Tips and Tricks

Using Countdown Config and Viewer for Countdown Functionality

The Countdown Config and Countdown Viewer are designed specifically for managing countdown timers, providing a streamlined solution for triggering, controlling, and displaying countdowns in real-time. Countdown Config

1. Countdown Start & Stop (Behavior) – Controls the initiation and termination of the countdown based on specific triggers.

2. Value Changed (Event) – Triggers updates at a defined interval (set to 1 second in this case).

3. If State Is (Expired) – Checks if the countdown has reached zero. If expired, triggers the next action (e.g., displaying a message).

4. If State Is (Stopped) – Checks if the countdown has been manually stopped. If stopped, triggers the next action (e.g., sending a message or performing a specific behavior).

Countdown Viewer

1. Countdown Symbol UI – A Symbol in the UI that dynamically updates to show the countdown timer based on values from Countdown Config.

2. Length in Seconds (Traits) – Defines the total duration of the countdown. Adjusting this value determines how long the countdown runs before reaching zero.

3. Countdown Viewer (Update) – Receives updates from Value Changed, ensuring the countdown timer displays the current value in real-time.

Behavior

Traits

Result:

• Countdown Start – When triggered, the countdown begins.

• Countdown Stop – When triggered, the countdown stops.

Using Datum Config and Viewer to Represent Life Points

The Datum Config and Viewer can be used to represent a player's life points. The Datum Config serves as a container for numerical values, which can be adjusted through operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. When linked to a Datum, the Viewer provides a visual representation of the current value, ensuring that any updates are immediately reflected in the UI. This setup is commonly used to track player health, scores, or other game-related statistics.

For more details about the Datum Config. See Built-in Content.

This video gives a quick demo of using Datum as Life Points. First, we set the Life Points Datum to 100. Then, we attach a Datum Subtract Value Effect—set to 10—to an NPC’s Collided Cause. So when the player runs into the NPC, it knocks 10 points off the Datum value. We can then show that updated value in the player’s UI using a Datum Viewer Symbol.

Behavior Panel Setup

The image above illustrates how a Datum can be used to represent Life Points. The Life Points Datum is initialized at 100. A Datum Subtract Value Effect, set to 10, is then linked to an NPC’s Collided Cause. As a result, when the player collides with the NPC, the Life Points Datum decreases by 10. The updated value can be displayed in the player’s UI using a Datum Viewer Symbol.

Datum Viewer Traits

The Datum Viewer displays values from a linked Datum Config. In the Traits panel, the associated Datum Config is selected to determine which values appear in the UI. This can be found under the Symbol Spark and dragged into the UI Editor panel.

Important Note: Ensure that the Datum Viewer has a reference to the Datum Config to reflect any changes accurately.

Behavior Nodes Used

Datum Config

1. Datum Set Value Effect (Behavior) – Assigns a specific value to the Datum Config, enabling precise control over the stored data.

1. Datum Subtract Value Effect (Behavior) – Decreases the current value of the Datum Config based on the specified amount in the effect.