Game Objects Overview

Orbem Studio manages all game content through 13 custom post types, each representing a different type of game object. Understanding how these objects work together is essential for building your game world.

Table of Contents

• Object Types
• Object Relationships
• Common Patterns
• Metadata System
• Working with Game Objects

Object Types

All game objects in Orbem Studio are managed as WordPress custom post types with specialized metadata fields. Here's what each object type does:

Core World Objects

Areas (explore-area)

• Game levels, maps, and playable zones
• Define the physical space where gameplay occurs
• Control background images, music, and navigation between levels

Characters (explore-character)

• Playable characters (controlled by the player)
• Non-playable characters (NPCs with pre-defined behaviors)
• Support for crew mates (switchable playable characters)

Enemies (explore-enemy)

• Hostile entities that challenge the player
• Four types: blockers, shooters, runners, and bosses
• Include AI behaviors like wandering and path following

Weapons (explore-weapon)

• Combat items with attack values
• Can be melee or projectile-based
• Collectible or assigned as starting equipment

Walls (explore-wall)

• Invisible collision boundaries
• Prevent character movement through certain areas
• Used to create obstacles and define walkable space

Quest and Story Objects

Missions (explore-mission)

• Player objectives and quests
• Support branching mission chains
• Provide rewards and unlock new content

Cutscenes (explore-cutscene)

• Scripted story sequences
• Support dialogue, character movement, and transitions
• Can be triggered automatically or by player interaction

Communication Items (explore-communicate)

• Messages delivered to player's communication device
• Triggered by cutscenes or game events
• Support text-to-speech narration

Interactive Objects

Points/Items (explore-point)

• Collectible items scattered throughout areas
• Can be rewards, hazards, or interactive triggers
• Support materialization (appearing after conditions are met)

Signs/Focus View Items (explore-sign)

• Objects the player can examine closely
• Display detailed images and descriptions
• Good for readable documents, artwork, or clues

Explainers (explore-explainer)

• Popup explanations and tutorials
• Can point to specific screen locations
• Support text-to-speech narration

Minigames (explore-minigame)

• Interactive game-within-game experiences
• Custom content and rules
• Can provide rewards upon completion

Magic/Abilities (explore-magic)

• Special powers unlocked by the player
• Tied to character progression and leveling
• Currently supports "transportation" ability

Object Relationships

Understanding how game objects relate to each other helps you design cohesive game experiences.

graph TB
    Area[Area/Level]
    Character[Character]
    Enemy[Enemy]
    Weapon[Weapon]
    Mission[Mission]
    Cutscene[Cutscene]
    Item[Point/Item]
    Wall[Wall]
    Sign[Sign]
    Explainer[Explainer]
    Communicate[Communication]

    Area --> Character
    Area --> Enemy
    Area --> Weapon
    Area --> Mission
    Area --> Cutscene
    Area --> Item
    Area --> Wall
    Area --> Sign
    Area --> Explainer

    Mission --> Cutscene
    Mission --> Item
    Mission --> Enemy

    Cutscene --> Character
    Cutscene --> Area
    Cutscene --> Communicate

    Character --> Weapon
    Character --> Area

    Enemy --> Area

Key Relationships

Area is Central

• Almost all objects belong to an area
• Areas define where objects appear in the game world
• Multiple objects can exist in the same area

Missions Drive Progression

• Missions can trigger cutscenes upon completion
• Missions can require interaction with specific items
• Missions can defeat specific enemies
• Completing missions can unlock new areas or remove obstacles

Cutscenes Tell Stories

• Cutscenes interact with characters (NPCs and playable)
• Cutscenes can transport players to different areas
• Cutscenes can trigger after mission completion
• Cutscenes can send messages to communication devices

Characters Use Weapons

• Playable characters have default weapons
• Characters can collect new weapons during gameplay
• Each weapon has unique images for each character

Common Patterns

Object Materialization

Many object types support "materialization" - appearing after certain conditions are met. This is configured through three meta fields:

• explore-materialize-item-trigger - Define a trigger area that reveals this object
• explore-materialize-after-cutscene - Reveal after a specific cutscene completes
• explore-materialize-after-mission - Reveal after a specific mission completes

Example use case: A weapon appears in an area only after the player completes a quest.

Object Removal

Some objects can be removed from the game world after conditions are met:

• explore-remove-after-cutscene - Remove after a specific cutscene completes

Example use case: An NPC disappears after a story cutscene where they leave the area.

Trigger-Based Interactions

Most interactive objects use trigger zones - rectangular areas that activate when the player enters:

Top: 1500      (Y coordinate)
Left: 2000     (X coordinate)
Height: 100    (Vertical size)
Width: 150     (Horizontal size)

Trigger Types:

• Auto triggers - Activate immediately when player enters the zone
• Engagement triggers - Require player to press the action key while in the zone

Area Transitions

Areas can link to each other through transition triggers:

1. Create an "Area" object representing the destination
2. Configure the source area's transition trigger
3. Set destination coordinates in the target area

Example: A door in "Level 1" that transports to "Level 2".

Metadata System

All game objects use WordPress post meta to store configuration. This provides several benefits:

Structured Data

Each object type has a specific set of meta fields defined in the plugin code. This ensures consistency and prevents misconfiguration.

Familiar Interface

Content creators use the WordPress post editor they already know. The Configuration meta box appears below the main content area for all game object types.

Extensibility

Developers can use WordPress hooks to add custom meta fields or modify existing ones. See the Hooks and Filters documentation for details.

Type-Specific Fields

Different object types show different configuration options:

• Areas show map upload and music fields
• Characters show directional sprite uploads and ability selection
• Enemies show health, damage, and AI behavior options
• Weapons show attack values and projectile settings

Working with Game Objects

Creating Objects

1. Navigate to the object type in the WordPress admin (e.g., Orbem Studio → Characters)
2. Click Add New
3. Set a title (this becomes the object's identifier)
4. Configure meta fields in the Configuration box
5. Click Publish

Organizing Objects

Use Descriptive Titles

• Good: "Level 1 - Starting Village"
• Bad: "Area 1"

Leverage Taxonomies

• The explore-area-point taxonomy lets you group objects by area
• Use this to filter and organize your content

Post Slugs Matter

• The post slug is used as the identifier in the game engine
• Keep slugs short and lowercase (e.g., "hero", "level-1", "sword")

Testing Objects

After creating objects:

1. Visit your game page to see them in action
2. Use Developer Mode to visually position objects
3. Check browser console for errors if objects don't appear

Deleting Objects

Before deleting game objects:

1. Check references - See if other objects reference this one (e.g., missions that trigger this cutscene)
2. Update dependencies - Remove references from other objects
3. Test thoroughly - Ensure the game still works after deletion

Warning: Deleting objects referenced by others may cause game errors. Always check dependencies first.

Next Steps

Now that you understand the game object system, dive into the specific object types:

• Areas - Build your game world
• Characters - Create playable and non-playable characters
• Enemies - Add challenge with hostile entities
• Weapons - Design your combat system
• Missions - Create objectives and progression
• Cutscenes - Tell your story
• Items and Triggers - Add interactivity and collectibles

Or explore related topics:

• Developer Mode - Visual object positioning
• Global Options - Game-wide configuration
• REST API - Understanding the data layer