Timer devices are a way to track time for countdowns. But that's just the beginning! Read on for more novel ways to employ this device in your games.
Basic Countdown Timer
The Timer device is great for quickly setting up a timed goal. In this example, you’ll use an interactive Timer to create a basic traversal challenge.
Devices Used
1 x Timer device
1 x Player Spawner device
1 x End Game device
Set Up the Devices
Start with the Rivers Edge starter island.
Place a Player Spawner device on one of the existing platforms.
Place a Timer device at the top of the nearby tower.
Customize the Timer as follows:
Option Value Duration
30.0 Seconds
Start at Game Start
On
Success on Timer End
False
Timer Color
White
Display Time In
Seconds Only
Timer Running Text
Stop the Timer before it runs out!
Place an End Game device in a location where the player won't easily find it.
Configure the following event on the Timer so that it ends the game when it succeeds (when the player stops the Timer before it finishes).
Event Select Device Select Function On Success Send Event To
End Game Device
Activate
You now have the basic functionality for an interactable Timer.
Design Tip
With the built-in interaction mechanic, it is easy to set up a timed goal by placing the Timer in a difficult-to-access place.
There’s more than one way for players to interact with Timers — explore allowing players to start a Timer themselves!
Time-Limited Vehicle
The Timer device can be started and stopped by any event from another device. In this example, you’ll use a Timer to track how long a player has been inside a plane, and then destroy the plane when the time is up!
Devices Used
1 x Timer device
1 x Player Spawner device
1 x HUD Message device
1 x Beacon device
1 x Biplane Spawner device
Set Up the Basic Devices
Start with the Tilted Towers POI starter island.
At the top of the hill outside of town, place a Player Spawner device.
Customize the Player Spawner so it doesn't appear in-game:
Place a HUD Message device to tell the player their goal.
Customize the device as follows:
Option Value Message
Reach the top of the marked building!
Message Recipient
All
Show on Round Start
On
Time from Round Start
Instant
Text Color
White
Place a Beacon device on top of a building in Tilted Towers.
Configure the Timed Vehicle
Place a Timer device.
Customize the Timer:
Option Value Duration
10.0 Seconds
Count Down Direction
Count Up
Can Interact
No
Visible During Game
Hidden
Timer Color
White
Display Time In
Seconds Only
Timer Running Text
Plane will Destroy at 10 Seconds…
Paused Text
Plane Destroy Stopped…
At the top of the hill near the player’s spawn location, place a Biplane Spawner device.
Configure the following event on the Biplane Spawner so that when the player enters it, it either starts or resumes the Timer (depending on whether it has been started before), and so that when the player exits it, it pauses the Timer.
Event Select Device Select Function On Player Enters Vehicle Send Event To
Timer Device
Start
On Player Enters Vehicle Send Event To
Timer Device
Resume
On Player Exits Vehicle
Timer Device
Pause
Configure the following event on the Timer so that when the Timer hits 10 Seconds, it will destroy the plane.
You now have the basic functionality for a time-limited vehicle game mechanic!
Design Tip
The Timer device can listen to and trigger a lot of different events. This example is driven by an external device starting and stopping a timer, but timers can also be reset, completed, saved, and more!
Timers can also send many unique events, such as different events for succeeding and failing, and an event for when urgency mode begins!
Build a Timed Wave Survival Game!
Using multiple Timers in combination with other common devices, you can create a wave survival game. In this example, you’ll connect Timers to Buttons and Creature Managers, and even implement a basic economy.
Devices Used
3 x Timer devices
1 x Player Spawner device
2 x Item Granter devices
1 x End Game device
3 x Creature Spawner devices
2 x Billboard devices
3 x Button devices
1 x Elimination Manager device
1 x Conditional Button device
Set Up the Basic Gameplay
Begin with the Canyon Island starter island.
In the flat area of the island, place the Ranger Station prefab.
Inside the lobby, place a Player Spawner device.
Customize the Player Spawner so it's not visible in-game:
Place an Item Granter device and register a Tactical Assault Rifle to the device.
Customize the Item Granter:
Option Value Receiving Players
All
Spare Weapon Ammo
100
Grant on Game Start
On
In a place that the player won’t see, place an End Game device.
Customize the End Game device by adding a custom victory callout that reads You Survived!
Configure the Waves
In front of the station, place a Creature Spawner device.
Name the device Wave 1 Creature Spawner and customize:
Option Value Creature Type
Field
Number of Creatures
3
Activation Range
15.0 Tiles
Spawner Visibility
Off
Preferred Spawn Location
Random
Enabled At Game Start
Off
Duplicate the Creature Spawner two more times for Wave 2 and Wave 3.
For the Wave 2 Creature Spawner, change the Creature Type to Brute and the Number of Creatures to 4.
For the Wave 3 Creature Spawner, change the Creature Type to Cube Random and the Number of Creatures to 5.
When duplicating devices in similar locations, place them slightly offset from one another so it is easier to access their individual settings.
Place a Timer device to keep track of the time for Wave 1.
