The barrier between having an idea and shipping it as a product has collapsed. A new generation of creators is already shipping finished apps, websites, and digital tools in a single weekend using AI-native environments like Cursor and Claude Code. This massive cultural shift already seems to be reflected in the number of new apps released on the App Store and Google Play, which as of April 2026 was up by an incredible 104% year-over-year.

But this new, AI-literate generation also grew up playing UGC games like Roblox and Minecraft, and became accustomed to the openness of GitHub. They don’t just want to build websites and utilities, they also want to build rich, expansive, real-time games and worlds. Historically, doing that required years of programming expertise, specialized game design knowledge, massive marketing budgets, and months of work… until now.

Welcome to The Sandbox Studio. Apply to join the alpha.

Start with an idea. Ship a game in under two hours.

Every game creator knows the painful gap between having an idea and making it real. Setting up environments, sourcing assets, writing boilerplate code, debugging, navigating multi-week platform publishing flows. That gap is where most games die.

The last generation that couldn’t build games has already graduated.

The Sandbox Studio is an AI-native game creation platform that lets developers go from idea to published game in mere hours. It is a complete creation environment: game engine, editor, AI layer, monetization tool, and publishing pipeline.

You don’t need a team, you don’t deal with traditional engine complexity, and you are not locked to a single publishing platform.

By combining a powerful desktop SDK and visual editor with an advanced built-in AI coding agent, The Sandbox Studio allows any creator to start with a raw concept and produce a live, published multiplayer game in under two hours.

It integrates seamlessly with the AI tools you already use: Cursor, Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, or any agent in your developer stack.

To enable solo creators to move instantly, The Sandbox Studio will launch with six production-ready TypeScript templates — from first-person shooters (FPS) and vehicle simulators to side scrollers — giving you a working game loop right away.

Want to try games built with The Sandbox Studio? Check out Grim (horde survival), Grindwave (endless runner), Vendetta (arena FPS), and Voxel Avenue (arcade crosser).

A game studio’s knowledge, encoded natively

There are plenty of generic LLMs that can generate code, but — even for the new generation of AI users — that’s not enough to make a good game. No LLM has ever shipped a game, understood why players quit in frustration, or learned why they came back. An LLM has no inherent model of what actually makes games fun.

The Sandbox Studio does.

Our game creation platform is being built on the collective expertise of more than 400 studios, over a thousand shipped games, and millions of players. That deep operational knowledge is encoded directly into the engine’s creative tools, workflows, and templates. The AI agent is built directly into the editor, helping creators structure ideas, generate and refine game systems, and move through the creation process with confidence. It draws on templates, workflows, and patterns informed by previously launched games, enabling creators to build their games on foundations shaped by what has actually worked.

“AI tools generate code. The Sandbox Studio generates games. Players will see the difference.” Robby Yung, CEO of The Sandbox

For creators who want a massive head start on the visual identity for their creations, The Sandbox Studio will offer immediate access to a decade-long library of over 300,000 voxel assets. Use it, remix it, make it yours.

More importantly, your creative freedom is no longer bound to a single aesthetic. While our iconic 3D voxel style remains a core part of our DNA, The Sandbox Studio lets creators build in any style they choose — whether that is low-polygon, highly stylized, or realistic.

TL;DR for experienced developers: boilerplate gone, game design expertise added.

TL;DR for first-time game creators: the tool guides you toward decisions that work.

One build. Every platform.

Modern video creators generally don’t tie themselves to a single closed ecosystem, but instead upload their content wherever their audiences are. That’s the model that makes sense, and games should work the same way.

“Games should — and will — come to you, not the other way around” Robby Yung, CEO of The Sandbox

Build it once in The Sandbox Studio. Distribute wherever you want:. players can open a link and play on desktop or mobile, and Telegram Mini Apps are already supported. Over time, we plan to add more packaging and distribution options, including Steam, mobile app stores, YouTube Playables, and other major platforms. The Sandbox Studio only takes a small revenue share when you earn.

For our existing ecosystem, this explosion of new content will provide a utility catalyst. If you’re a LAND holder or SAND holder, you’re already holding a stake in the new game creation platform. SAND will be integrated natively into The Sandbox Studio’s monetization stack to power in-game item sales, subscriptions, and developer exchanges with optimized economics for ecosystem participants. Long-term, LAND ownership will grant featured placements and priority access to new games, and will actively power the decentralized AI compute infrastructure of The Sandbox Studio.

For our existing ecosystem, this explosion of new content will provide a utility catalyst. If you’re a LAND holder or SAND holder, you’re already holding a stake in the new game creation platform. SAND will be integrated natively into The Sandbox Studio’s monetization stack to power in-game item sales, subscriptions, and developer exchanges with optimized economics for ecosystem participants. Long-term, LAND ownership will grant featured placements and priority access to new games, and will actively power the decentralized AI compute infrastructure of The Sandbox Studio.

