Topics

1

Announcements / Platform Builder now has an official server on discord!

« on: October 29, 2022, 12:53:32 AM »

Hey everyone! I am happy to announce that we have launched an official server on Discord for Platform Builder! My hope is that this will be a friendly and warm environment for you guys to connect, build community, share your content, and help each other out. This is your opportunity to be one of the first ones on this channel.

Here is the invite link: Platform Builder on Discord

This may also be your opportunity to get Platform Builder or Platform Builder Pro! If you boost our server, DM me on Discord and I'll hook you up as a free thank-you gift!

Discord is relatively new to me, (I know, I'm way behind!) so I'm happy to receive any feedback via DM.

The server on Discord includes forum channels, which may leave you wondering about the future of these forums. As of now, these forums will remain open for people to join and post, just as usual. But these forums have become less active in recent times and will likely be phased out by the end of this year.


I believe that this soft and slow transition onto Discord will ultimately be helpful for the community for several reasons.

• Discord is a very popular way for people, especially gamers, to connect and build community online.
• Anyone with a Discord account can easily be a part of the community. That removes the barrier of setting up another account.
• Discord's forum channels offer much of the same experience here, but it has the added advantage of voice and text channels for more live conversation.
• This forum is a bit buggy and difficult for me to manage.

Although I will focus mostly on building this official PB channel on Discord, I would be remiss if I didn't mention a different PB server already active from several of our forum members  - Plugger's Zone. So you can check that one out too


If you have any questions or comments about this new adventure to Discord, don't hesitate to let me know.


Thanks everyone, and I'll see you over there!

TingThing

2

Announcements / Platform Builder's New Pricing Model

« on: September 16, 2022, 02:40:05 PM »

Hi everyone,


About a week ago, I posted an important announcement about Platform Builder on Steam, but forgot to post it here as well. You can view it here. If you haven't read it, please read it first before continuing with this post.


The announcement mentioned that the new pricing model will take on the 16th, which is today. So we're all set there, and Platform Builder has been updated to reflect the changes on Steam.


With the new pricing model with Steam, anyone who already had Platform Builder Standard in their steam library will still have the program. BUT what about those who have used Platform Builder Standard through GameJolt, itch.io or some other source? If this is the case, please send me a message here before the end of this month and I can get you squared away.


Best,
TingThing

3

Platform Builder Update Log / Version 10.1

« on: September 16, 2022, 02:29:56 PM »

Platform Builder 10.1

Patch 5

• The main menu now features the Discord server instead of the forums page.
• Fixed: Error when entering custom lighting settings for the overworld.
• Fixed: Money command allows you to exceed the maximum money.
• Fixed: Money as an item effect allows you to exceed the maximum money

Patch 4

• Fixed: Error when working with file packages. This includes exporting to pbx and exe, downloading new explore games, etc.
• Fixed: Error messages sometimes crash Platform Builder when moving in and out of a big overworld.
• Fixed: The character doesn't animate in the opening splash screen of Platform Builder.
• Fixed: The water and lava does not animate in the title screen of Platform Builder.
• Fixed: Buttons to open webpages no longer work.
• Fixed: The assistant icon flashes in and out when test-running a game and returning from an area to an overworld.
• Fixed: Full screen size does not save properly when exiting and entering Platform Builder.
• Fixed: The player replenishes health when entering an area from an overworld even when that feature is disabled.

Patch 3

• Fixed: Some sound effects do not fully play
• Possibly other issues were resolved as well. It seems the last build had some corruption issues.

Patch 2

• Fixed: Tiles are sometimes shifting themes unexpectedly.
• Fixed: Tile selection doesn't work right with two of the tiles under "Tower Ground."
• Fixed: Tile selection doesn't work right for four of the metal tiles

Patch 1

• The original compile was corrupted and messed up a lot of the graphics.

Updates

• Platform Builder Standard's Features have adjusted with the new pricing model. Everything except for Importing Assets and Exporting EXEs is now available.
• The required backup for launching PB 10 the first time is removed.
• Fixed: Player 2 cannot go through gates.
• Fixed: When player 2 goes through a door, it fixes Player 1 over the door instead of fixing Player 2 over it.
• Fixed: Error when revealing secret/hidden pathways in the overworld with the exe package.
• Fixed: Dirt 2 Option for Overworld backgrounds does not display text in the backgrounds menu.
• Fixed: Grass 2 Option cannot be selected as an overworld background.

4

Announcements / Platform Builder 10 is Out!

« on: June 02, 2022, 02:55:18 AM »

Hi everyone,

The day has finally arrived. Platform Builder 10 is OUT!

And, with PB's big new release including revised graphics from Casey Sharpe, we also have new screenshots featured on publisher websites like Steam, and a new video trailer. Check it out here!

