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[Game Maker] Super Easy Typewriter-

Like Dialogue Example
by Zack @Zack064 Jul 8, 2013

Update 2/25/16 - This thread is quite old, but I appreciate how much traction its consistently
getting. I improved the formatting. If you're willing to spend $0.99, check out this Smooth
Dialogue Engine I released on the YoYoGames' Marketplace.

A game with dialogue can be drastically improved with a "typewriter" effect, in my opinion at
least. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but can ease the burden of a lot of text on-screen.
Though this example is written for Game Maker, it can be adapted to other languages with ease.
Absolutely no credit is necessary, as this took only two minutes to write.

Create Event:

//write your messages in an array,

starting at 0, like so
message[0] = "Hello there! Welcome to
the world of Pokemon!";
message[1] = "My name is Oak! People
call me the Pokemon Prof!";
 message[2] = "This world is inhabited
by creatures called Pokemon!";
message[3] = "For some people,
Pokemon are pets.";
message[4] = "Others use them for
fights.";
message[5] = "Myself...";
message[6] = "I study Pokemon as a
profession.";

message_current = 0; //0 is the first

number in our array, and the message
we are currently at
message_end = 6; //6 is the last number
in our array
message_draw = ""; //this is what we
'write' out. It's blank right now
increase = 0.5; //the speed at which new
characters are added
characters = 0; //how many characters
have already been drawn
hold = 0; //if we hold 'Z', the text will
render faster

message_length =
string_length(message[message_current
]); //get the number of characters in the
first message

Step Event:

if (characters < message_length) { //if

current character count is less than the
amount in current message*
hold = keyboard_check(ord("Z"));
//hold is true or false if we hold 'Z' or not
characters += increase * (1 +
hold); //increase speed based on hold
message_draw =
string_copy(message[message_current],
 0, characters); //copy string to current
character
}
else { //if current character is more than
the amount in the current message
if (keyboard_check_pressed(ord("Z")))
{ //if we press Z...
if (message_current <
message_end) { //if there are more
messages left to show (0 -> 6, in our
case)
message_current += 1;
//increase the message by 1
message_length =
string_length(message[message_current
]); //get the new character length for
message
characters = 0; //set the
characters back to 0
message_draw = ""; //clear the
drawn text
}
else { //if our messages are done
(we reach 6, in our case)...
instance_destroy(); //destroy the
object
}
}
}

Draw Event:

draw_text(x, y, message_draw); //draw

the text at the coordinates

Page 1 of 56 replies.

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1 post
Hiznopellagio @hiznopellagio
Jul 8, 2013

Very nice tutorial! Thank you it works perfectly!

1 post
diegotwright @diegotwright
Jan 18, 2014

well i found this randomly from google and it has helped me out so thanks even though its a
really old post.

1 post
noverion @noverion
Sep 23, 2014

Thanks a lot, this is perfect! :)

730 posts
PowerfulKyurem @PowerfulKyurem
Sep 23, 2014

Wow! I'm definitely using this, and since I have a general lack of credits, I'll just add you in for
the sake of doing it. XD
48 posts
Alex_Lyons @Alex_Lyons
Oct 19, 2014

Thank you! I will be using this for Alex in High School 3 and onward.

21 posts
The End Go Home @TheEndGoHome
Jul 20, 2015

Is this for any specific kind of game maker? I am using 8.0, and nothing shows up at the
coordinates where my character is. PLEASE HELP! THIS GAME IS REQUIRED IN 24
HOURS!
859 posts
Zack @Zack064
Jul 20, 2015

@Something_Games
No specific version of recent Game Maker is required.

Couple things to try:

draw_set_halign(...);
draw_set_valign(...);
Ensure your object is visible.
draw_set_alpha(1);
Ensure nothing is being drawn over the text.
Ensure the depth exceeds other objects'

216 posts
WhiskerMidi @CrazyRiverOtter
Jul 30, 2015

Wow, this looks really really nice! I'll probably be sticking to the less impressive text engine that
I made myself, but If I need to upgrade I'll know where to look.
5 posts
Geeknerd1337 @Geeknerd1337
Aug 13, 2015

This works until you try and do it with multiple objects.