Customize the Wave 1 Timer:
Option Value Duration
20.0 Seconds
Timer Name
Wave 1 Timer
Can Interact
No
Visible During Game
Hidden
Timer Color
White
Timer Running Text
Survive for…
Success Score Value
100
Enable Urgency Mode
On
Urgency Mode Time
10.0 Seconds
Urgency Text
Almost there!
Display Score Update on HUD
On
HUD Score Update Message
Wave 1 Complete
Duplicate this Timer for Wave 2, rename it to Wave 2 Timer, and customize:
Option Value Duration
20.0 Seconds
Timer Name
Wave 1 Timer
Can Interact
No
Visible During Game
Hidden
Timer Color
White
Timer Running Text
Survive for…
Success Score Value
100
Enable Urgency Mode
On
Urgency Mode Time
10.0 Seconds
Urgency Text
Almost there!
Display Score Update on HUD
On
HUD Score Update Message
Wave 1 Complete
Repeat for the Wave 3 Timer:
Option Value Duration
40.0 Seconds
Timer Name
Wave 3 Timer
Can Interact
No
Visible During Game
Hidden
Timer Color
White
Timer Running Text
Survive for…
Success Score Value
100
Enable Urgency Mode
On
Urgency Mode Time
10.0 Seconds
Urgency Text
Almost there!
Display Score Update on HUD
On
HUD Score Update Message
Wave 3 Complete
Behind the player’s spawn location, move the fish plaque to the center of the wall, then place a BIllboard device above it.
Customize the Billboard:
Option Value Text
Start Wave
Text Justification
Center
Text Size
24
Text Color
Aqua
Outline
Light
Shadow
Upperright
Place a Button device on the fish plaque. This button will start Wave 1.
Customize the Wave 1 Button:
Option Value Times Can Trigger
1
Interaction Text
Start Wave 1
Visible During Game
No
Interaction Radius
0.5 Meters
Duplicate this button, name it Wave 2 Button, and customize:
Option Value Times Can Trigger
1
Enabled at Game Start
Disabled
Interaction Text
Start Wave 2
Visible During Game
No
Interaction Radius
0.5 Meters
Repeat for the Wave 3 Button:
Option Value Times Can Trigger
1
Enabled at Game Start
Disabled
Interaction Text
Start Wave 3
Visible During Game
No
Interaction Radius
0.5 Meters
Event Select Device Select Function On Interact Send Event To
Wave 1 Timer Device
Start
On Interact Send Event To
Wave 1 Creature Spawner
Enable
On Interact Send Event To
Next Wave Billboard
Set Text HIdden
Bind Functions and Events for the Waves
Direct event binding is how you set devices to communicate directly with other devices. This involves setting functions and events for the devices involved.
Configure the following event on the Wave 1 Button so that it begins the Timer, enables the Creature Spawner, and sets the Billboard to Hidden:
Configure the same events for the Wave 2 and Wave 3 Buttons, changing the events to the corresponding Wave devices (Timer and Creature Manager). Make sure each Button hides the text on the Next Wave Billboard.
Configure the following event on the Wave 1 Timer so that it destroys the current Creature Spawner, sets the Button active for the next wave, and makes the Next Wave Billboard visible again.
Event Select Device Select Function On Success Send Event To
Wave 2 Button
Enable
On Success Send Event To
Wave 1 Creature Spawner
Destroy Spawner
On Success Send Event To
Next Wave Billboard
Set Text Visible
Configure the same events on the Wave 2 Timer. Update the Button to the Wave 3 Button and the Creature Spawner to the Wave 2 Creature Spawner.
Configure the following event on the Wave 3 Timer so it destroys the current Creature Spawner and ends the game.
Set Up the Economy
Place an Elimination Manager device and drop 1 Gold on the device to register it.
Customize the Elimination Manager:
Option Value Number Of Items Dropped
1
Target Type
All Creatures
Run Over Pickup
On
In the lobby, place a Conditional Button device on the wall. Drop Gold on the device to register it.
Customize the Conditional Button:
Option Value Interact Text
Buy Ammo
Missing Items Text
Not Enough Gold
Key Items Required
5
Above the Conditional Button, place a Billboard device.
Customize the BIllboard:
Option Value Text
AMMO
Text Justification
Center
Text Size
24
Text Color
Red
Outline
Thick
Shadow
Upperright
Place an Item Granter device and drop Ammo: Small Bullets on the device to register it.
Customize the Item Granter:
Option Value On Grant Action
Keep All
Item Count
100
Event Select Device Select Function On Activated Send Event To
Ammo Item Granter
Grant Item
Configure the following event on the Conditional Button so that when the player pays 5 Gold, they receive 100 bullets.
Modify Island Settings
Make the following modifications to the island settings.
Go to Island Settings > User Interface.
Under HUD, change Show Gold Resource Count to Yes.
Go to Island Settings > Player.
Under Inventory, change Infinite Gold to Off.
You now have a working wave survival game with timed waves!
Design Tip
This example uses even more built-in settings on the Timer, such as awarding score and displaying the change on the HUD when the Timer ends.
This functionality can also be used in multiplayer game modes where different players have their own unique Timers, allowing only certain players to receive points!
