Setting up the schematic handling the game controls.
In this tutorial we’ll create the schematic that handles the game controls. The controls are simple – you click on a jewel to select it (shown through blinking), clicking on a jewel above, below, left or right of the selected jewel will swap them. If at least one of the swapped jewels has 3 or more matching jewels (found by the schematics we set up earlier) at the new position, we’ll destroy them, resulting in the jewels above falling down and new jewels being added to the empty cells.
It might sound complicated and involve a lot of nodes – but the actual schematic is pretty straight forward. For better understanding, we’ll split the selection (blinking) and matching/destroying parts of the schematic on 2 different layers. You can also use node groups instead of layers to keep the nodes in order.
The schematic will be played by an Interaction Machine (using mouse click) on the individual jewels.
Jewel Click: Schematic #
Open the Makinom editor, navigate to Schematics and create a new schematic. Change the following settings.
Settings #
We need a prefab resource for handling our random jewels for filling empty cells after jewels have been destroyed (and moved down).
Prefabs #
Click on Add Prefab Resource to add a prefab resource.
- Name
Set to Jewel. - Use Order
Select Random.
We need 5 prefabs in this prefab resource, add the needed amount by clicking on Add Prefab.
- Prefab
Select blue, green, purple, red and yellow.
The prefabs can be found at Assets/Tutorial Resources/Prefabs/.
Selected Game Objects Count #
Add Node > Game Object > Game Object > Selected Game Objects Count
First, we’ll check if the player already selected a jewel by checking if the global selected data clicked is empty.
- Data Key
Set to clicked. - Data Origin
Select Global.
Check Settings #
- Check Type
Select Is Equal. - Value
Set to 0 (Value).
Select Game Objects #
Add Node > Game Object > Game Object > Select Game Objects
No jewel has been selected, so we’ll add the machine object (i.e. clicked jewel) to the global selected data clicked.
This node is connected to the Success slot of the previous Selected Game Objects Count node.
- Data Key
Set to clicked. - Data Origin
Select Global. - Change Type
Select Add.
Game Object #
- Object
Select Machine Object.
Change Color #
Add Node > Game Object > Renderer > Change Color
We’ll start blinking the selected jewel.
- Color Type
Select Renderer. - Fade
Select Blink. - Wait
Disable this setting. - Time (s)
Set to 0.25 (Value). - Fade Alpha
Enable this setting. - Fade Red/Green/Blue
Disable these settings. - From Current
Enable this setting. - End Color
Set to R=0, G=0, B=0, A=100.
You’ll want a somewhat half-filled alpha value.
Game Object #
- Object
Select Machine Object.
Change Sorting Layer #
Add Node > Game Object > Renderer > Change Sorting Layer
We’ll use this node to make sure that the selected node is above other nodes when swapping them by changing it’s sorting order to 1.
This ends the jewel selection (i.e. the player clicked on a jewel without having another jewel selected).
Sorting Order #
- Change Sorting Order
Enable this setting. - Sorting Order
Set to 1 (Value).
Object #
- Object
Select Machine Object.
Selected Game Objects Contain #
Add Node > Game Object > Game Object > Selected Game Objects Contain
If a jewel is already selected, we need to check if the player clicked the selected jewel.
This node is connected to the Failed slot of the first Selected Game Objects Count node.
- Data Key
Set to clicked. - Data Origin
Select Global.
Game Object #
- Object
Select Machine Object.
Select Game Objects #
Add Node > Game Object > Game Object > Select Game Objects
The clicked jewel is already selected, so we need to deselect it.
This node is connected to the Success slot of the previous Selected Game Objects Contain node.
- DataKey
Set to clicked. - Data Origin
Select Global. - Change Type
Select Remove.
Game Object #
- Object
Select Machine Object.
Change Color #
Add Node > Game Object > Renderer > Change Color
We’ll stop blinking the selected jewel.
- Color Type
Select Renderer. - Fade
Select Stop. - Reset Color
Enable this setting.
Game Object #
- Object
Select Machine Object.
Change Sorting Layer #
Add Node > Game Object > Renderer > Change Sorting Layer
We’ll use this node to reset the sorting order of the selected jewel to 0.
This ends deselecting the jewel (i.e. the player clicked on the selected jewel).
Sorting Order #
- Change Sorting Order
Enable this setting. - Sorting Order
Set to 0 (Value).
Object #
- Object
Select Machine Object.
Check Distance #
Add Node > Movement > Movement > Check Distance
The player clicked on a jewel while having another jewel selected – we’ll need to check the distance between them to determine if we can swap them. Jewels that can be swapped have a distance of 1 or below (to make sure we don’t miss anything due to rounding, we’ll check for 1.1).
This node is connected to the Failed slot of the Selected Game Object Contains node.
From Object #
- Object
Select Machine Object.
To Object #
- Object
Select Selected Data. - Data Key
Set to clicked. - Data Origin
Select Global.
Check #
- Needed
Select All. - Ignore Y Distance
Disable this setting. - Check Type
Select Is Less Equal. - Distance
Set to 1.1 (Value).