18 posts
SpoopsGames @Spoops
Sep 1, 2015

Thanks a lot zack!

1 post
andersmmg @andersmmg
Sep 4, 2015

awesome!

3 posts
ryguyft4444 @ryguyft4444
Sep 24, 2015

how do i add a box around it btw this is the only working one i can find and i love it but is there
a way to add a box?
3 posts
ryguyft4444 @ryguyft4444
Sep 24, 2015

ERROR in

action number 1

of Step Event

for object text:

Error in code at line 10:

message_length=string_length(message[message_current]); //get the new character length for

message

at position 31: Unknown variable message or array index out of bounds

3 posts
ryguyft4444 @ryguyft4444
Sep 24, 2015

also how do i change the color of the text?

2 posts
buckcreekbeast @buckcreekbeast
Nov 9, 2015

Add to the Draw event of your dialogue object.

draw_set_color(c_white)

// or whatever color you want.

1 post
CoffeeCruze @CoffeeCruze
Nov 25, 2015

I solved my own problem! For anyone who wants the text ONLY to appear when they step
on the object, AND be able to add as many of these things as they want, here's my code! It's
not the neatest thing, and is kind of... Well. Messy. But hey, it works. You don't need to have
100 messages like I do, but you do need to make sure that they all get destroyed at the same
number, or else you will get an error. Edit it as you please!

Create:

//write your messages in an array, starting at 0, like so

message[0]=""

message[1]=""

message[2]=""

message[3]=""

message[4]=""

message[5]=""
message[6]=""

message[7]=""

message[8]=""

message[9]=""

message[10]=""

message[11]=""

message[12]=""

message[13]=""

message[14]=""

message[15]=""

message[16]=""

message[17]=""

message[18]=""

message[19]=""

message[20]=""

message[21]=""

message[22]=""

message[23]=""

message[24]=""

message[25]=""

message[26]=""

message[27]=""

message[28]=""

message[29]=""

message[30]=""
message[31]=""

message[32]=""

message[33]=""

message[34]=""

message[35]=""

message[36]=""

message[37]=""

message[38]=""

message[39]=""

message[40]=""

message[41]=""

message[42]=""

message[43]=""

message[44]=""

message[45]=""

message[46]=""

message[47]=""

message[48]=""

message[49]=""

message[50]=""

message[51]=""

message[52]=""

message[53]=""

message[54]=""

message[55]=""
message[56]=""

message[57]=""

message[58]=""

message[59]=""

message[60]=""

message[61]=""

message[62]=""

message[63]=""

message[64]=""

message[65]=""

message[67]=""

message[68]=""

message[69]=""

message[70]=""

message[71]=""

message[72]=""

message[73]=""

message[74]=""

message[75]=""

message[76]=""

message[77]=""

message[78]=""

message[79]=""

message[80]=""

message[81]=""
message[82]=""

message[83]=""

message[84]=""

message[85]=""

message[86]=""

message[87]=""

message[88]=""

message[84]=""

message[85]=""

message[86]=""

message[87]=""

message[88]=""

message[84]=""

message[85]=""

message[86]=""

message[87]=""

message[88]=""

message[89]=""

message[90]=""

message[91]=""

message[92]=""

message[93]=""

message[94]=""

message[95]=""

message[96]=""
message[97]=""

message[98]=""

message[99]=""

message[100]=""

message_current=0; //0 is the first number in our array, and the message we are currently at

message_end=100; //6 is the last number in our array

message_draw=""; //this is what we 'write' out. It's blank right now

increase=0.5; //the speed at which new characters are added

characters=0; //how many characters have already been drawn

hold=0; //if we hold 'space', the text will render faster

message_length=string_length(message[message_current]); //get the number of characters in the

first message

Step:

if place_meeting(x,y,obj_character) then //this makes sure that the thing only appears if your
character is on it.

