker component. This means that multiple objects are needed to create a dialogue string. That usually includes objects with visibility turned off.

Asker behavior may be triggered in a linear sequence or may trigger different paths of gameplay.

Video: Set up Dialogue Strings

Video: Dialogue Strings (Chains)