A lot of new features are included which you may have already been enjoying if you were part of the Beta. But now we are public and all of the features like publishing and exporting are back online. We are also ready to press into some more digital marketing efforts to help drive more momentum and build a richer, livelier Platform Builder community.

Also, the Command Prompt Page has been updated. The page as a whole has been revamped with better categorization so that it will be (hopefully) easier to find the commands you are looking for. A lot on that page was moved around, but it's all still there plus a whole lot more now that PB 10 is released.

With the release of PB 10, I am also going to phase out bug reports on the forums as we switch to a dedicated bug-report form that can be filled out on our website. PB 10 will direct people there, and this will allow more people to contribute without needing to create an account here on the forums. Although I love to see more people join, it is even more important that bug reporting is as easy as possible so that no one is discouraged to help me make PB as stable as possible. On that note, please use the form and report any bugs that you find. By helping me, you help everyone.

Well, that's it for now. Hope you enjoy Platform Builder 10!

Yours,
TingThing

5

Platform Builder Update Log / Version 10.0

« on: June 02, 2022, 02:38:30 AM »

Platform Builder 10.0

Patch 3

• Improved some physics when ascending slopes.
• Fixed: Custom enemies made before PB 10 may give an error striking them with invincibility
• Fixed: Pass through walls setting in flying custom enemy does not work
• Fixed: Overworld intro message is not displaying
• Fixed: Folder system gets messed up when you are selecting a start location, you switch from worlds to areas (or visa versa), and then move up a folder
• Fixed: Escape button is duplicated when you click "back" when in the menu to select which game screen you wish to edit.
• Fixed: Error when entering overworld in a .exe game.

Patch 2

• Fixed: Error when firing a projectile with approximate or exact enemy direction. (Test with YYC. Should be fixed. It was removing the target instance when I still needed it.
• Fixed: Error when custom enemy starts over a custom block.
• Fixed: Error loading sprites with scr_set_char_sheet
• Fixed: Error when importing areas
• Fixed: Gate remains solid after opening when running at 45 fps
• Fixed: Character will continually float up after jumping on a cannonball when the character is using custom physics

Patch 1

• Fixed: Error when right-clicking on outlined graphic setting in Game Setup.
• Fixed: Error when fireing a homing projectile.
• Fixed: Error when playing/testing an area with the view distance set to 5.
• Fixed: A few of the tile selections for simple cliffs in the overworld do not select the correct tile.
• Fixed: Some tile selections for edge pieces in the overworld do not select the correct tile.
• Fixed: During the transition from an overworld to an area, some graphics go black.
• Fixed: Right-clicking on destroy animation in custom block settings does not give the correct information.
• Fixed: Recursion Error is possible when changing the character position with an area command.
• Fixed: Lighting controls may not cover the full view if the view size is changed during gameplay.
• Fixed: Items with gravity do not fall when spawned over one-way platforms.
• Fixed: Platform Builder may freeze when entering test mode while using control+s to save at the same time.
• Fixed: Player 2 ground pound does not look or sound correct.
• Fixed: Some backgrounds do not have a seamless top.