Built with creators, from the beginning.

The Sandbox Studio is currently in a closed alpha phase. The first cohort of creators and developers is already actively building, testing boundaries, and providing feedback that directly shapes the development of the platform.

The creators joining us at this stage are getting early access to The Sandbox Studio, games jams, AI token grants. Moreover, they represent the founding generation of solo studios trailblazing game development to bring their ideas to life without the traditional complexities of game development. We’re opening to everyone in Q4 2026.

“The next iconic game won’t come from a studio. It will come from someone with a laptop, an idea at 11pm, and a tool that doesn’t ask them to wait.” Robby Yung, CEO of The Sandbox

Join the future gen of game dev

If you are ready to transform your game idea into a live experience quickly and without hassle, we want to hear from you. Applications for our closed alpha are now open.

Criteria for joining The Sandbox Studio alpha:

• Some experience building games (Roblox, Unity, Unreal, etc.)
• Vibe coding experience using Cursor, OpenAI Codex, Claude Code, or similar
• Willing to test The Sandbox Studio and share feedback to improve the product.

Apply to join the alpha.

Alpha Season 6 has passed the halfway point! Here’s what you might have missed on The Sandbox News Page.

Note: Some contests may be closed at the time of publication.

Action RPG Games Enter The Sandbox!
We’re thrilled to introduce our latest addition to the Game Maker: the Action RPG Template! Prepare to create Experiences filled with fast-paced combat, leveling up, and endless replayability. Players will choose their class, battle waves of enemies, unlock new abilities, and defeat the powerful final bosses.

[Read More]

It’s Spooky Season (6)! Join Our Halloween Celebration
Halloween is here again, and it lands in the middle of an already jam-packed Alpha Season 6! This year, we’ve prepared a brand-new Experience, a special social challenge, and exclusive owner rewards.

[Read More]

Empowering Creators to Shape the Metaverse
A new error for Creators has arrived! Starting in 2026, over half of every Season’s content will come directly from our users, with Game Jams, Avatar design contests, and VoxEdit competitions becoming the creative heartbeat of The Sandbox. This article covers this exciting new update and outlines the rewards of upcoming Alpha Seasons.

[Read More]

Spooky Season VoxEdit Contest
Get ready to bring your creepiest ideas to life in the Spooky Season VoxEdit Contest! From haunted houses to pumpkin beasts, show off your Halloween spirit and scare our judges for a chance to win your share of 5,400 SAND and Catalyst prizes.

[Read More]

Coming Soon: LAND Owner Exclusive CATALYST Claim!

We’re launching a new CATALYST claim for LAND Owners, rewarding creators who build and publish in The Sandbox. Your CATALYST amount depends on your LANDs and published Experiences, with bonuses for Premium LANDs and active creators.

Complete KYC, publish an Experience, and maximize your rewards — this is your chance to unlock new creative potential in The Sandbox.

[Read More]

The Sandbox 3.0: An Update on Our Vision & the Road Ahead
CEO Robby Yung outlines the evolution of The Sandbox, from its origins as a 2D mobile game in 2012 to today’s 3D multiplayer blockchain platform. Looking ahead, AI, SANDchain, LiveOps seasons, and mobile expansion will make creation faster, more rewarding, and community-driven for creators worldwide.

[Read More]

The Sandbox News: Always Stay in the Loop

Check back next time for the latest articles on The Sandbox News. Sign up for emails to get updates on all new News articles, or click on The Sandbox News tab from your home screen to see recent stories.

Let’s finish Alpha Season 6 strong!

That’s right, Alpha Season 6 is upon us! But that’s not the only thing you may have missed on The Sandbox News Page this past month. Check out more below:

Note: Some contests may be closed at the time of publication.

The Sandbox Alpha Season 6

Come one, come all! Alpha Season 6, featuring Cirque du Soleil, is here!

Play Now

Starting September 24 and running for nine weeks, this Season introduces 30 unique Experiences from more than 24 partner brands. Players can unlock their share of SAND rewards, discover and earn 50 new NFTs, and so much more! Plus, play to earn a portion of the 250,000 SAND pool with the Premium Pass!

Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to The Sandbox, this is your definitive guide to exploring every corner of Alpha Season 6.

[Read more]

The Cirque du Soleil Transforming Avatar Collection: Transform Mannequins in Alpha Season 6

In Alpha Season 6, Cirque du Soleil brings a new transforming Avatar collection where players can evolve monochrome Mannequins into vibrant Costumed Avatars inspired by Luzia and Mad Apple. Collect all 10 costumes, complete quests, and boost your Ethos Points by up to 14,920 as you unlock each transformation.

[Read more]

Pay with a Credit Card on The Sandbox

The Sandbox now allows credit card payments for collectibles, including Avatars, LAND, and the Premium Pass, making Alpha Season 6 more accessible than ever!

