Generators

A generator creates content and applies it to the level in one operation that can be undone in one step. Every generator is run from the "Generators" window on the toolbar

Generators

A generator's form is built from its own fields. There is no separate interface for each generator

More - Reuse: prefabs, copying, generators

The generators window

Content generators and modifiers are run from the Generators window on the toolbar. Its Base Parameters block is shared by all generators: Start Frame, End Frame, Layer and Seed. They belong to the window, not to any one generator

How the block behaves:

• The window opens on one second from the playhead, with the seed at 0. Random rolls a new seed
• The frames stay inside the timeline you are working on, from frame 1 to its last frame. In prefab mode that is the template's length
• Editing Start Frame pushes End Frame along with it. Editing End Frame stops at Start Frame. They never cross
• Layer stays inside the allowed range of layers
• Each frame field has a pin that holds it at the edge of the timeline. Whole Level sets both, and the window runs from frame 1 to the last frame. The fields stay editable, and typing into a field removes the pin from that edge

Group Into One Object and Layer Per Object are on by default. The group is named after the generator. Both affect only content generators: a modifier creates nothing, so there is nothing to group

Generated content never goes under the selected object. It lands at the top level of the scope or in its own group

Before you press Generate, the window shows what a run will add. The button is unavailable, and the reason is written instead of the estimate, if:

• the generator needs the whole level and you are in prefab mode. These are Beat Flash, Font Cache, Capacity Hint and Remap Framerate
• the generator needs a selection and nothing is selected
• after the run the level would have more than 262 144 objects
• a content generator would add nothing. A modifier is not rejected for this

A generator that needs external data (an audio track, beats, an image) creates nothing without it, and the estimate says so

Generate closes the window. The generated content stays selected, in the same undo step

The window remembers which generator you were on and which parameters you entered when it is closed and opened again. Reset returns the defaults

Levels

The AI assistant cannot run these three. It starts a new level with its own level_create instead

Empty Level

Clears the level completely. Everything created is deleted. Suits starting over rather than editing

Pin Screen Aspect (on by default) puts a keyframe with a fixed 16:9 on the Screen Limit track at the first frame

More - Your first level: the route

Level From Audio File

Starts a level from a track. Connects the audio, fits the level's length to the track and puts you at the start of an empty timeline

Pin Screen Aspect (on by default) puts a keyframe with a fixed 16:9 on the Screen Limit track at the first frame

More - Preparing the track

Import Level Archive

Builds a level from an archive this game made. Formats: .tar.gz and .zip. Both may be password protected

The file type is detected by content, not by name. A renamed archive still opens. The game recognises 7z but does not read it yet and rejects it

Bullets

More on all bullet generators - Readability and fairness

Bullet Wave

A row of bullets that move together. The basic pattern, and the one to start with. Its parameters repeat in the other bullet generators

Bullet Spiral

Bullets fly out along a rotating ray. The result is the classic spiral wall

Bullet Rain

Bullets fall onto an area over a set time. Density and scatter are adjustable. Where each bullet falls comes from the window's Seed, not from the level seed. The same seed repeats a run exactly, and a different seed gives a different layout. The AI assistant passes its own seed, 0 unless it gives another, so two runs meant to differ need two seeds

Homing Bullets

Bullets curve toward where the player is expected to be. The path is calculated in advance, not during play. So the result is the same on any device

Laser Sweep

A beam passes across the field. The warning and the damaging phase are different objects. So the warning can be shown, and it does not kill. The warning beam never collides. The firing beam hurts only with a Collider chosen

Geometry

More on all geometry generators - Reuse: prefabs, copying, generators

Polygon

Places shapes on the vertices or edges of a regular polygon

Radial

Places copies around a circle. The basis of most symmetric patterns

Spiral

Places copies along a spiral. The radius and the angle grow together

Grid

Fills a rectangle with copies of a shape at equal distances

Fractal

Repeats a shape inside itself, smaller each time. The object count grows exponentially with depth. Raise the depth one step at a time

Audio and effects

Audio Waveform

Builds objects from the shape of an audio track. The level visibly follows what is heard

More - Reuse: prefabs, copying, generators

Beat Flash

Puts a flash on every beat. The beats come from the level's beat map. If there is no map, from the markers. So exactly what you see on the grid is what flashes

More - Rhythm and structure

Resources and utilities

Texture Objects

Turns an image into objects, one per cell. The picture becomes level content and is animated like everything else

More - Images and fonts

Font Cache

Collects every character the level's text uses and bakes them in advance. Then no character is prepared at the moment it is first shown

More - Images and fonts

Capacity Hint

Records the level's recommended limits: how many objects and effects it needs at the same time

More - Level budget