if characters<message_length{ //if current character count is less than the amount in current
message

hold=keyboard_check(vk_space); //hold is true or false if we hold 'Z' or not

characters+=increase*(1+hold); //increase speed based on hold

message_draw=string_copy(message[message_current],0,characters); //copy string to current

character

else{ //if current character is more than the amount in the current message

if keyboard_check_pressed(vk_space){ //if we press space...

if message_current<message_end{ //if there are more messages left to show (0 -> 6, in our case)

message_current+=1; //increase the message by 1

message_length=string_length(message[message_current]); //get the new character length for
message

characters=0; //set the characters back to 0

message_draw=""; //clear the drawn text

else{ //if our messages are done (we reach 6, in our case)...

instance_destroy(); //destroy the object

Draw:

if place_meeting(x,y,obj_character) then //this makes it so the text only appears while your on
the object

draw_text(340,305,message_draw); //draw the text at the coordinates

1 post
patotkiller @patotkiller
Jan 4, 2016

This happens to me can someone help me?

FATAL ERROR in

action number 1

of Step Event0

for object obj_smile:

Push :: Execution Error - Variable Get -1.message_length(100008, -2147483648)

at gml_Object_obj_smile_StepNormalEvent_1 (line 1) - if characters<message_length{

SHOW REPLIES 1
1 post
GamesReformed @GamesReformed
Jan 18, 2016

@Zack how can you make a sound play as the message is typing and make the sound stop when
the message is done typing?

SHOW REPLIES 5

2 posts
MrEpicIsHere777 @MrEpicIsHere777
Feb 25, 2016

In response to GamesReformed @GamesReformed

Bit of an old thread, but I revisted to see if I could find anything on pausing a string. This is quite
easy to do, but the way I do it is probably not as efficient as it could be.

//Under Step
if characters < message_length
{
character_old = characters
characters += increase_speed
message_draw = string_copy(message[message_current],0,characters)
if round(characters) > character_old stop_and_sound(<sound name here>)
}
You must activate character_old in the create event. It doesn't matter what you set it to as in the
step event it'll be set to characters before characters increases.

stop_and_sound is a script I use for stopping and playing a sound, it's good for bullets, talking,
lots of stuff. Argument 0 is your sound name.

//stop_and_sound
if audio_is_playing(argument0)
{
audio_stop_sound(argument0)
audio_play_sound(argument0,0,0)
}
else
audio_play_sound(argument0,0,0)

SHOW REPLIES 4

859 posts
Zack @Zack064
Feb 26, 2016

I updated the thread and improved formatting. Glad to see people are still getting a use out of this
simple, albeit old, example.
1 post
EyedHero @EyedHero
Feb 26, 2016

Hello! This is a good system, but I was planning on making my own, and had a question. How
did the waiting work? There's no command for it, and I know you used a variable to give it a
slight pause, but I don't know.... how?

SHOW REPLIES 1

859 posts
Zack @Zack064
Feb 26, 2016

In response to EyedHero @EyedHero

The "increase" variable is the number of new characters added per frame. Since you cannot only
display 0.5 (what it is defaulted to) of a character, when the variable reaches the next whole
number, it renders the next character. So, 0.5 would be one char every other frame, 0.25 would
be one char every fourth frame, 0.1 would be one char every ten frames, etc.

1 post
Harry Simpson @SimpsonGames
Mar 2, 2016

Hey. Would it be possible to add the Create Event code to an object's Creation Code?

1 post
1_d27b0a @1_d27b0a
Mar 8, 2016
Hello, I have a problem with this kind of event, and I was wondering if anyone here could help.

I've been attempting to use a very similar set up to the one listed here in order to get an rpg type-
writer effect, but what seems to happen is that with each draw, the previous one is never erased.
And so the text just becomes a blob.

I tried making use of the code here, even copying and pasting it exactly as is, but it has the same
problem when I attempt to run it.

I'm using the most recent version of Game Maker Studio. If anyone has any idea how to fix this,
it would be appreciated.