[Read more]

SAND is Now Accepted on OpenSea

SAND is now accepted on OpenSea, allowing players to use our native coin to purchase LAND, Avatars, and other digital assets directly on one of the largest NFT marketplaces. This milestone expands SAND’s utility beyond The Sandbox Marketplace, giving our community greater access to the broader Web3 ecosystem while keeping SAND at the center of their experience.

[Read more]

VoxEdit Contest: LAND Neighborhoods

This VoxEdit Contest invites creators to design neighborhood-inspired assets, with over 20,450 SAND in prizes and winning entries distributed as rewards to LAND Owners.

[Read more]

The Sandbox Partners with Eduverse to Turn AI Learning into an Imaginative Adventure!

The Sandbox is also teaming up with Eduverse to launch an interactive Experience that teaches children AI prompting through reimagined Thai literature, blending cultural storytelling with digital learning.

[Read more]

The Sandbox News: Always Stay in the Loop

Check back next time for the latest articles on The Sandbox News. Sign up for emails to get updates on all new News articles, or click on The Sandbox News tab from your home screen to see recent stories.

See you in Alpha Season 6!

Alpha Season 6 is HERE: The Sandbox News Recap was originally published in The Sandbox on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The past month has been busy on The Sandbox News Page. Here’s what you might have missed:

Note: Some contests may be closed at time of publication.

Community Avatar Design Contest [Creator]
The Community Avatar Design Contest invites artists of all styles to shape the first-ever Sandbox Community Collection and win SAND rewards.
[Read more]

Latest City Builder Event [Creator]
From neon-soaked streets to desert skylines, the Las Vegas City Builder invites Creators to reimagine one of the world’s most iconic destinations in The Sandbox for a chance at SAND prizes and a spot on the official Las Vegas Estate.
[Read more]

Game Jam: The Little Lands [Creator]
Step into Small Worlds, High Stakes, a Game Jam where the tiniest universes hold the biggest challenges. Build your adventure inspired by the whimsical worlds of The Smurfs and Teletubbies to win SAND, LAND, and exclusive prizes while bringing miniature worlds to life with epic consequences.
[Read more]

Game Maker 0.12: Worlds That Save and Evolve [Creator]
Game Maker 0.12 is our most powerful creation tool yet, with expanded multiplayer, smarter NPCs, customizable HUDs, persistent progression, new abilities, and an upgraded Wwise-powered audio system. It’s all designed to make worlds bigger, smarter, and more social. Whether you’re building competitive games, narrative quests, or social hubs, these new tools give creators of all skill levels more ways to craft immersive Experiences that evolve over time.
[Read more]

Game Client 0.12: Step Into the Future of Play [Play]
From faster matchmaking and new Abilities to saved progress, cinematic UI, interactive NFT previews, and upgraded Wwise-powered audio, Game Client 0.12 makes playing and connecting in The Sandbox more seamless, social, and immersive than ever. Whether you’re teaming up with friends, exploring dynamic worlds, or chasing new rewards, this update is built to take every Experience to the next level.
[Read more]

Training Grounds LAND Sale ft. Cirque du Soleil, SCC Napoli, Open Circus, Metafight, Deepak Chopra, Casio G-Shock & Kun Agüero [All]
The “Training Grounds” LAND Sale opens a new neighborhood in The Sandbox for world-class performances, sports legends, and wellness pioneers, featuring partners like Cirque du Soleil, SSC Napoli, Kun Agüero, Deepak Chopra, G-SHOCK, Metafight, and Open Circus.
[Read more]

July Monthly Owner Rewards: Claim Your Pirates Loot! [Owner]
July Monthly Owner Rewards bring a pirate’s bounty to The Sandbox, with Avatar Owners receiving the Captain’s Crest tricorn hat and LAND Owners claiming The Dreadwake, a fearsome ship ready for high-seas battles.
[Read more]

Celebrate the Jurassic World Movie Premiere & Win Big!
Celebrate the Jurassic World movie premiere in the Dinosaur Preserve Experience by completing quests to earn Ethos Points (EP) and enter the Dinosaur Egg Raffle. Collect eggs and hatch them to unlock entries into SAND prize pools, with rewards ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 SAND depending on your egg’s rarity.
[Read more]

The Sandbox News: Always Stay in the Loop

Check back next time for the latest articles on The Sandbox News. Sign up for emails to get updates on all new News articles, or click on The Sandbox News tab from your home screen to see recent stories.

We’re making a move!

To better serve our community and deliver news, updates, and features in a more dynamic format, we’re transitioning away from Medium.

Moving forward, all future articles, announcements, and deep dives will be published on The Sandbox Blog.

If you’ve been following us on Medium, thank you for all your support. To stay in the loop with everything happening in The Sandbox, make sure to follow and bookmark our official blog.