Gate Entry (Layer Gate) #
Next, we’ll add a Layer Gate node to the reach the next layer. This node is connected to the Success slot of the previous Check Distance node.
Right click on the Success slot and select Add Node > Gate to Layer > Add New Layer. This will create a new layer and add a layer gate to it.
To display the new layer, either double click on the on the node’s title or select it in the layer popup field in the upper right corner of the editor.
You can rename the layer by clicking on the Rename Layer icon right of the popup field – e.g. name the layer Check Nodes. Clicking on the icon again will stop editing the layer’s name.
Change Color #
Add Node > Game Object > Renderer > Change Color
We’ll stop blinking the selected jewel.
- Color Type
Select Renderer. - Fade
Select Stop. - Reset Color
Enable this setting.
Game Object #
- Object
Select Selected Data. - Data Key
Set to clicked. - Data Origin
Select Global.
Swap Grid Cell #
Add Node > Game Object > Grid > Swap Grid Cell
We’ll use this node to swap the selected and clicked jewel.
- Set Position
Enable this setting. - Set Rotation
Enable this setting. - Mount
Enable this setting.
Grid 1 #
- Grid Key
Set to level. - Grid Cells
Select Single Index.
We’ll use the clicked jewel (machine object) to find it’s index in the grid.
- Vector3 Type
Select Game Object > Grid Object Index. - Grid Key
Set to level. - Object
Select Machine Object.
Grid 2 #
- Grid Key
Set to level. - Grid Cells
Select Single Index.
We’ll use the selected jewel (global selected data clicked) to find it’s index in the grid.
- Vector3 Type
Select Game Object > Grid Object Index. - Grid Key
Set to level. - Object
Select Selected Data. - Data Key
Set to clicked. - Data Origin
Select Global.
Animation Settings #
- Animate Swapping
Select Interpolate.
We’ll move the swapping game objects through interpolating between their positions. - Move Time (s)
Set to 0.3 (Value) - Wait
Enable this setting. - Interpolation
Select Quadratic > Quadratic In + Out.
Select Game Objects #
Add Node > Game Object > Game Object > Select Game Objects
We’ll make sure that the global selected data destroy is empty before checking for matching jewels.
- Data Key
Set to destroy. - Data Origin
Select Global. - Change Type
Select Clear.
Start Machine #
Add Node > Machine > Start Machine
Now, we’ll check the selected jewel for matching jewels.
- Schematic Asset
Select CheckJewel. - Execution Type
Select Single. - Update Type
Select Update. - Share Local Variables
Enable this setting. - Wait Between
Enable this setting. - Wait
Enable this setting.
Machine Object #
- Object
Select Selected Data. - Data Key
Set to clicked. - Data Origin
Select Global.
Starting Object #
- Use Same Object
Enable this setting.
Start Machine #
Add Node > Machine > Start Machine
Next, we’ll check the clicked jewel for matching jewels.
- Schematic Asset
Select CheckJewel. - Execution Type
Select Single. - Update Type
Select Update. - Share Local Variables
Enable this setting. - Wait Between
Enable this setting. - Wait
Enable this setting.
Machine Object #
- Object
Select Machine Object.
Starting Object #
- Use Same Object
Enable this setting.
Selected Game Objects Count #
Add Node > Game Object > Game Object > Selected Game Objects Count
After checking the jewels, we need to determine if matching jewels where found and marked for destruction by checking the global selected data destroy.
If jewels where found, we’ll destroy them – otherwise we’ll reverse the swap and end the schematic.
- Data Key
Set to destroy. - Data Origin
Select Global.
Check Settings #
- Check Type
Select Is Greater. - Value
Set to 0 (Value).
Swap Grid Cell #
Add Node > Game Object > Grid > Swap Grid Cell
We’ll use this node to reverse the swapping.
This node is connected to the Failed slot of the previous Selected Game Objects Count node.
- Set Position
Enable this setting. - Set Rotation
Enable this setting. - Mount
Enable this setting.
Grid 1 #
- Grid Key
Set to level. - Grid Cells
Select Single Index.
We’ll use the clicked jewel (machine object) to find it’s index in the grid.
- Vector3 Type
Select Game Object > Grid Object Index. - Grid Key
Set to level. - Object
Select Machine Object.
Grid 2 #
- Grid Key
Set to level. - Grid Cells
Select Single Index.
We’ll use the selected jewel (global selected data clicked) to find it’s index in the grid.
- Vector3 Type
Select Game Object > Grid Object Index. - Grid Key
Set to level. - Object
Select Selected Data. - Data Key
Set to clicked. - Data Origin
Select Global.
Animation Settings #
- Animate Swapping
Select Interpolate. - Move Time (s)
Set to 0.3 (Value). - Wait
Enable this setting. - Interpolation
Select Quadratic > Quadratic In + Out.
Change Sorting Layer #
Add Node > Game Object > Renderer > Change Sorting Layer
We’ll use this node to reset the sorting order of the selected jewel to 0.