EDIT

I figured it out, it was a real face palm type thing on my part. I was accidentally spawning the
text controller every frame, ha ha.

Last modified on Mar 8, 2016 by 1_d27b0a @1_d27b0a

9 posts
LootBit @Bennimon
Apr 15, 2016

Looks great! Question though, does the marketplace asset create the bubbles via draw_event?

posts
Teramiiko @Teramiiko
Apr 27, 2016

In response to patotkiller @patotkiller

You have most likely misspelled something. Gamemaker is trying to find that exact variable you
told it to look for. Check your spelling and remember that variables are case-sensitive.

posts
Teramiiko @Teramiiko
Apr 27, 2016

Really nice! I think I will use this in a project of mine. Thanks :)

posts
D14B70 @D14B70
May 9, 2016

how to insert sound??

posts
Meh2U @Meh2U
May 13, 2016

I fucking love you<3 :'D thanks

posts
Odhrain @Odhrain
May 20, 2016

In response to MrEpicIsHere777 @MrEpicIsHere777

I still have gotten some errors, let me post what I got so far.

so I created a script called stop_and_sound

//stop_and_sound
if audio_is_playing(sd_voice_blip)
{
audio_stop_sound(sd_voice_blip)
audio_play_sound(sd_voice_blip,0,0)
}
else
audio_play_sound(sd_voice_blip,0,0)

...sd_voice_blip is a sound I created with my "blip" sound in it.

under my object I created a create event with the code

//write your messages in an array, starting at 0, like so

message[0] = "Hello there! Welcome to the world of Pokemon!";
message[1] = "My name is Oak! People call me the Pokemon Prof!";
message[2] = "This world is inhabited by creatures called Pokemon!";
message[3] = "For some people, Pokemon are pets.";
message[4] = "Others use them for fights.";
message[5] = "Myself...";
message[6] = "I study Pokemon as a profession.";

message_current = 0; //0 is the first number in our array, and the message we are currently at
message_end = 6; //6 is the last number in our array
message_draw = ""; //this is what we 'write' out. It's blank right now
increase = 0.5; //the speed at which new characters are added
characters = 0; //how many characters have already been drawn
hold = 0; //if we hold 'Z', the text will render faster

message_length = string_length(message[message_current]); //get the number of characters in

the first message

character_old = 0;

then I created a step event with...

if (characters < message_length) { //if current character count is less than the amount in current
message
hold = keyboard_check(ord("Z")); //hold is true or false if we hold 'Z' or not
characters += increase (1 + hold); //increase speed based on hold
message_draw = string_copy(message[message_current], 0, characters); //copy string to current
character
}
else { //if current character is more than the amount in the current message
if (keyboard_check_pressed(ord("Z"))) { //if we press Z...
if (message_current < message_end) { //if there are more messages left to show (0 -> 6, in our
case)
message_current += 1; //increase the message by 1
message_length = string_length(message[message_current]); //get the new character length for
message
characters = 0; //set the characters back to 0
message_draw = ""; //clear the drawn text
}
else { //if our messages are done (we reach 6, in our case)...
instance_destroy(); //destroy the object
}
}
}

if characters < message_length

{
character_old = characters
characters += increase_speed
message_draw = string_copy(message[message_current],0,characters)
if round(characters) > character_old stop_and_sound(<sd_voice_blip>)
}

then I created a draw event with the code....

draw_text(x, y, message_draw); //draw the text at the coordinates

draw_set_color(c_white);

....I got the some errors in the step event saying unknown symbol in if round(characters) >
character_old stop_and_sound(<sd_voice_blip>) which I then made (sd_voice_blip), and then
got this error

Variable obj_text.increase_speed(100011, -2147483648) not set before reading it.

at gml_Object_obj_text_StepNormalEvent_1 (line 23) - characters += increase_speed.

Not sure what to do next. Thanks for the reply, and any additional help.

Last modified on May 26, 2016 by Odhrain @Odhrain

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