Reset Node

This action node resets the specified point score back to 0.

If needed, you can also customize this node. For details, see Customizing Nodes.

Options Panels

Whenever you select a node in the Mind Map, an object in the Asset panel in a World, the camera in the Scene Editor, a button in a UI node workspace, a node on the Node Map, or any other item in a Buildbox workspace, its attributes appear in the panel on the far right. You can edit these attributes to define the desired game settings like physics or object appearance and behavior as needed.

Here’s what you need to know about the Options panel attributes:

• Most fields have default values that in most cases will create optimal game experience, especially if you are using a template to get started.
• You can use the default values as guidelines for making minor adjustments as needed.
• Any changes you make are automatically saved and applied throughout the entire project.

Here’s a list of the Options panels that you may need to work with:

For asset node attributes, which appear in the Options panel in the Node Map, see Node Reference.

World Nodes

Each game typically has at least one 3D World node or 2D World Node on its Mind Map.

A World node is a 2D or 3D environment that consists of a series of scenes, which collectively represent a level in your game.

A World node has a Load input, which you can connect to the output of either a UI node or Start node on the Mind Map, and a UI output, which you must connect to the input of a UI node. The connectors between nodes indicate the overall game flow, with each preceding node activating the next node to which it is connected. See also Node Anatomy.

Depending on your game design, you may define multiple transitions and dynamic changes in the game flow based on the user actions by defining your game logic.

Adding, Deleting, and Editing Game Levels

To add more game levels, you need to add more World nodes by doing any of the following:

• Drag the 2D or 3D World node from the Node panel on the left to the Mind Map.
• Right-click anywhere on the Mind Map grid and select Add New 2D World or Add New 3D World.
• Duplicate and existing World—select the node and press D on your keyboard.

To delete a game level, select the corresponding World node and press Delete on the keyboard.

To change the World node attributes in the Mind Map, select the node and make the appropriate changes in the Options panel on the right, which allow you to define a number of critical attributes, such as:

• The gravity force, which helps you create natural movement of the objects in the game. By default, it is pre-set to -9.8 on the Y axis.
• The scene background color.
• The “game speed,” or how fast or slow the object is moving in the game, by increasing or decreasing both Time Warp and Sub Steps values respectively.

To edit scenes, add characters, enemies, obstacles, and other assets inside a game level, you need to go inside the World node and use the Scene Editor. To open the World workspace, do either of the following:

• Double-click the World node.
• Click the Edit icon  in the top right corner of the node.

See also How to/FAQs.

Unlock Logic Asset

This UI node asset is used in conjunction with the Lock button that has its Unlock attribute set to Default. The Unlock asset is located in the Logic section of the Asset panel in the UI node workspace. For attribute details, see the table below.

Mind Map

The Mind Map is the very first screen you see when you open a game project or a template.

As its name suggests, the Mind Map allows you to map and organize the flow of your game. It is a graphical representation of the game with visual connections between its nodes, such as UI screens and 3D Worlds, indicating their relationships.

The Mind Map screen consists of the following parts:

• A The name of the selected template or your project.
• B The Navigation bar.
• C The Node panel from which you can drag new nodes to add to the Mind Map.
• D The Mind Map grid with the game nodes.
• E The Options panel on the right that displays the properties of the selected node.
• F The Helper with context-sensitive help.

For details on individual parts and how to work with the Mind Map UI, such as zooming or dragging the grid, see General Workspace Overview.

Mind Map Nodes

At the very least, any game in Buildbox must have two nodes:

• A Start node, which is basically the root node that will load your game.
  • You can define some of its attributes, such as background music, in its Options panel on the Mind Map. See also Add Music and Sound Effects.
  • To modify the splash screen, for example, to add your own logo or a loading bar, double-click the node make the desired changes in its UI Editor.
• A 3D World node that consists of a series of scenes and represents a game level.
  Similarly, you can define some of the key attributes for you game level, such as gravity and game speed, in the Options panel on the Mind Map. To create scenes, however, you need to go inside the World node. For details, see World Workspace.

Optionally, you can also add and use the following types of nodes:

• UI nodes, which allow you to add a user interface or score-keeping game screen overlays.
• Random node, which you can use to randomize your game flow.

Adding, Deleting, and Editing Nodes

To add more nodes to your game on the Mind Map, do one of the following:

• Drag the type of node you need from the Node panel to the Mind Map.
• Right-click anywhere on the Mind Map grid and select Add New World or Add New UI respectively.
• Duplicate and existing node—select the node and press D on your keyboard.

See also Add a Game Level.

To edit the node attributes on the Mind Map, select the node and update the values in the Options panel on the right.

To go inside a node to edit it:

• Double-click the node.
• Click the Edit icon in the top right corner of the node.

The corresponding node Editor is displayed, where you can make the necessary modifications.

To delete a node, select the node and press Delete on the keyboard.

Logic

The overall game flow is defined by the connections between the nodes on the Mind Map. You may also define additional logic that would allow you to control the game flow dynamically, based on player actions and other events that occur during a game session.

There are several places where you can define logic in a game:

• On the Mind Map, by adding a Random node from the Logic section on the Node panel to the game.
  
• Inside the UI node workspace, by adding the Event Observer or Unlock asset (used in conjunction with the Lock button) from the the Logic section on the Asset panel to the selected game UI screen. For details, see Add Event Observer.
  
• On the character or object Node Map, by adding the appropriate Action nodes that you can use to fine the outcome of object collisions, health, defeat, and so on. For details, see the individual nodes and, for example, Manage Health, Damage, and Defeat.
  

Mind Map Node Panel

The Node panel on the Mind Map allows you to add new World and UI nodes to your project.

Just drag the type of node you need to the Mind Map, define its attributes in the Options panel on the far right, and link to the general game flow. See also Mind Map Nodes.

If you are still new to Buildbox, consider exploring the product functionality and features before adding new nodes. Specifically, make sure you are familiar with the following types of nodes:

• Start node
• 3D World node
• UI node

To learn more about the node anatomy, see Node Anatomy.

As your expertise grows, you may use this panel to add logic to your game flow, for example, to randomize the transitions to next levels of UI screens with the help of the Random node. For details, see Logic.

Set Background Color Node

This action node changes the color of the world background.

If needed, you can also customize this node. For details, see Customizing Nodes.

Steam Store Settings

The settings below are part of the General Project Settings that you need to define when exporting your game.

Mesh Manager

The Mesh Manager allows you to view and select desired shapes for your assets in a 3D World.

To access this editor, click the Edit icon in the top-right corner of any Mesh field in the Options panel of an asset, for example, with asset attributes.

The Mesh Manager appears with all available shapes (which are also the basic shapes from the Asset Library) listed on the left.

Changing Object Mesh

• To select a mesh, click Save.
• To discard your changes or simply exit the editor, click Close.