Messages

31

Platform Builder Update Log / Re: Version 9.0

« on: May 12, 2021, 03:07:57 AM »

thumbs up for patch 3. I still have a few problems with item boxes (and will report them soon), but at least they don't crash on me now. everything else I reported seems to be fixed

Yeah, I noticed some issues too while working on your error report. It might be the same.

32

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

33

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

34

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.

35

Announcements / Re: Possible Reason for Corrupted Levels

« on: November 07, 2020, 03:20:36 PM »

I have some backups of old versions I would have to sort through them to figure out what I could publish. Since there are still automatic backups for all the levels, I will probably focus my efforts on getting 9.0 ready as soon as possible.

36

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

37

General Discussion / Re: Typos?

« on: October 28, 2020, 07:29:00 PM »

@TingThing In the "videos" popup of the manual playlist is typoed "playist"

Thanks, I'll need to update the link to that too!

38

Working with Platform Builder / Re: Pixel perfect graphics

« on: October 24, 2020, 02:13:52 AM »

@Dezue A lot of this depends on the new art being done, and that is not really in my control. But I would guess early 2021.

39

Working with the Ultimate Platformer Engine / Re: UPE - Recommendations for Newcomers

« on: October 22, 2020, 11:51:34 PM »

Yes, I am aware that there are problems with Game Maker 2.3 and the UPE. As it turns out, 2.3 ended up breaking a lot of different games, although YoyoGames already has a beta out for a fix to many of these problems. I'm also going to create an update to the UPE after Platform Builder 9 is released.

40

Collaboration / Re: Help me optimize the command prompt!

« on: October 19, 2020, 03:01:06 PM »

Command Prompt could run lot faster if using switch statements, however, I think that's not possible maybe...

Good thinking, yes, and that's what I already do, and then break the switch once the command has been found. It's also divided up into one switch statement for each letter of the alphabet, dividing up the workload further.

you should add a thing to the next version that, if enabled, would check for each export the amount of times each commands is used, and generate a log file that would be sent to you, so you can get information on the most used commands.

Also good thinking Warrior. I might do that in the future to polish up the command prompt further.

41

Collaboration / Re: Help me optimize the command prompt!

« on: October 18, 2020, 10:30:19 PM »

It's hard for me to give such a list since I use such a wide variety of commands.

Can you think of the commands or conditionals that you often use in looping command prompts?

42

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

43

Working with Platform Builder / Re: Pixel perfect graphics

« on: October 16, 2020, 06:43:48 PM »

Also @TingThing did you seen my post on the 9.0 commands thread where I talk about the new action buttons? I think it's inmportant that you see this.

Yup, I saw that, thanks!

44

Working with Platform Builder / Re: Pixel perfect graphics

« on: October 16, 2020, 02:56:28 AM »

Or.....


You guys would wait until PB 9 comes out.

45

Announcements / Re: Updated EULA for Platform Builder

« on: October 12, 2020, 07:46:42 PM »

Yes, so technically fangames are not allowed. But to be honest, that's not something I would be able to enforce (nor something I would even want to enforce). The biggest thing is that if anyone does get in trouble with fangames made by Platform Builder, then Platform Builder will not be liable. Anyone who chooses to publish a fangame does so at their own risk.