We will continue to post weekly/biweekly summaries of what has been posted on The Sandbox Blog to ensure you don’t miss anything during this transitional period. In time, however, we will move away from these summaries, and all new content will be viewable exclusively on The Sandbox Blog.

At that time, this Medium will no longer be updated regularly, but the archive will remain live for reference.

We’ll see you there, and we thank you for being a part of our community!

Take your creativity to the next level. Unleash your amazing voxel skills in this fantastic seasonal VoxEdit contest

Download VoxEdit HERE to get started !

Theme: 🎪 Let your imagination soar through the air with the sights, sounds, and surreal wonders of the carnival!
From dazzling performers to whimsical props and magical curiosities, step right up and create the fantastical heart of the summer show.

Let your imagination really take over. Whether you are creating vibrant tents, magical performers, extraordinary props. Curious creatures. You are free to create something a little magical, mysterious or more grounded in the real world.

Why should you participate in VoxEdit Contests?

• Exciting prizes: Win SAND prizes, the ability to mint and sell your assets, NFT prizes and other prizes from IPs (minting and selling is only on selected contests so make sure you read to see if those contests are eligible)
• Exposure: VoxEdit Contests are a brilliant way for you to develop and show off your asset creating skills. Where would games be if not for all the fantastic assets inside of them. Take part and we’ll showcase your work
• Skill Enhancement: Refine your Voxel art skills. Explore new ideas and methods and create outside of your usual comfort zone with interesting themes.
• Community Spirit: Take part in a fun and vibrant community of fellow creators and artists, where you can share your progress, exchange ideas, collab with others and learn tips and tricks.

🏆Prizes🏆

Expert Category

8,100 SAND will be split amongst the top entries in the following ways:

• 1st place: 3000 SAND
• 2nd place: 2500 SAND
• 3rd place: 1500 SAND
• 4th place: 650 SAND
• 5th place: 450 SAND

Regular Category

8,300 SAND will be split amongst the top entries in the following ways:

• 1st place: 2,500 SAND
• 2nd place: 2,250 SAND
• 3rd place: 1,250 SAND
• 4th place: 500 SAND
• 5th to 10th place: Each receives 300 SAND.

Beginner Category
2,600 SAND will be split amongst the top entries in the following ways:

• 1st place: 750 SAND
• 2nd place: 500 SAND
• 3rd place: 300 SAND
• 4th to 10th place: Each receives 150 SAND.

Special Category Prizes:

There will be some additional prize categories participants can place in which are limited to those who don’t place in the winning categories.
Winners for the below categories will receive 100 SAND unless stated otherwise

• Top performer: Most amazing circus performing character
• Curiosity: Awarded to the best mysterious out of the box entry
• Big show: For a large scale asset, like tents, or large performing acts
• Participation Prize: 10 SAND each**

*SAND prizes will now be sent on Polygon network.
Participation prize limited to the first 100 submissions outside of the top winners**

IMPORTANT: KYC is needed to receive SAND prizes. Make sure you are KYCd prior to the submission deadline.

🗓️ Important dates!

• Submissions open: 20th June
• Submission deadline: 21st July
• Results announced: 10th-11th August

✅How To Submit Your Entry

• Create a GIF of your fully animated asset. (We recommend using Gyazo).
• Optional Tweet your asset’s GIF mentioning @VoxEdit, @TheSandboxGame on Twitter. Make sure to include #VoxEditContests hashtags in your Tweet.
• To finalize your submission, please fill out the following Google Form: https://forms.gle/NP7vDqPfLZfEe7UR8

⚠️Important Entry Guidelines

• Expert Level will be for any artists that have placed in the top 5 in at least 2 contests since December 2024.
• Beginner level will be for artists that are new, haven’t placed in the top 10 of any contest prior. Submissions that are above that of a beginner level will be automatically moved to the regular category.
• Regular level is open to everyone.
• Users can submit to any categories but if they go to final voting in one category they won’t be eligible for the other ones.
• Low quality entries or spammed entries with no effort put into their creation will be disqualified at The Sandbox’s discretion. The same goes for attempting to claim other people’s creations as your own — we’ll know.
• Entries containing elements of any kind of discriminative or overly sexualised nature will be disqualified from the contest. Keep it family friendly.
• Your submission must be original, made entirely by you. You cannot make an ASSET of a character that belongs to someone else (ie, Marvel, Disney, Sega etc).
• If a contest is in partnership with an external brand, you are allowed to use their logo but cannot upload your asset on the marketplace.
• Your entry must be made in The Sandbox’s free VoxEdit software (click here), available on Windows and Mac.
• Make sure you have read and understood the VoxEdit Contest Guidelines.
• Assets should not exceed more than 5000 faces or 175 nodes.
• The maximum size of an asset is 512 voxels tall (16 meters). Floor print should not exceed 512 x 512 x 512. Including animation.
• You can submit more than one entry, but can only place in the top with one entry.
• Voting will be conducted internally by The Sandbox team.
• By participating you agree Sandbox can use your entry artwork for promotional purposes.

