Set up machines/schematics that can be called anytime (e.g. from another schematic).
Global machines are found in Gameplay > Global Machines.
Global machines can also start automatically, e.g. every second or when changing scenes. Unlike machine components, global machines aren’t added to objects in your scenes.
Using Global Machines #
Like machine components, global machines will play a schematic.
Starting a Global Machine #
A global machine can be started by schematics (Start Global Machine node), input keys or HUD click actions. Starting a global machine via schematic will allow selecting the Machine Object and Starting Object.
Additionally, global machines can be started automatically. This is handled by the global machine’s Execution Settings.
Call #
This start type will only start when called (e.g. by a schematic). All other start types can also be started upon call.
E.g. a schematic will check for game over conditions and handle ending the game. The schematic needs to be started by various other schematics.
Setting this mechanic up as a call global machine allows starting it whenever needed.
Auto #
The auto global machine will start automatically based on time and defined conditions. You can define a timeout between condition checks to e.g. only run the machine once per minute (60 second timeout).
Starting the machine can depend on general conditions.
E.g. a schematic handles a custom time system, increasing minutes, hours and days of in-game time (using variables).
Setting this mechanic up as an auto global machine with a timeout of 5 will increase the in-game time by 1 minute every 5 seconds.
Additionally, using the conditions, the time progression can be paused when needed, e.g. during cut-scenes or scene changes.
Key #
The key global machine will start when a defined input key is used. When the input key is used (e.g. Escape pressed down), the global machine will start if the conditions are valid.
Starting the machine can depend on general conditions.
E.g. a schematic handles a custom menu (Show Dialogue node) that should be displayed when the player presses the menu input key (e.g. using the Escape key).
Setting this mechanic up as a key global machine allows calling the menu without adding it to a specific game object. The menu is available whenever needed.
Additionally, using the conditions, the menu call can be blocked when needed, e.g. during cut-scenes or scene changes.
Scene #
The scene global machine will start when changing the scene. The machine can optionally be started in the old scene (i.e. before changing scenes) or in the new scene (i.e. after changing scenes), additionally the machine can run before or after fading the screen.
The Scene Change Type defines which scene changes can start the global machine, e.g. starting for All scene changes, only from Scene Changers, when loading the game or for Custom scene change types (defined by scene changers and Load Scene nodes in schematics). You can also start only by Load Game scene changes, e.g. to handle special load game mechanics.
Starting the machine can depend on general conditions.
E.g. a schematic saves the game to the auto save slot. The game should be saved automatically whenever the player enters a new scene.
Setting this mechanic up as a scene global machine (running in the new scene) will save the game whenever a new scene has been loaded.
Using conditions can prevent the auto save as needed.