Updates

• The graphics in Platform Builder has been redone. You can choose between the two new options or the old graphics in "other settings" of Game Setup.
• The available features for Platform Builder Standard have increased. You can now use more custom enemies, items, characters, etc., and NPCs are available.
• Tile Selection menu is available for all items that use subcategories.
• Added a few new backgrounds
• Game Slots are now unlimited.
• Added a new way to report bugs and errors through the menu of Platform Builder's editor mode.
• Added a new type of custom block which is both invisible and not solid until it is triggered.
• Added conditionals for collisions with enemies, items, etc.
• Added tool to search all commands in your game from the Game Setup main menu.
• Added Gray Advanced Cliffs in Overworld
• Added two more candle part sprites
• Added a few extra sprites options for pick-up custom items.
• Added cape, backpack, belts, and a several other new pieces in the character designer
• Added two kinds of lift blocks that work like elevators for your levels.
• Added "testing area" and "testing game" conditionals (which are more specific than just "testing")
• Added "projectile direction = X degrees" command for 360-degree projectile directions.
• Added "harmed" conditional for when the character is blinking after being harmed.
• Added a simple volume control for imported music.
• Added tile selection for everything in the overowrld and course editor.
• Added options in enemy settings for how to respond when hit by a character with invincibility.
• Added many new commands for modifying the settings of custom items.
• Added many new commands for modifying the settings of custom projectiles.
• Added many new commands for modifying the settings of custom blocks.
• Added commands for changing how custom enemies respond when hit by a character with invincibility.
• Added "Enemy Continue" command which causes the enemy to drop any movement commands but continue in its current movement.
• Added commands for checking, changing, and randomizing the "seed" of the randomizer in Platform Builder.
• Added commands for changing the window size.
• Added commands for snapping the x and y position of enemies, items, etc., to a grid of your chosen size.
• Added commands to modify the scroll speed and scroll direction of scrolling backgrounds.
• Added command to change the game's target fps after changing areas.
• Added commands to make custom enemies visible or invisible to homing projectiles.
• Added "distance to player" conditional.
• Added commands to spawn a sprite to be used in the HUD.
• Added commands to use the rumble feature on controllers.
• Added a few commands to change the size of the overhead text
• Added large cannonball and large cannonball wall cannon sprites to the sprite sheets.
• Added a short animation before a fireball pops up, to help users anticipate it.
• Improved animation of items when they are spawned from auto-blocks.
• key press conditionals for jump, attack, pick, and use can be used as non-conditionals, to just cause the character to respond as if the key was pressed.
• harm/hurt command will cause knockback and trigger hurt commands even if the player has unlimited health.
• "music volume" command is more spread more evenly from soft to loud.
• The example file has been updated slightly.
• The view position and movement is improved some with auto-run games, especially when those games include wall jumps.
• The secondary dirt color in the overworld has been added as an option for the overworld background.
• Fixed: Unable to set tile selection off to the side for live placement in the overworld editor.
• Fixed: Enemy 1 Sprite Sheet does not save and display correctly in Game Setup
• Fixed: There's an empty sub-position for text item in area, splash screen, and victory screen editors.
• Fixed: Some shading and animation issues are occurring with the item selection and subpos arrows in the workstation.
• Fixed: Putting tile selection off to the top-right corner does not work in the overworld editor.
• Fixed: "exit" command does not fully exit the command prompt.
• Fixed: Custom enemies set to ignore their environment are still affected by repel stones.
• Fixed: "Enemy = left down" command does not move the flying enemy in the right direction.
• Fixed: sparkle effect does not work right in items spawned from an auto-block.
• Fixed: Animation climbing down the ladder does not work when the character is near the top of the ladder.
• Fixed: Forced window size setting can be changed with F11 during gameplay.
• Fixed: When editing a new area for the first time, it says that the view distance is 4 when it's actually 5. This may cause the view to start too high the next time the area is loaded.
• Fixed: Sideways slime enemy may appear squished.
• Fixed: The quick edit mode from a test run is broken.
• Fixed: There are some problems with the character falling from moving platforms
• Fixed: The character position glitches when climbing on a ladder positioned next to another ladder.
• Fixed: Flying bosses which lock the view can fly out of the view.
• Fixed: Some text is cut off at the bottom of the pages of the manual.
• Fixed: Enemy hp and enemy max hp commands only work if the operator is "=".
• Fixed: Pop effect appears too high above items
• Fixed: Custom item settings for jump and bounce do not apply correctly.
• Fixed: The block trigger defense setting does not work correctly sometimes.
• Fixed: Some background distance settings do not work when the background is a single image and parallax scrolling is enabled.
• The button to change the tileset has been moved lower to the workstation so it is easier to notice
• I worked on an issue of the character falling down through jump-through platforms. It seems to be fixed but it's hard to test because the glitch was not always consistent.
• Several of the broken games on the explore section have been fixed or will be fixed soon.
• A lot of stuff that said "upload" now says "import."
• Items pop out of chests faster.
• Note: If you have uploaded sprite sheets for Cannons, Items 1, or Blocks, those sprite sheets will be reverted because of some new sprites that are included in those sheets. You will need to re-upload your custom sprites. If you don't have your old sprite sheet file, you can get it by going back into Game Setup to the desired sprite sheet and selecting "Save File." Although the new default sprite will be displayed, Platform Builder will save the old sprite sheet back to your hard drive.
• Note: The Requirements for publishing to the explore section have been updated. Please view them on page 10 of the manual.

6

Announcements / Platform Builder 10 Release Date

« on: May 23, 2022, 11:19:19 PM »

Hey everyone,

Platform Builder 10 is just about ready and is scheduled to launch on June 1st, which is only 9 days from the time of this post! Along with the update will come a new trailer (featuring the new graphics) which will launch on YouTube and the Steam page at the same time. New screenshots are also on the way. I will also be working to update the website and other store pages with the new graphics as well.

See you then!
-TingThing

7

Announcements / Spam Bots Update

« on: March 02, 2022, 12:05:04 AM »

Hi everyone,


As many have noticed, Spam bots have found their way to our forums. I went through the forums deleted spam posts that I could find while bannind the users. I also removed many others that were pending for email activation just so we have a clean start. I also noticed that many of the spam-prevention measures on these forums were deactivated, probably from recent maintenance work. So I turned them back on. This should really help deal with future fake registrations.


For now, there are probably spam bots that have registered but haven't posted yet. If you see them, make sure to report the posts so that I can keep these forums clean of unwanted messaging.


Best,
TingThing

8

Announcements / Platform Builder 10 Beta

« on: February 17, 2022, 04:31:29 AM »

Hey Everyone! I thought I'd surprise you with an exciting announcement.


Platform Builder 10 Beta. It's out.