💯Judging Criteria

Your asset will be judged based on the 6 criteria below. Each criterion follows a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being “very poor” and 5 being “very good”.

• Creativity (How creative was the asset based on the theme?)
• Usability (Versatility, different uses/ scale / Good collider interactions / Multiple animations).
• Optimisation (Does this asset look optimised in Sandbox Game? Low face and node count is more optimised).
• Aesthetics (Geometry, shape / Proportion / Colour Palette / Texture / Level of detail).
• Quality of Animation (Was new animations added? Flow of the animation).
• Level of Complexity (How difficult is the asset to make)

🧐New to VoxEdit Or Need Assistance?

• Check out our new VoxEdit Academy knowledge base.
• Join our Discord community to chat with other artists.
• Check out the Sandbox ToS https://www.sandbox.game/en/terms-of-use/

IMPORTANT: As much as we enjoy seeing your lovely scenes, please remember these contests are usually to encourage you to create something usable within The Sandbox, so keep that in mind when creating. ;)

Circus of Curiosities was originally published in The Sandbox on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Welcome back with another entry in our ongoing series exploring the power of The Sandbox Game Maker’s “On-Equip” feature.

For those new to the series, On-Equip is a versatile tool that enhances Player experiences by allowing items to trigger specific actions or effects when equipped. By integrating On-Equip mechanics, creators can introduce new levels of interactivity, making gameplay more dynamic and engaging.

In this installment, we’ll dive into how creators can use On-Equip to Trigger Cooldowns.

Ready to learn more? Update to the latest version of Game Maker and prepare to see what’s possible with On-Equip!

This article is part four of an 11-part series about using On-Equip. To read more, click one of the links below:

1. Part 1: NPC Interactions
2. Part 2: Toggling Between States
3. Part 3: Hex or Impede Players
4. Part 4: Trigger Unique Interactions
5. Part 5: Create Class-Based Systems
6. Part 6: Avoid Environmental Hazards
7. Part 7: Crowd Events
8. Part 8: Quests
9. Part 9: Trigger Power Ups
10. Part 10: Triggering Cooldowns

Using Equipment to Trigger Cooldowns

Power-ups are a classic game mechanic that temporarily or permanently enhance Player abilities. While we previously focused on items that permanently enhanced Player abilities in Part 9 of this series, now we will shift the focus to temporary enhancements.

While the On-Equip feature can be used to let Players activate a Power-Up or heal themselves with a button press, triggering cooldowns prevents Players from using the ability repeatedly. This adds a level of strategy, as Players will have to decide when and how often to use the effect. Whether it’s restoring health in a tough boss fight or boosting speed to escape danger, timing becomes a critical element of gameplay.

Popular in both RPGs and shooters, this mechanic opens up many new scenarios for Players.

How This Could Appear in Your Game or Experience

Players may encounter Power-Ups with Cooldowns similarly to the ways they would encounter Power-Ups without Cooldowns. These include:

• Exploring the World: Items could be hidden in treasure chests, scattered throughout dungeons, or earned through exploration.
• Defeating Enemies: Certain powerful foes might drop unique gear that boosts attributes when equipped.
• Completing Quests: Power-Ups could be rewards for completing specific missions or challenges.
• Purchasing from Shops: Players could buy items from in-game merchants or craft equipment that grants special abilities.

Regardless of how they acquire the gear, once equipped, the benefits should be immediately apparent, allowing the Player to continue their adventure with newfound strength. Attributes that can currently be affected using Power-Ups include:

• Health can heal or damage the Player.
• Attack Power can increase or decrease attack damage.
• Damage Resistance affects how much damage the Player takes.
• Oxygen influences how quickly oxygen is consumed.
• Speed affects how fast or slow the Player moves.

Stay tuned for additional attributes that may be able to receive Power-Ups.

How to Implement

The following flow will closely mimic the implementation order for Power-Ups, featured in Part 9.

Start by creating a piece of equipment that players can collect in your game. This item should be marked as collectible and set to trigger an On-Equip” message. Once this message is triggered, use it in the Rule System to begin applying buffs or effects. “Buff” refers to the positive status effect or change that enhances equipment, making it stronger or more effective. In this context, when we say “buff,” we are referring to the equipment’s Power-Ups. The two terms can be used interchangeably.

Next, set up a Message Rule in the Rule System. Create a “Send Message” rule, selecting the On-Equip message from the equipment. Set up different check messages if you want multiple pieces to have different effects when equipped.

Once the message rule is in place, apply Power-Ups to the equipment. The On-Equip feature can currently affect several attributes, including health, attack power, damage resistance, oxygen depletion rate, and speed. When setting these attributes, they will be highlighted in the message system, allowing you to fine-tune the effects to match your game’s needs.

