bad_wolf's Forum Posts

  • I also use ChatGPT when I have a problem. It isn't always correct, but it is a good starting point. With the correct prompt, it is pretty correct or close.

    I don't want to be negative on this forum. However, I asked two questions this week, and none of them received any answer. I solved the first question myself and copied the result in the thread. I solved the second question together with ChatGPT but didn't waste any more of my valuable time putting the answer on the thread.

    Creating several prompts to find a solution is more economical than posting the same message on a forum and waiting for the answer.

    So, for all those against using AI or thinking AI is not up to the task, think differently! ChatGPT is excellent, with the correct prompt.

    What the AI or ChatGPT can't do is create the game for you. On this moment, that is our task for the time being.

  • Hi all,

    Please tell me what is wrong when exporting a movie with Construct Animate.

    I successfully finished my first Construct Animate video, both in MP4 and WebM formats. When I tried it out before I downloaded it, everything—video and sound—was perfect.

    However, when I try the files in an external media player, there is a white screen, and I hear the sounds. After finishing the video, I pressed "Play" again, and everything worked fine.

    Do you have any idea what is going wrong here? I am using Construct 3 Animate r424 stable on Windows.

    I appreciate your help.

    Chris

    • Post link icon

    Thank you again ChatGPT, you are very generous today! All questions are solved.

    Here is the solution to the first and fifth questions.

    IMPORTANT: read until the end.

    If you want a detailed explanation, please reply to this thread.

    Yes, I'm aware of Construct Animate, a browser-based animation tool developed by the creators of Construct 3. While both Construct 3 and Construct Animate share a similar interface and feature set, they are tailored for different purposes.

    Construct 3:

    Purpose: Primarily designed for game development.

    Features: Offers comprehensive tools for creating interactive applications, including event sheets, behaviors, and support for various export options like HTML5, Android, iOS, and more.

    Construct Animate:

    Purpose: Focused on creating animations and interactive media.

    Features: Provides robust animation tools, including timeline animations, visual block systems, and export options such as video, GIFs, and image sequences.

    For developing a quiz application, Construct 3 would be the more suitable choice. Its capabilities are well-suited for handling user interactions, managing game logic, and deploying across multiple platforms. Construct Animate is more appropriate for creating animations or interactive content without complex user interactions.

    For a visual introduction to Construct Animate, you might find this video helpful:

    You said:

    True, but when the quiz is finished, it has to be in mp4 format. Do you still prefer Construct 3? How do I create an mp4?

    ChatGPT said:

    ChatGPT

    Since your quiz application needs to be exported as an MP4 video, Construct Animate would be the better choice because it is specifically designed for creating animations and exporting them in video formats like MP4.

    🔹 Should You Use Construct Animate or Construct 3?

    Feature Construct 3 Construct Animate

    Game Logic & Interactivity ✅ Yes ❌ Limited

    Advanced Event System ✅ Yes ❌ No

    Animation Tools 🟡 Basic ✅ Advanced

    MP4 Export ❌ No (Only HTML5) ✅ Yes (Direct MP4 Export)

    Since Construct 3 does not support MP4 export, you would need third-party screen recording or conversion tools, which is not ideal.

    🔹 How to Create a Quiz in Construct Animate and Export as MP4

    1️⃣ Set Up Your Project

    Open Construct Animate → Create a new project.

    Set the Layout Size to 1920x1080 (Full HD) for high-quality output.

    Add Background & UI Elements:

    Add a background image.

    Insert text boxes for the question and answers.

    Use buttons for answer choices.

    2️⃣ Animate the Quiz

    Use the Timeline:

    Select a question text and create a keyframe.

    Animate transitions using the Timeline Bar.

    Fade in/out elements to simulate user interaction.

    Simulate Answer Selections:

    Create multiple frames, one for each question.

    Use animations to highlight correct and wrong answers.

    3️⃣ Export to MP4

    Click File → Export → Video (MP4).

    Choose:

    Resolution: 1920x1080 (HD) or 1280x720 (for smaller files).

    Frame Rate: 30 FPS (standard for smooth playback).

    Quality: High.

    Click Export and wait for the rendering process to complete.

    🔹 Alternative: Using Construct 3 with a Screen Recorder

    If you still prefer Construct 3 for its logic and interactivity, you can:

    Run the quiz in preview mode.

    Use a screen recorder like OBS Studio or Camtasia.

    Trim the recording and export it as an MP4 file.

    🔹 Conclusion

    If you need interactive quizzes with logic → Construct 3 (but record separately).

    If you need a quiz that plays as an animation and exports directly to MP4 → Construct Animate.

    Would you like a step-by-step guide on designing the quiz in Construct Animate?

    • Post link icon

    Thank you again chatGPT, for the solution to the second question.

    Certainly! The Timeline feature in Construct 3 is a powerful tool that allows you to create intricate animations and control various properties of objects over time. Here's a beginner-friendly guide to help you get started:

    🔹 Getting Started with Timelines in Construct 3

    1️⃣ What is a Timeline?