That's right! I just dropped an early release of PB 10 so that you can get the chance to try out the new features and check out the new look! (The graphics are mostly finished, but still subject to change some.)

Check out my video announcement here:

Here's what's changed (Scroll down to see beta updates):

Beta 1.0

• The graphics in Platform Builder has been redone. You can choose between the two new options or the old graphics in "other settings" of Game Setup.
• The available features for Platform Builder Standard have shifted around some. You can now use more custom enemies, items, characters, etc., and NPCs are available. However, Platform Builder Standard will no longer let you publish games to the explore section; you will need Pro for that.
• The tile Selection menu is available for all items that use subcategories.
• Game Slots are now unlimited.
• Added a new way to report bugs and errors through the menu of Platform Builder's editor mode.
• Added a new type of custom block which is both invisible and not solid until it is triggered.
• Added conditionals for collisions with enemies, items, etc.
• Added tool to search all commands in your game from the Game Setup main menu.
• Added Gray Advanced Cliffs in Overworld
• Added two more candle part sprites
• Added a few extra sprite options for pick-up custom items.
• Added cape, backpack, belts, and several other new pieces in the character designer.
• Added two kinds of lift blocks that work like elevators for your levels.
• Added "testing area" and "testing game" conditionals (which are more specific than just "testing")
• Added "projectile direction = X degrees" command for 360-degree projectile directions.
• Added "harmed" conditional for when the character is blinking after being harmed.
• Added a simple volume control for imported music.
• Added options in enemy settings for how to respond when hit by a character with invincibility.
• Added many new commands for modifying the settings of custom items.
• Added many new commands for modifying the settings of custom projectiles.
• Added many new commands for modifying the settings of custom blocks.
• Added commands for changing how custom enemies respond when hit by a character with invincibility.
• Added "Enemy Continue" command which causes the enemy to drop any movement commands but continue in its current movement.
• Added commands for checking, changing, and randomizing the "seed" of the randomizer in Platform Builder.
• Added commands for changing the window size.
• Added commands for snapping the x and y position of enemies, items, etc., to a grid of your chosen size.
• Added commands to modify the scroll speed and scroll direction of scrolling backgrounds.
• Added command to change the game's target fps after changing areas.
• Added commands to make custom enemies visible or invisible to homing projectiles.
• Added "distance to player" conditional.
• Added commands to spawn a sprite to be used in the HUD.
• Added commands to use the rumble feature on controllers.
• Added a few commands to change the size of the overhead text
• Added large cannonball and large cannonball wall cannon sprites to the sprite sheets.
• Improved animation of items when they are spawned from auto-blocks.
• key press conditionals for jump, attack, pick, and use can be used as non-conditionals (to just cause the character to respond as if the key was pressed.)
• harm/hurt command will cause knockback and trigger hurt commands even if the player has unlimited health.
• "music volume" command is spread more evenly from soft to loud.
• The example file has been updated slightly.
• The view position and movement are improved some with auto-run games, especially when those games include wall jumps.
• The secondary dirt color in the overworld has been added as an option for the overworld background.
• Fixed: Unable to set tile selection off to the side for live placement in the overworld editor.
• Fixed: Enemy 1 Sprite Sheet does not save and display correctly in Game Setup
• Fixed: There's an empty sub-position for text item in area, splash screen, and victory screen editors.
• Fixed: Some shading and animation issues are occurring with the item selection and subpos arrows in the workstation.
• Fixed: Putting tile selection off to the top-right corner does not work in the overworld editor.
• Fixed: "exit" command does not fully exit the command prompt.
• Fixed: Custom enemies set to ignore their environment are still affected by repel stones.
• Fixed: "Enemy = left down" command does not move the flying enemy in the right direction.
• Fixed: sparkle effect does not work right in items spawned from an auto-block.
• Fixed: Animation climbing down the ladder does not work when the character is near the top of the ladder.
• Fixed: Forced window size setting can be changed with F11 during gameplay.
• Fixed: When editing a new area for the first time, it says that the view distance is 4 when it's actually 5. This may cause the view to start too high next time the area is loaded.
• Fixed: Sideways slime enemy may appear squished.
• Fixed: The quick edit mode from a test run is broken.
• Fixed: There are some problems with the character falling from moving platforms
• Fixed: The character position glitches when climbing on a ladder positioned next to another ladder.
• Fixed: Flying bosses which lock the view can fly out of the view.
• Fixed: Some text is cut off at the bottom of the pages of the manual.
• Fixed: Enemy hp and enemy max hp commands only work if the operator is "=".
• Fixed: Pop effect appears too high above items
• Fixed: Custom item settings for jump and bounce do not apply correctly.
• Fixed: Block trigger defense setting does not work correctly sometimes.
• Fixed: Some background distance settings do not work when the background is a single image and parallax scrolling is enabled.
• I worked on an issue of the character falling down through jump-through platforms. It seems to be fixed but it's hard to test because the glitch was not always consistent.
• Several of the broken games on the explore section have been fixed, or will be fixed soon.
• A lot of stuff that said "upload" now says "import."
• Items pop out of chests faster.
• Note: If you have uploaded sprite sheets for Cannons, Items 1, or Blocks, those sprite sheets will be reverted because of some new sprites that are included in those sheets. You will need to re-upload your custom sprites. If you don't have your old sprite sheet file, you can get it by going back into Game Setup to the desired sprite sheet and select "Save File." Although the new default sprite will be displayed, Platform Builder will save the old sprite sheet back to your harddrive.
• Note: The Requirements for publishing to the explore section have been updated. Please view them in page 10 of the manual.