Then, create a Variable that keeps track of whether the item is equipped or not. Use a Math Rule to add “1” to that Variable whenever the equip message is triggered.

Next, set up a Timer Rule with its own Trigger Message, and create a separate Variable to handle the countdown. This timer kicks off after the Player uses their ability, like healing. Let’s say you call this message “HEALTH.”

Now for the actual button press. Set up a Trigger Value rule that responds to a button press (like a number key or mouse click). That rule should check two things: first, is the item equipped? And second, is the cooldown timer at zero?

You’ll do this with a pair of Compare Value rules. The first Compare checks if the equipment variable equals one, confirming that the Player has it equipped. If that’s true, it moves on to the second Compare, which checks whether the cooldown timer variable is zero. If both conditions are met, the ability activates — you send the “HEALTH” message and apply whatever effect you want, like restoring 50% health or giving a temporary stat boost. The cooldown timer starts ticking from there, preventing the ability from being used again until time’s up.

If you get lost at any point or need more detailed information, check out the GitBook.

Potential Uses for Power-Ups

A Player finds and equips a potion pack. Every time they press the “1” key, they can heal themselves, but only once every 30 seconds. They now have to think carefully about when to use it, especially in the middle of a tough battle!

https://www.notion.so/thesandboxgame/On-Equip-possibilities-5f497d2b80484ec8a133def77944c090?pvs=4#2938a7203dd540f0b74236fe82837828

In another case, a Player has to cross a stretch of lava. Luckily, they’re fully geared up with protective equipment. A quick button press boosts their defense for 30 seconds, giving them just enough time to make it across. Without the gear, they’d be toast!

Unleash Your Creativity with On-Equip

Cooldowns offer a world of possibilities, allowing you to create exciting game worlds that Players keep revisiting. By strategically utilizing the many On-Equip mechanics, you can introduce new layers of interactivity and immersion into your creations.

Get started today and discover the transformative potential of the On-Equip feature in shaping your gaming experiences in The Sandbox. Stay tuned for the final chapter of this 11-part series, Part XI: Using Attributes on Player Equipment to Enhance Gameplay!

As part of The Sandbox’s Game Maker and Game Client 0.11 update, we’ve introduced three new Abilities Players can equip in-game: Flight, Air Dance, and Double Jump. To help our Creator community understand and implement these exciting features, we’ve launched a four-part series guiding you through each step.

1. Abilities Part One: Use Cases & Implementation Guide
2. Abilities Part Two: How to Use & Implement Flight
3. Abilities Part Three: How to Use & Implement Double Jump
4. Abilities Part Four: How to Use & Implement Air Dance

Keep reading to learn all about Air Dance and how you can implement it into your next Experience.

Air Dance Across Surfaces

Air Dance lets you glide effortlessly through the air for a short distance, helping you cross gaps and cover ground with style! By pressing CTRL as you walk, your Avatar will begin to dance across the air as if they were grooving across the dance floor.

Use Cases for Air Dancing Across Surfaces

• Exploration of Large Spaces: Cover vast distances quickly, enabling Pplayers to explore expansive environments, reach distant areas, or access high vantage points.
• Bypassing Difficult Jump Sections: Helps Pplayers navigate challenging jumping puzzles, offering an alternative for those less skilled at complex platforming.

Air Dance Over Gaps

Air Dance also lets players hover over gaps, enabling movement across longer distances than those offered by jump or Double Jump.

Use Cases for Air Dancing Over Gaps

• Hidden Areas: Design secret locations accessible only through Air Dance, encouraging exploration and better opportunities to hide items off the main path.
• Avoiding Difficult Jumps: Provide an alternative to challenging jump sections, making the game more accessible for Pplayers who struggle with platforming.
• Narrative Integration: Incorporate Air Dance into the story, emphasizing its role in traversing the skies. Players can leap from any ledge and hover at any height, opening up possibilities for storytelling and thematic design.

Air Dance Over Environmental Hazards

Air Dance allows Pplayers to hover over lava and environmental hazards, enabling more gameplay options and alternative paths through levels when the ability is active.

Use Cases for Air Dancing Over Environmental Hazards

• Easier Navigation: Bypass traps or hover across large gaps, providing smoother traversal and more strategic movement.
• Hidden Areas: Access previously inaccessible locations where hidden items or secrets await discovery.
• Puzzle Mechanics: Incorporate challenges where players must hover over the correct path or avoid touching specific areas, adding depth to puzzle design.

Unleash Your Creativity with Abilities

By utilizing the new Abilities, you can introduce new ways for players to interact with your 3D environment, adding layers of interactivity and immersion to your experiences. Whether enhancing movement with Flight and Double Jump or adding festive elements with Air Dance, these features elevate your worlds and deepen player engagement.