    A Timeline in Construct 3 is a sequence that defines how object properties change over a specified duration. It's particularly useful for:

    Creating complex animations.

    Coordinating multiple objects' behaviors.

    Designing cut-scenes or scripted events.

    2️⃣ Setting Up Your Project

    Create a New Project:

    Open Construct 3 and start a new project.

    Add a Sprite:

    Insert a new Sprite object onto your layout.

    For this tutorial, you can use any image of your choice.

    3️⃣ Creating a Timeline

    Add a Timeline:

    In the Project Bar, right-click on the Timelines folder.

    Select Add Timeline and name it appropriately (e.g., "MyFirstTimeline").

    Open the Timeline:

    Double-click your newly created timeline to open the Timeline Bar.

    If the Timeline Bar isn't visible, you can enable it from the View menu.

    4️⃣ Adding Objects to the Timeline

    Drag and Drop:

    Drag your Sprite from the layout and drop it into the Timeline Bar.

    This action adds the sprite to the timeline, allowing you to animate its properties.

    Understanding Tracks:

    Once added, you'll see tracks for properties like Position (X, Y).

    You can add more tracks to control other properties such as Angle, Opacity, or Instance Variables.

    5️⃣ Creating Keyframes

    Position the Time Marker:

    Click on the timeline ruler to set the Current Time Marker (the red line) to your desired time (e.g., 0 seconds).

    Set Initial Keyframe:

    With the time marker at 0 seconds, ensure your sprite is in its starting position.

    Right-click on the Position (X, Y) track and select Add Keyframe.

    Set Subsequent Keyframes:

    Move the time marker to a new time (e.g., 2 seconds).

    Move your sprite to a new position on the layout.

    Right-click on the Position (X, Y) track again and select Add Keyframe.

    Previewing the Animation:

    Press the Spacebar to preview the animation within the Timeline Bar.

    6️⃣ Playing the Timeline in Your Game

    Add the Timeline Controller:

    Insert the Timeline Controller object into your layout.

    Set Up Events:

    Open the Event Sheet associated with your layout.

    Create an event to trigger the timeline. For example:

    Event: On start of layout

    Action: Timeline Controller → Start "MyFirstTimeline"

    Test Your Project:

    Run your project to see the timeline animation in action.

    For a more detailed walkthrough, including visual aids, you can refer to the official Construct 3 tutorial:

    construct.net

    Additionally, this video provides a visual introduction to timelines in Construct 3:

    By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating dynamic animations using the Timeline feature in Construct 3. Happy developing! 🚀

    • Post link icon

    Thank you, ChatGPT; you solved the third problem for me.

    In Construct 3, the Flowchart feature, combined with the Flowchart Controller plugin, allows developers to visually design and manage complex game logic. This is particularly useful for creating dialogue systems, decision trees, and AI behaviours.

    Getting Started with Flowcharts in Construct 3:

    Adding a Flowchart:

    In the Project Bar, right-click on the Flowcharts folder.

    Select Add Flowchart.

    Name your flowchart appropriately.

    Editing the Flowchart:

    Double-click the newly created flowchart to open the Flowchart View.

    Right-click in the empty space to Add Node.

    Each node can represent a state or decision point in your game's logic.

    Configuring Nodes:

    Assign Tags to nodes for identification.

    Add Outputs to nodes to define possible transitions.

    Connect nodes by dragging from an output to another node's input.

    Implementing the Flowchart Controller:

    Add the Flowchart Controller plugin to your project.

    Use the Start Flowchart action to initialize your flowchart during runtime.

    Navigate through nodes using actions like Go to Next Node or Go to Node.

    For a comprehensive guide, refer to the official Construct 3 documentation on Flowcharts and the Flowchart Controller plugin.

    Additionally, this video provides a visual introduction to flowcharts in Construct 3:

    By leveraging flowcharts and the Flowchart Controller, you can design intricate game mechanics in a structured and visual manner, enhancing both development efficiency and code readability.

    Question 3 solved.

    • Post link icon

    Hi all,

    I searched a little more on question 4. A json table cannot contain an image. A possible solution is to link with an URL to the image.

    Here is an example:

    {

    "id": 1,

    "name": "Sunset",

    "image_url": "https://example.com/sunset.jpg"

    }

    In my case it is possible but make things unnecessary complex.

    • Post link icon

    Hi all,

    Please, can you answer my questions?

    I want to make a YouTube quiz in mp4 format. I am thinking on a multiple choice quiz with the question on top, 3 or 4 answers on the right and an image left of those 3 or 4 answers.

    Each question is 15 seconds long. 9 seconds for reading the question and select the answer. After 9 seconds there is a bell ringing, the options disappear and the answer will appear at the position of the first option. Below the answer is a box with more information about the correct answer.

    I also need a timer which counts down from 9 to 0 and a sound which ticks every second.

    I have both Construct 3 and Animate.

    For timing, I am gonna use a timeline. Every question is based on a template which contain the full layout. For the questions I will use a json table which contain the question, the 3 or 4 answer options, the correct answer, the extra information, and the image shown in each question.

    When the whole quiz is finished, I will play it and record the screen to convert to mp4.

