The Ball Spawner device spawns a ball that can be knocked around by players or objects. A player can shove it, shoot it, or hit it with a pickaxe to knock it in a specific direction.
Keep going for a couple of examples of how you can use this device:
Dodgeball Last Player Standing
Did you know that the balls spawned by the Ball Spawner can be used to eliminate other players?
In this design example, you’ll learn how to create a four-player game where players bounce the ball to eliminate each other, and the last player standing wins!
Devices Used
1 x Ball Spawner device
Build Your Own
Start by making a simple arena for the action, which will help keep the players focused on the ball.
In this example, the walls of the game space are made from sloped pieces that roll the ball back into play, but you could make your walls any shape you choose!
Add Player Spawners
Place a player spawner on one of the raised platforms at the corners of the arena.
Configure the spawner to be invisible during the game.
Option Value Description Visible in Game
Off
Player spawners disappear when the game starts.
Copy the configured spawner to the remaining corners.
Add the Ball Spawner
Add the Ball Spawner device over the center of the arena.
In this example, the ball spawner is visible during gameplay so players have a reference point for where the ball will fall from. It is also turned upside down to allow the ball to fall freely.
A player has to use their pickaxe to propel the ball into another player, but if they don't time their swing well, the ball will touch them, and they are eliminated!
Set the following options for the ball:
Option Value Description Enabled During Phase
Gameplay Only
The ball will spawn only after the game starts.
Ball Color
optional
Use the default color, or pick your own!
Eliminate Player When Touched
On
This causes a player to be eliminated when another player propels the ball into them.
On the Functions tab, set the ball spawner to Enable When Receiving From the first Player Spawner in the area.
Add a Damage Volume
To encourage players to jump into the arena and start bouncing the ball at their rivals, add a Damage Volume device that covers the player spawners.
The Damage Volume device is to encourage players to jump into the game. If they don't the damage volume will eliminate them. You can spell this out for the players in onboarding, or let them learn the hard way!
Set the size of the damage volume.
Option Value Description Zone Width
5
These dimensions make it possible to cover all of the player spawners with a single volume.
Zone Height
5
These dimensions make it possible to cover all of the player spawners with a single volume.
Go to Functions and set the following:
Function Select Device Select Event Enable When Receiving From
Player Spawner
On Player Spawned
Configure the Island Settings
Go to Island Settings, then select the Mode category.
Under Structure, set Max Players to 4.
While still on Mode, go to End Condition.
Set Last Standing Ends Game to On.
You have created your own dodgeball-style mini-game!
Try changing the Island Settings to see how you can adjust the gameplay, or add weapons into the arena for even more fun!
Soccer Score Mini-Game
Ready for another simple ball-based game?
This soccer-style mini-game features a scoring system where the first team to earn five goals wins.
Devices Used
1 x Ball Spawner device
Build Your Own
Build a simple playing field that's big enough to allow player movement, but that will constrain player actions to the area.
In this example, the arena walls are made from sloped pieces that roll the ball back into play, but feel free to get creative when you shape your soccer field!
Add a soccer goal prop to each end of the field.
For a more authentic look, use the goal object from the Sports Gallery set in the Pleasant Park gallery.
Add Player Spawner Devices
Place a player spawner on one end of the field, and customize with the following settings:
Option Value Description Player Team
Team 1
You will set two spawners to Team 1 and the other two to Team 2.
Use as Island Start
On
This is the default value and should stay to On.
Visible in Game
Off
Once the game starts, the player spawners should not be visible.
Copy and place another player spawner next to the first. At this point you should have two spawners at one end of the field.
Copy and place a third spawner, but at the other end of the field.
Change Player Team to Team 2, then copy and place a second Team 2 spawner next to it.
Add the Ball Spawner
Place the Ball Spawner device above the center of your play space.
Turn the ball spawner upside down to allow the ball to drop freely into the field when it spawns. Configure the ball spawner to be enabled during gameplay only.
You can also change the ball size and color for more fun.
Go to Functions and set the following:
Function Select Device Select Event Enable When Receiving From
Player Spawner
On Player Spawned
Add Capture Areas
Adding a capture area for each goal makes it possible for players to score by knocking the ball into the goal. Each team will have its own capture area (goal).
Place a Capture Area device inside of the goal that's at the opposite end of the Team 1 spawners, making sure the capture area does not extend past the goal.
Set the following options:
Option Value Description Starting Team
Team 1
Assigns Team 1 to this capture area. The other team cannot score in this area.
Accent Color Type
Team Color
Identifies the team goal by color. For more on how team colors are assigned, see Configure Island Settings below.
Capture Radius
1 Tile
Sets the size of the capture area.
Item Visible in Game
Off
The device is hidden during the game.
Visible During Game
Off
The capture area is also hidden during the game.
The goal for the blue team sits between the red team player spawners.
The goal for the red team sits between the blue team player spawners.
Configure Island Settings
The final step in setting up this mini-game is to configure the Island Settings.
Go to Island Settings > Mode > Structure and set the following:
Setting Value Max Players
4
Teams
2
Team Size
2
Total Rounds
5
Go to Mode > Matchmaking Settings, and set:
Setting Value Island Matchmaking Privacy
Party Choice
Team Fill Option
Must Fill
Go to Mode > Team Settings > UI Team Colors, and set to Relationship.
When you set team colors to Relationship, this defaults the team colors to blue and red.
Go to Round > End Condition, and set Time Limit to None.
Go to Round > Victory Condition, and set both Round Win Condition and Tiebreaker 1 to Score.
The settings above allow players to play rounds that will end when one team scores a goal, and the game will end with the best of five rounds.
For the final Island Settings change, go to Player > Build Mode, and set Allow Building to None.
You have created your own soccer-style mini-game! Try changing the Island Settings to see how you can adjust the gameplay, or add weapons into the arena for more fun.