Get started today and explore the transformative potential of Abilities in shaping your creations in The Sandbox.

Create Now.

Welcome back with another entry in our ongoing series exploring the power of The Sandbox Game Maker’s “On-Equip” feature.

For those new to the series, On-Equip is a versatile tool that enhances Player experiences by allowing items to trigger specific actions or effects when equipped. By integrating On-Equip mechanics, creators can introduce new levels of interactivity, making gameplay more dynamic and engaging.

In this installment, we’ll dive into how creators can use On-Equip to trigger Power-Ups.

Ready to learn more? Update to the latest version of Game Maker and prepare to see what’s possible with On-Equip!

This article is part four of an 11-part series about using On-Equip. To read more, click one of the links below:

1. Part 1: NPC Interactions
2. Part 2: Toggling Between States
3. Part 3: Hex or Impede Players
4. Part 4: Trigger Unique Interactions
5. Part 5: Create Class-Based Systems
6. Part 6: Avoid Environmental Hazards
7. Part 7: Crowd Events
8. Part 8: Quests

Using Equipment to Trigger Power-Ups

Power-Ups are a classic game mechanic that temporarily or permanently enhance Player abilities. By using the On-Equip feature, Players can receive gear that improves their attack power, speed, damage resistance, or health regeneration, creating new layers of strategy and progression in your game.

Imagine a scenario where a Player is struggling against powerful enemies. Equipping a special sword could boost their attack power, or wearing enchanted boots might increase their speed. This system gives Players more control over their character’s development and rewards exploration and decision-making.

This kind of mechanic is common in many game types, but it is especially popular in RPGs. Players often collect different types of equipment for different in-game scenarios, such as boss battles, where more power, speed, or health might be needed.

How This Could Appear in Your Game or Experience

Players may encounter Power-Ups in several ways:

• Exploring the World: Items could be hidden in treasure chests, scattered throughout dungeons, or earned through exploration.
• Defeating Enemies: Certain powerful foes might drop unique gear that boosts attributes when equipped.
• Completing Quests: Power-Ups could be rewards for completing specific missions or challenges.
• Purchasing from Shops: Players could buy items from in-game merchants or craft equipment that grants special abilities.

Regardless of how they acquire the gear, once equipped, the benefits should be immediately apparent, allowing the Player to continue their adventure with newfound strength. Attributes that can currently be affected using Power-Ups include:

• Health — Able to heal or damage the Player.
• Attack Power — Can increase or decrease attack damage.
• Damage Resistance — The Player can take less or more damage.
• Oxygen — Speeds up or slows down how fast oxygen is used.
• Speed — Can slow down or speed up the Player.

Stay tuned for additional attributes that may be able to receive Power-Ups.

How to Implement

Start by creating the equipment item. Ensure the item is collectible and set an “On-Equip” message. This message will be used in the Rule System to trigger the “buff” when the item is equipped. “Buff” refers to the positive status effect or change that enhances equipment, making it stronger or more effective. In this context, when we say “buff,” we are referring to the equipment’s Power-Ups. The two terms can be used interchangeably.

Next, set up a Message Rule in the Rule System. Create a “Send Message” rule, selecting the On-Equip message from the equipment. If you want multiple pieces of gear to trigger different effects, set up different check messages accordingly.

Once the message rule is in place, apply Power-Ups to the equipment. The On-Equip feature can currently affect several attributes, including health, attack power, damage resistance, oxygen depletion rate, and speed. When setting these attributes, they will be highlighted in the message system, allowing you to fine-tune the effects to match your game’s needs.

After applying Power-Ups, test your game to ensure that the effects are triggered correctly when items are equipped. Adjust the parameters as needed to maintain game balance and ensure a smooth experience for Players.

If you want Power-Ups to last indefinitely rather than for a limited time, implement a timer system. Set a timer variable to :00 seconds and create a timer rule with a countdown. When the timer reaches zero, send a message to reset the attribute to its buffed state. Loop the process by linking the timer message back to the attribute adjustment. This ensures that the Power-Up remains active as long as the Player has the item equipped.

For health regeneration effects, use the timer method to restore health at intervals, such as adding +10 health every 10 seconds. Make sure the effect persists while the item is equipped, ensuring that the regeneration mechanic functions correctly in gameplay.

For more detailed information, check out the GitBook.

Potential Uses for Power-Ups

You’re faced with a quest that calls for a fast completion time. If you are unable to collect all of the tasks in the given time, you will put the villagers at risk. To make sure you complete the quest quickly, you first equip your Boots of Great Speed, allowing you to move faster than ever before.

Or, you’ve come across the Helmet of Restoration, allowing you to survive passage through a lava pit on your journey to save the queen!

After saving the queen and slaying the dragon, you pick up the armor he dropped and equip it, becoming much stronger, allowing you to protect the kingdom you’ve just saved.