    My questions:

    1. which should I use; Construct 3 or Animate?

    2. Is there a good tutorial which explains/show the timeline?

    3. Is there a good flowchart tutorial which explains how to use flowcharts?

    4. Can a json table contain images (png)?

    5. Is there another way instead of recording the screen to create a quiz for YouTube?

    Thank you so much for your answers, which I appreciate.

    Chris

  • You can save your C3 games in the cloud; OneDrive or GoogleDrive. I do that, so I do not have to bother if my computer crashes.

  • Hello Lionz,

    Thank you so much for your help, which I appreciate. You solved my problem and rescued my day.

    I wish you a great day and all the best.

    Kind Regards,

    Chris

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  • Hi,

    Please, can you help me with a button I made of a sprite which does not go to another layout when clicked?

    These are the layouts:

    lay_Level001:

    lay_TitleScreen:

    Here is the event which should switch back to layout lay_Level001:

    When the player hit the purple rectangular object at the end of layout lay_Level001, the layout lay_TitleScreen is shown.

    When the player click with the mouse on the green button sprite btn_NextLevel (I placed the "Continue" text deliberatelly above that button), he should go back to layout lay_Level001 (this is just for testing purposes, in reality when everything works the player goes to the next level).

    Problem is now that when the green continue button is clicked, nothing happens. I can do what ever I want, nothing happens.

    I discussed this for ours with ChatGPT and whatever solution is coming up, nothing works.

    Please, can you tell me where I went wrong?

    I am using the r420.2 beta release.

    Thank you so much for your help which I appreciate.

    Kind Regards,

    Chris

  • You can also save to a Cloud storage service. I save my projects on Google Drive. This way, I am always protected from losing my projects when a hard drive fails. Also, make a second backup in case your working copy gets corrupted.

    You can also work offline; however, to continue working, you need to log in every week (correct me when I am wrong).

    I understand your concern, especially with long-term projects. I am sure Scirra backs up its servers regularly, so I think we are safe even when a server fails. If the whole team disappears from Earth (which is very unlikely), it depends on Scirra's precautions to guarantee their service.

    The C3 project format is a zip file. You can check this by changing the extension of your project to .zip. Then, open that .zip file, and you will see all your files.

    You can also take precautions in case a disaster strikes. Write important sections of your game in Javascript code (methods/functions). Store the game's resources on a cloud service, as mentioned above. Document your game in detail.

    I think we are quite safe when following what I wrote above. However, I am not a Scirra employee, so I can be wrong. Only Scirra can answer your concerns, so maybe it is a good idea to contact their support team and ask. Scirra is easy to access and they respond mostly within 24 hours.

    I hope this helps.

    Bad_Wolf

    (not so bad once you know him)

  • I do not see the problem either. Annual prices are very affordable and Construct 3 is surely worth the money.

    There is no difference if you are Ukrainian, US, UK, European, African or whatever race you belong to; we all pay the same.

    I am based in Botswana, Africa. I will not ask for a discount because I am in Africa.

    Construct 3 is very good value for money, that is it!

  • Hi everyone,

    I am looking for educational games for our 4-year-old toddler, especially language and counting games.

    I looked in the Scirra store, but I cannot find what I am looking for. The game must be educational, fun and easy to play.

    He is away with Masha and the Bear games, Lego Duplo world.

    Do you know, any Construct 3 games for our small toddler? Or are you a teacher, which wrote this kind of game?

    Thank you so much for your help.

    Chris

  • Hi Lionz,

    Thank you for your reply. I made a reply on Saturday evening, but for some unknown reason, it didn't show up on the forum. Therefore, I create another reply.

    I changed my quiz so that the four options have their own sprite and the solution. So in total, there are five sprites:

    sprOption_A

    sprOption_B

    sprOption_C

    sprOption_D

    sprSolution

    The four sprOption_X sprites have an instant variable blnSolution, as you suggested. The questions/solutions are stored in a JSON file. The values of the json file will set the blnSolution to true for the sprOption sprite which is correct.

    It was my intention to reference each member in the sprOption sprite (4 members) by UID. Regretfully that didn't workout as expected. But the solution now, is also fine.

    Thank you again for your help. I wish you all the best.

    Kind Regards,

    Chris

  • Hi Ironz,

    Thank you for your reply which I appreciate so much.

    What I want to accomplish and fail is to make the green option objects invisible, while the result object become visible. Whatever I do, they become all visible or invisible.

    Both the options and solution are in the same sprite. I can resolve this problem by putting the options and the resolution in a separate sprite.

    However, that will only partly solve my problem. When the player click an option, for a short time, it needs to show another colour. For that, I need a clear reference to the choosen option.

    On this moment, I changed the structure of the game and created for each option and the solution a separate sprite. However, for a safe future, I need to know how to reference and access each individual option in the same sprite group.

    Until your reply, I didn't think much about an instance variable holding the correct/incorrect result. The correct/incorrect answer is on this moment stored in the database, so a reference between the instance variable and the database is a very good idea.

    Thank you for your information, which I value very much.

    Kind regards,

    Chris