Beta 1.1

• Publishing to the explore sections has re-opened for Platform Builder Standard.
• Fixed: Some of the sprites options for custom blocks options still use old graphics when new graphics are used.
• Fixed: Some custom blocks change their sprites when playing levels.
• Fixed: Some destroy animations use the wrong sprite with custom blocks.
• Fixed: When switching levels via pipe with invincibility and both levels have the same music, the music stops.
• Fixed: Collisions are not accurate when striking custom blocks with character attacks.
• Fixed: Some secret blocks do no re-appear with the correct sprite.
• Fixed: Some of the new hat designs do not display with certain sprites/animations of the character.
• Fixed: Error when an enemy's defeat settings is to complete the game.
• Fixed: When trying to set an item or new enemy in custom enemy's defeat settings, you are instead asked to select a sprite.
• Fixed: Loading games that do not use worlds may resume in the wrong area.

Beta 1.2

• Updated the stone tile background
• Added a new water background
• The button to change the tileset has been moved lower to the workstation so it is easier to notice
• Fixed: Unable to select custom tileset for placing in worlds/areas

Beta 1.3

• Fixed a major beta error preventing the use of the editor.
• Added a short animation before a fireball pops up, to help users anticipate it.
• Fixed a few other small issues.

The New Commands:

• if testing area
• if testing game
• projectile direction = X degrees"
• if collision/if touching enemy/item, etc. Can be used with or without ID.
• seed = random.
• seed = 6.
• If seed = 6
• window size/screen size = 1x, 1.5x, 1.75x, 2x, 1.5x, or full.
• enemy ID x snap = number (This can also be for items, blocks, etc. You can snap the x position to a grid, or the y position.)
• background scroll speed (can be a decimal or negative, anywhere between -100 and 100.
• background scroll direction (any of the 8 numpad directions)
• key press conditionals for jump, attack, pick, and use can be used as non-conditionals, to just cause the character to respond as if the key was pressed.
• enemy invincible hit = killed/harmed/no difference/do nothing
• create hud sprite = Sprite ID. (Creates hud sprite in top left corner of screen. Use sprite x and sprite y to move it around. Note that hiding the hud will also hide the sprite, and disable any mouse commands.)
• create foreground hud sprite (shows the sprite over the other parts of the HUD)
• target fps = 30/60/45/90/120. Will only take effect after changing the room.
• "enemy visible to projectiles" and "enemy invisible to projectiles". (Works for homing projectiles, as well as when you have approximage enemy or exact enemy firing.)
• "if distance to player" (which works with or without a player number.)
• vibrate light = seconds (vibrates the controller lightly in the number of seconds you specify. decimals are okay. Not all controllers are fully compatible with this. If no seconds are entered, it will just do 1 second.)
• vibrate medium = (seconds)
• vibrate strong = (seconds)
• overhead size = small, medium, large, extralarge (small is default. This is the size of the overhead text)
• item gravity = off/on/levitate
• item speed = none/slow/medium/fast
• item attract = none/towardcharacter/awayfromcharacter
• item points (any op, any number)
• item animation/animate = 0-12
• item life = no limit
• item jump/bounce = none/low/medium/high/lowmedium/lowhigh/mediumhigh/random. Note this automatically turns on gravity.
• item price (Any op, any number or "= free")
• item apply = collecting player/both players/player 1/player 2
• item life = X seconds/no limit
• item frame (any op, any number)
• enemy animate/animation (not just animation as the only option for this command any more)
• projectile face = no change/travel/hor travel/vert travel/cursor
• projectile animation/animate = 1-12 (any op)
• projectile hit = none, fade, pop, fireball, explore, detonate
• projectile life out = none, fade, pop, fireball, explore, detonate
• projectile speed = 1-6 (Will not work if using reverse, boomering, or return paths)
• projectile = no acceleration, weak/medium/strong acceleration/deceleration
• projectile = straight path, weak/medium/strong homing/gravity
• projectile = stop at walls targets, pass through walls, pass through targets, pass through everything, bounce stop at targets, bounce pass through targets
• projectile hp/health (any op, any number)
• projectile max hp/max health (any op, any number)
• projectile defense = none, light, medium, invincible
• projectile = jump proof/vulnerable to jumps
• projectile weakness = none,fire,earth,water,ice,wind,electric,poison,darkness,light,other
• projectile harmful = true/false
• projectile grab items = true/false
• projectile friendly fire = true/false
• projectile affect item blocks = true/false
• projectile power = light/medium/strong
• projectile type = none,fire,earth,water,ice,wind,electric,poison,darkness,light,other,enemy
• projectile life = X seconds (any number and op)
• projectile frame (any op, any number)
• block animate/animation= 1-12
• block destroy = none, crumble, fall, fade, pop, fireball, explore, detonate
• block destroy top = no weakness, ground pound, walk over, run over, step on
• block destroy bottom = no weakness, bump
• block destroy defense = none, light, medium, invincible
• block destroy weakness = none, fire, earth, water, ice, wind, electric, poison, darkness, light, other, enemy, explosion, invincibility
• block destroy with = characters, enemies, anyone
• block trigger top = no weakness, ground pound, walk over, run over, step on
• block trigger bottom = no weakness, bump
• block trigger defense = none, light, medium, invincible
• block trigger weakness = none, fire, earth, water, ice, wind, electric, poison, darkness, light, other, enemy, explosion, invincibility
• block trigger with = characters, enemies, anyone
• block type = visible/invisible/secret
• block destroy setting = none, leave item, trigger, change [new block ID].
• block spawn = standard/auto/none
• block give item = none, block give item = [item ID]
• block limit = unlimited, (or any number with any op)
• block timer = none (or any decimal number which any op) Note that the number works differently if the timer is currently running. If it's running, the timer affects the running timer. If not, the time affects what the timer will start at once it's triggered.
• block timer = stop (stops the current timer on the block from running. If it's triggered again, it will resume where it left off.
• block timer = start (starts the current timer on the block, even if it hasn't been triggered)
• block finish = nothing, destroy
• block frame (any op, any number)