Sorting Order #
- Change Sorting Order
Enable this setting. - Sorting Order
Set to 0 (Value).
Object #
- Object
Select Selected Data. - Data Key
Set to clicked. - Data Origin
Select Global.
Clear Selected Data #
Add Node > Value > Selected Data > Clear Selected Data
We’ll clear the global selected data clicked to deselect the jewel.
This node is also connected to the Failed slot of last Selected Game Objects Count node we’ll add afterwards (checking if destroying and moving jewels caused new matches).
- Data Key
Set to clicked. - Data Origin
Select Global.
Change Variables #
Add Node > Value > Variable > Change Variables
Swapping the jewels resulted in matching jewels – we’ll use this node to increase the player’s turns.
This node is connected to the Success slot of the previous Selected Game Objects Count node (checking if swapping the jewels resulted in matching nodes marked for destruction).
Click on Add Variable to add a variable change.
- Change Type
Select Variable. - Variable Key
Set to turns. - Variable Origin
Select Global. - Type
Select Int. - Operator
Select Add. - Float Value
Set to 1 (Value).
Start Tagged Machine #
Add Node > Machine > Start Tagged Machine
We’ll use this node to start tagged machines on the jewels we’re going to destroy.
- Share Local Variables
Enable this setting. - Wait Between
Enable this setting. - Wait
Enable this setting. - Single Execution
Disable this setting.
Machine Object #
- Object
Select Selected Data. - Data Key
Set to destroy. - Data Origin
Select Global.
Starting Object #
- Use Same Object
Enable this setting.
Tag Settings #
- Needed
Select One.
Click on Add Tag to add a starting tag.
- Tag
Set to destroy.
Wait #
Add Node > Base > Wait
We’ll wait for 0 seconds, this will continue the schematic in the next frame and gives Unity enough time to actually destroy the game objects.
- Time (s)
Set to 0 (Value).
Clear Selected Data #
Add Node > Value > Selected Data > Clear Selected Data
We’ll clear the global selected data destroy, making it ready for the next match checking.
- Data Key
Set to destroy. - Data Origin
Select Global.
Move Grid Cell #
Add Node > Game Object > Grid > Move Grid Cell
We’ll use this node to move all jewels down, if they have empty cells below them – and repeat this until no jewel can move any longer.
Index Change #
- Vector3 Type
Select Value > Direction. - Direction
Select Down.
We’ll only move assigned cells (i.e. cells that have a jewel) to empty cells. We don’t need any looping.
- Moving Cells
Select Assigned. - Target Cells
Select Empty. - Set Position
Enable this setting. - Set Rotation
Enable this setting. - Mount
Enable this setting. - Destroy Current
Enable this setting.
Repeat Movement #
- Repeat Move
Select Until All Unmovable. - Wait Between
Enable this setting.
Grid Settings #
- Grid Key
Set to level. - Grid Cells
Select Whole Grid.
Animation Settings #
- Animate Swapping
Select Interpolate. - Move Time (s)
Set to 0.1 (Value). - Wait
Disable this setting. - Interpolation
Select Linear.
We’ll store the game objects that actually moved in a local selected data to check them afterwards for matches.
- Change Selected Data
Enable this setting. - Data Key
Set to moved. - Data Origin
Select Local. - Change Type
Select Set. - Use Hidden Cells
Disable this setting.
Fill Grid Cells #
Add Node > Game Object > Grid > Fill Grid Cells
We’ll use this node to fill all empty cells with new jewels. Since we moved jewels down on the empty cells, the new jewels will only be added in the hidden part of the grid.
- Prefab
Select Prefab 0: Jewel. - Fill Mode
Select Empty. - Mount
Enable this setting. - Destroy
Enable this setting.
Grid Settings #
- Grid Key
Set to level. - Grid Cells
Select Whole Grid.
Start Machine #
Add Node > Machine > Start Machine
Now, we’ll check the moved jewels for matching jewels.
- Schematic Asset
Select CheckJewel. - Execution Type
Select Single. - Update Type
Select Update. - Share Local Variables
Enable this setting. - Wait Between
Enable this setting. - Wait
Enable this setting.
Machine Object #
- Object
Select Selected Data. - Data Key
Set to moved. - Data Origin
Select Local.
Starting Object #
- Use Same Object
Enable this setting.
Selected Game Objects Count #
Add Node > Game Object > Game Object > Selected Game Objects Count
After checking the moved jewels, we need to determine if matching jewels where found and marked for destruction by checking the global selected data destroy.
If jewels where found, we’ll return to destroy them – otherwise we’ll clear the global selected data clicked and are done.
This node’s Success slot is connected to the Start Tagged Machine node destroying the jewels, the Failed slot is connected to the Clear Selected Data node clearing the clicked game objects.
- Data Key
Set to destroy. - Data Origin
Select Global.
Check Settings #
- Check Type
Select Is Greater. - Value
Set to 0 (Value).
And that’s it for the schematic – click on Save Schematic and save it as JewelClick in Assets/Schematics/.
The next tutorial will handle setting up the jewels.