Unleash Your Creativity with On-Equip

Power-Ups offer a world of possibilities, allowing you to create exciting game worlds that Players keep revisiting. By strategically utilizing the many On-Equip mechanics, you can introduce new layers of interactivity and immersion into your creations.

Get started today and discover the transformative potential of the On-Equip feature in shaping your gaming experiences in The Sandbox.

Welcome back with another entry in our ongoing series exploring the power of The Sandbox Game Maker’s “On-Equip” feature.

For those new to the series, On-Equip is a versatile tool that enhances player experiences by allowing items to trigger specific actions or effects when equipped. By integrating On-Equip mechanics, creators can introduce new levels of interactivity, making gameplay more dynamic and engaging.

In this installment, we’ll dive into how creators can use On-Equip to trigger hidden quests, adding a layer of discovery and player-driven progression to their experiences.

Ready to learn more? Update to the latest version of Game Maker and prepare to see what’s possible with On-Equip!

This article is part four of an 11-part series about using On-Equip. To read more, click one of the links below:

1. Part 1: NPC Interactions
2. Part 2: Toggling Between States
3. Part 3: Hex or Impede Players
4. Part 4: Trigger Unique Interactions
5. Part 5: Create Class-Based Systems
6. Part 6: Avoid Environmental Hazards
7. Part 7: Crowd Events

Using Equipment to Trigger Unique Quests

Instead of presenting quests in a traditional scripted manner, you can design hidden quests that only activate when players equip specific items. This creates a sense of exploration and rewards curiosity, as players must find, equip, and interact with elements in the game world to unlock new adventures.

This kind of mechanic is common in games of all types. Players may encounter an area that they are unable to enter or a sign that they are unable to read. This informs them that they need to find a specific item and return to that location to continue their adventure.

How This Could Appear in Your Game or Experience

Imagine a game inspired by Jurassic World. Your player is examining fossils using a magnifying glass or special glasses. They come across a dig site, but they are unable to explore it because, as a pop-up tells them, they lack the correct gear to begin digging.

Now, the player is aware that they need to be on the lookout for an item that will allow them to start digging in this area. They continue to explore the game world, eventually coming across a set of Abandoned Relic Gloves. Aha! Just what they were looking for.

Now, they return to the dig site and can uncover valuable fossils that will fetch them a pretty penny from the in-game souvenir store.

This kind of mechanic adds a new dimension of realism to your gameworld that can be implemented by following the steps below!

How to Implement

Start by setting up an Asset. Create an asset or NPC that the player can interact with, but initially, it does nothing, or informs the player they lack the necessary information or item. Then, set up an Asker and attach it to the asset. When the player interacts with the Asset, the asker informs them they are unable to read it.

Create the Equipment Asset that the player will need to acquire. Place the equipment (e.g., Abandoned Relic Gloves) somewhere in the game world. Make the equipment collectible and set an “On-Equip” message. Then, set up a Variable in the rule system that will check if the equipment item is equipped. Add a Math Rule in the rule system to add 1 when the “On-Equip” message is triggered, updating the variable.

Set up a Trigger Volume in front of the dig site or whatever asset the player cannot interact with. Set the detection size to be small so the player must be close to the item. Set the enter message to “Check”, then set up a Compare Value. Create a compare numbers rule in the rule system that triggers on the “Check” message. Have the compare check if the variable equals 1, and if so, send a success message.

Set up another Asker on the success message from the compare value. This Asker informs the player that the item they equipped contains the information needed to read the map, revealing a hidden location. Set up a response for the Asker to agree to find the location.

Now, head to the gameplay settings and add a quest that triggers via message. Set the trigger message to match the response message, agreeing to go on the mission. Finish setting up the quest. This setup should now trigger a quest upon completion of the required conditions.

For more information, check out the GitBook.

Potential Uses for Unique Quests

You’re a treasure hunter exploring tombs and dangerous places. You come across an ancient tablet in a language you have never seen before. You can tell it’s important, but you need to find a way to translate it. Explore the tomb and collect pieces of ancient books to fully learn the language. Once you have enough pieces, return and discover what mysteries await!

Or, perhaps you speak to an NPC, but they talk to you in an alien language. You need to get past them, but they keep saying something you can’t comprehend. Using a local translation book, you manage to communicate with them. They tell you they need 50 gold coins to let you pass and give you a quest to find the money. Using the book, you interact with other NPCs and find ways to help them and gather the money needed to progress.

Unleash Your Creativity with On-Equip

Unique Quests offers a world of possibilities, allowing you to create exciting game worlds that players keep revisiting. By strategically utilizing the many On-Equip mechanics, you can introduce new layers of interactivity and immersion into your creations.

Get started today and discover the transformative potential of the On-Equip feature in shaping your gaming experiences in The Sandbox. Stay tuned for Part XI: Using Equipment to Trigger Power Ups & Health Regeneration!