9

Announcements / Spam Bots on Forums

« on: December 14, 2021, 02:42:39 AM »

Hi everyone,

I know there have been an annoyingly high number of spam posts lately. I cleared away some spam posts and I did some work to tighten the registration process to help prevent this from continuing. I'll continue to monitor the situation. Until then, there might still be some bots that already made it through and have yet to post somewhere. If you see spam posts, please be sure to report them to the moderator, which is me. I'll be sure to ban the user and remove the post.



Thanks for your patience,
TingThing

10

Announcements / New Graphics - Progress Update

« on: May 31, 2021, 04:26:37 PM »

Hey everyone,


It's been a loooong time since I posted any announcements or updates. If you remember a while back, we got a new graphics artist who is helping redo a lot of the sprites and graphics in Platform Builder.


New sprites are coming in from her about every week now, and we are starting to see the finish line. I have been busy importing those graphics into the next update for Platform Builder too, and I thought I'd show you the finished character designer in this video I just published:

Best,
TingThing

11

Announcements / Platform Builder 9 Release

« on: February 15, 2021, 03:08:48 AM »

Hi everyone!


Platform Builder 9 is released on Steam!


Now, I originally intended to release 9 with the new graphics. This was the plan. But due to the amount of time is has been taking, I decided it would be best to release 9 as it already is, and get those new graphics in for the next major update. Rest assured, progress is still being made by Casey, our artist. I am expecting to have that stuff ready and released sometime in May or June. Fingers crossed!


Until then, everything from the beta has been pushed to a full release on Steam, which means that you can finally publish to the explore section again


And, as a fun teaser, the forest background has been updated with Casey's handiwork.


For those who haven't been following the Beta stuff, you can view all of the updates for PB9 here.


The command prompt page has also been updated to reflect all of the new commands. (I'm noting a formatting issue for all commands that are in < > symbols. I'll have to deal with that later.)


Cool. Enjoy using BP 9 on Steam! 


-TingThing

12

Platform Builder Update Log / Version 9.0

« on: February 15, 2021, 01:36:33 AM »

Platform Builder Version 9.0

Patch 7:

• Fixed: Error when copying a custom item or enemy if your previously selected object is something with a custom sprite.
• Fixed: Using "and" and "or" in commands is not always working as it should.
• Fixed: Enemy damage recovery command not working.
• EXE has been updated.

Patch 6:

• Fixed: Error when adding something to an empty folder.
• Fixed: Error when copying character into an item box when nothing was selected previously.
• Fixed: Character respawns may glitch by repositioning the living character to the edge of the view.
• Fixed: Error code when switching areas with a pick-up item that uses a custom sprite.
• Fixed: Uploaded music should not restart after switching to an area with the same music.
• Fixed: Enemy speed command is not working if the enemy speed was previously set to 0.
• Fixed: Some things do not display right with Player 2 Controls in "Other Settings" of Game Setup

Patch 5:

• Fixed: The area creation command prompt for custom items and enemies don't execute when they are placed inside blocks, chests, etc.
• Fixed: Custom enemies were having some issues when landing on the ground.

