Definitions

Stage

The stage is where all the characters play their part, according to the rules they've been given.
Each frame, every character is given a turn, in the order in which they were placed on stage.
The stage can be updated one character at a time, or, all at once at the end of the frame.

Character

Use the Paint tools to draw a character. When moved to the stage, it becomes an 'instant'. All characters have the same set of rules, and the same set of variable names, but individual values.
Character instants can be created, duplicated or removed from stage (but not the original character which always remains).

Rule

Each character has a set of rules. Each rule has an 'If' list (on the left) and an 'Actions' list (on the right). Each rule is checked in order. If the left side matches then the rule 'fires' (goes green) and the actions are carried out.

Clock Tick

In one clock tick, every character gets a chance to test its rules and do what it can. A clock tick can run either forward so all characters can try to do something or it can run backward so all characters UNDO everything they did on the last clock tick.

Appearance

What the character looks like. You can paint an appearance or paste one in from a drawing program. Characters can have many different visual appearances.

Grid

The stage is separated into a grid of squares like a chessboard. When you draw an appearance or write a rule, you can see the grid lines in the background. Characters can only move from square to square on the grid.

Painting Tools

A set of tools for drawing your character's appearance; for example, pencil, paintbrush, and eraser. A menu allows flipping and rotating a selected part of the drawing.

Spotlight (Handles)

The Spotlight lights up the area around your character when you're writing a rule. Drag the handles out to show more of the stage and to include characters that need to be in the rule. Your character 'sees' what's in the spotlight and ignores anything outside the spotlight.

Variable

Every character has the same set of variable names, including stage position and appearance.
You can add your own variables (colored yellow) .
Characters can read any global variable. But, they can only read from or write to other character variables if the other character is in the spotlight.

Sound

What the character can say. You can record new sounds or import a sound file.

Tutorials