Version 2.9.0 beta

Dialogue engine Version 2.9.0 (beta)

This updates adds lots of new features, fixes some bugs and makes many things easier and more frictionless.

New script: textbox_set_name()

This new script sets the character name for each message. This makes it easier to make conversations. (It was already possible to do with more code, but this makes it much easier.)

New script: textbox_set_style()

Sets the style of everything. Most of the same things can be done with textbox_set already, but this has 2 additional styling options and no “setting” options. The textbox_set script is starting to get complicated with how many arguments there are, even when most of them are optional. So I’m trying to divide it to different scripts and this is the first step towards that.

Thanks to the style script and other changes, now it’s easier to change text align and name text color.

Experimental smart line break was added to speech bubbles too

The option is not yet in textbox_set_bubble, but it can be set with textbox.smart_linebreak = true (or changing that in the settings area)

Initial support for textbox_set_position in speech bubbles

Options position can be changed (just put random values in the other arguments)

“hud” layer is now created automatically

It is created in depth -1000. This saves a lot of time because you now don’t need to create it manually in every room. You can still create it yourself if you want more control of it.

Textbox draw improvements

• Now text box height automatically adapts to room height or Draw GUI display height. Previously this only worked when using views and not using Draw GUI.
• Improved text position calculating, especially name text position – it should now be in correct position no matter what kind of view sizes are being used (text separation affects the position)
• Known bug that will be fixed later: On large view sizes the name rectangle is very big – this can of course be fixed by using textbox_set_position

Bug fixes

• Fixed speech bubble being too up when using large sprites and scaling them down
• Fixed text displaying incorrectly when changing draw_set_valign somewhere in a game
• Fixed text not showing if speech bubble is exactly at a certain position

Other changes

• New example that shows how to make a conversation between characters
• Changed folder structure so the Dialogue engine stuff doesn’t get in the way
• Updated to new GameMaker version. If you need to use an older version, you can use an older version of Dialogue engine

YYMPS

The beta test version is also available in YYMPS format. This should make it possible to just drag-and-drop the file to GameMaker and easily add the asset to your project.

However, I haven’t been able to get this to work, at least on the beta version of GameMaker that I’m using. So if you try it, let me know if it works or not. An yyz file is also available.