Patch 4:

• Fixed: Items in the item box can be removed when loading a world or area.
• Fixed: Error when activating hidden paths
• Fixed: Possible Error when escaping from a course editor.

Patch 3:

• Area command (The commands you input when you edit custom items/enemies/blocks from the area editor) now runs immediately AFTER the create command.
• Collisions with jump-through platforms have been worked on to avoid falling through them.
• Fixed: Some color things in custom menus are not working right in gameplay.
• Fixed: Enemy physics commands do not respond correctly when using a non-number on the right side of the operator.
• Fixed: Error placing enemy on top of large cannon.
• Fixed: Pressing "enter" to make a selection in a custom menu that doesn't pause the game will pause the game instead of making the selection.
• Fixed: Enemy frame command does not always works properly.
• Fixed: There is an empty option in "destroy" row of "other settings" box in custom block settings of Game Setup.
• Fixed: Attack other enemies can harm invincible enemies.
• Fixed: "Disable Pause Menu" command does not work when the pause menu has been replaced with a custom menu.
• Fixed: Errors and issues using the key press command when using a gamepad.
• Fixed: Button for uploading music may not be highlighted if something is there.
• Fixed: Assistant button is displayed in the sound effect page of Game Setup.
• Fixed: Error when right clicking on a command prompt which uses the sound effect command without a value.
• Fixed: player fire command does not work properly when shooting is set to semi-automatic or automatic.
• Fixed: Flying custom enemy sometimes goes through walls when it shouldn't.
• Fixed: Error when entering levels from the overworld when player 2 is holding a directional key.
• Fixed: Flying enemy follow acceleration is inconsistent across different FPS settings.
• Fixed: Flying enemy won't go down when touching a jump-through platform, even if the enemy is already lower than it.
• Fixed: Loading default item box throws an error.
• Fixed: When exporting exe games, the exe file name does not match the name of its game.
• Note: Please check that your flying enemies with follow settings still behave as you like. (Acceleration settings is higher and more consistent across FPS settings.)

Patch 2:

• Fixed: Some commands adjusting physics do not work properly.
• Fixed: Continue Previous setting in music is not working as it should.
• Fixed: Lens controls in area editor are visible over a full-screen command prompt.
• Fixed: Menu selection in Custom Menus of Game Setup may display over the controls.
• Fixed: Custom menu and timelines don't show everything when the scroll bar is needed.
• Fixed: Enemies can be glitchy if they land directly on the corner of something solid.
• Fixed: Error when changing the maximum fall speed with commands.
• Fixed: Bracketing Hover Time command gives the wrong number.
• Fixed: Screen resize with F11 may not work.

Patch 1:

• Added commands to make the shake power "very light" or "very strong" for the screen shake effect.
• Added "lens strength" command to adjust the strength of your lens.
• Fixed: Some lens commands are unresponsive.
• Fixed: Flying Enemy Follow physics are not working correctly.
• Fixed: Animation speed is inconsistent between the game setup preview and game with custom things using custom sprites
• Fixed: The projectile editor in Game Setup does not give accurate test results in some instances.
• Fixed: Command prompt block spawn IDs are not responsive when they use Capital letters.
• Fixed: right-clicking the left arrow for lens strength in the overworld settings throws an error.
• Fixed: Sometimes a failure to initialize variables in the command prompt will throw an error.
• Fixed: Invincibility music plays over to the next area if music is set to "Continue Previous"
• Fixed: Some text is duplicated when naming a resource from the command prompt ID selecting tool.
• Fixed: Screen shake effect is not consistent across different FPS settings.
• Fixed: Unable to bracket the cooldown variable
• Color commands will not affect a fade-in or fade-out color after the fade has already started.
• Staggered looping speed will not be affected by changing the game's FPS.
• Pressing Esc. on the keyboard will take you out of Game Setup.
• When spawning with a command, any extra spaces at the end of the spawn ID will not be counted.

Updates:

• Added controls for changing the appearance and location of custom menus
• Added lighting settings for custom enemies, blocks, items, and projectiles
• Added ability to write in conditionals for menu selections to make them appear or not
• Added command to replace the default pause menu with your own custom menu
• Added ability to make custom menu not pause the game (useful for title screens)
• Added ability to spawn sprites which pause the game (Useful for sprite-based pause menus)
• Added command prompt to change what happens when you pause the game in other settings of Game Setup (Useful for pausing with sprite-based menus.)
• Added pixel-blend settings in "other settings" of Game Setup.
• Added FPS settings which maintains game motion and physics in "other settings" of Game Setup.
• Added ability to force your own window size in "other settings" of Game Setup
• Added a couple more projectile direction settings
• Added ability to copy and paste invisible block light settings
• Added a button to help preview invisible block light settings
• Added special keymapping commands for custom menus
• Added four more actions buttons which can be used with the keymapping commands and called from character commands
• Window and view sizes have been adjusted to work best with the new pixel-blend settings. This has created some larger workspaces.
• Conditionals can be placed inside of brackets. (In technical language, you can now use nested if statements)
• Added ability to set create commands in the area editor for custom enemies, items, and blocks. These commands only apply to that specific thing.
• Added commands to move x and y position of things to random spots within the view
• Added command to exit a game
• Added commands to simulate knockback effect for character/player
• Added commands to adjust the position to spawn projectiles fired by characters
• Added commands to change constant or staggered looping commands for individual things
• Added key press and key release conditionals (make sure this is in a constant looping command prompt!)
• Added command for making custom enemies ignore their environment
• Added failsafe to prevent character from getting stuck in solid objects
• Added ability to change window caption in Game Setup > Other Settings
• Added lowest and highest FPS in the Platform Builder main menu settings.
• Added command to change the view size to your own value
• Added many new commands for modifying custom enemies on the fly
• Added command to change enemy health
• Added command to change enemy animation frame
• Optimized the command prompt and other parts of Platform Builder
• Saving and Loading games in courses will include the x and y position of the player.
• "how show/hide" commands work without using a custom hud sprite
• Grid tool settings are saved with the areas
• Custom menus with scroll bars are more compatible with gamepads
• Yellow and orange highlights for editing things in the world/area editor show up above lighting settings
• Example file has been updated with a couple improvements
• Updated forest background
• "Fade in" and "Fade out" commands can now be set to a number in seconds for how long you wish the fade to take place.
• Fixed: With player 2 command not working
• Fixed: Setting a variable to a negative value not working
• Fixed: Buttons in view settings of area and world editor do not always respond properly
• Fixed: Enemies do not bounce on custom blocks that act like a spring.
• Fixed: Explosion animation isn't aligned correctly for custom enemies.
• Fixed: Error when using a custom menu with no menu items in it.
• Fixed: Loading the factory default item box causes problems with the item box if the scroll bar is not flush to the top.
• Fixed: Hopping enemies are glitchy on slopes.
• Fixed: Tall enemies display too small in the item box.
• Fixed: URLs are not opening correctly.
• Fixed: Several subcategories of overworld bonus icons don't work properly.
• Fixed: Area save file gets corrupted if you click on two red "edit" highlights at the same time.
• Fixed: Character projectiles don't harm enemies if they are up really close to the character
• Fixed: Lives do not reset like they should after a Game Over
• Fixed: Character with wall jump enabled can get stuck in walls
• Fixed: Error when picking up multiple items at once, and one or more of those items are text items.
• "fps" can now be bracketed in commands and messages.
• Fixed: Unable to select a starting direction for NPCs.
• Note: Due to the way that views have been re-adjusted to support pixel-perfect graphics, you will need to revisit your game screens and adjust the scenes accordingly.
• Improved "Platform Builder" display on the main menu

13

Announcements / Platform Builder 9 Beta is Out!!

« on: November 14, 2020, 05:31:11 PM »

Hi everyone! Platform Builder 9 Beta is out! Make sure you are logged into the forums and go here!

This post is closed for comments, but you can leave your comments on the above link.

The Pro version of the beta is free to use for anyone, as long as the Beta is published here. All you need is to register for a free account on these forums.

14

Announcements / Possible Reason for Corrupted Levels

« on: November 07, 2020, 04:02:07 AM »

Hello everyone,


I made an important discovery today that I would like you to be aware of.


You know how you can click the "edit" button and get those red highlights over custom enemies/items/blocks etc.? Those red highlights will take you straight to edit the thing inside Game Setup. Well, apparently if you click on two of those highlights at the same time (for instance, if you have a custom enemy placed on top of a custom sprite, and so the highlights are on top of each other and you click on them both) it can cause a double-save of the level, effectively corrupting the file. When you return to the level it will probably give you an "invalid license" error when clear the entire file, forcing you to load a backup.


I have seen occasional reports of this issue happening, and I just found out one reason why. I will make sure this is fixed in the next update. Until then, be careful about clicking on those red highlights.


Best,
TingThing

15

Collaboration / Help me optimize the command prompt!

« on: October 18, 2020, 07:06:05 PM »

Hi everyone,


I'm working on optimizing the command prompt so that it runs faster in Platform Builder. I think Antikore mentioned some things like removing commands and extra space on compile. That stuff is happening. But there's something else I'm doing too.


The command prompt works by searching through a long list of commands until it finds the one that its looking for. Once it finds the command in the list, it will stop searching and execute the command.


What this means is that I want to have the most commonly used commands to appear early in the list so that they are found quickly.


Could you help me out by commenting below which commands you tend to use most often in Platform Builder? (This also goes for conditionals)


Thanks!
-TingThing