Action Scheduler

The Action Scheduler is an advanced component that lets you set up automatic events in your game. Think of it as a timer that can trigger things to happen at exactly the right moment - like revealing a hint after 30 seconds, playing background music when the game starts, or showing a popup at a specific time.

Overview

The Action Scheduler is completely invisible to your players - they'll never see it on screen. Instead, it works quietly in the background, waiting for the right moment to make things happen in your game. It's perfect for creating engaging experiences where events unfold automatically at just the right time.

How to Add an Action Scheduler

1. Open your game in the UFOLab editor

2. Navigate to the Components section in the component picker

3. Select Action Scheduler from the advanced components

4. Drag and drop it onto your scene

Setting Up Your Timer

Choose When to Start Counting

First, decide when you want the timer to begin counting down:

When This Scene Starts

• Best for: Events that should happen every time a player visits this scene

• How it works: The timer starts fresh each time the player enters this scene

• Great for: Welcome messages, scene-specific hints, or atmosphere effects

When the Game Begins

• Best for: Events that should happen at consistent times throughout the entire game

• How it works: The timer starts counting from the moment the player first starts playing

• Great for: Story progression, tutorial steps, or game-wide announcements

When the Game Clock Starts

• Best for: Competitive or timed challenges

• How it works: The timer starts when your game's timer begins running

• Great for: Time-limited puzzles, countdown events, or challenge modes

At a Specific Date and Time

• Best for: Real-world events or special occasions

• How it works: The event triggers when the real date and time is reached

• Great for: Holiday content, live events, or scheduled announcements

Set Your Countdown Time

For most timing options, you'll set how long to wait:

• Minutes: How many minutes to wait (you can use 0 if you only want seconds)

• Seconds: How many seconds to wait (from 0 to 59)

• Example: Setting 2 minutes and 30 seconds means your event will happen 2 minutes and 30 seconds after the timer starts

Choose Your Specific Date and Time

When using "At a Specific Date and Time":

• Pick a date: Choose the calendar date when you want the event to happen

• Set the time: Choose the exact hour and minute

• Important: The time will be based on each player's local time zone

Deciding What Should Happen

Now that you've set up when the timer should trigger, you need to tell it what to do when the time comes:

1. Click on your Action Scheduler component to select it

2. Look for the Actions tab in the properties panel

3. Set up the "When Timer Executes" action

Popular Things You Can Do

• Show or hide game elements: Reveal a helpful hint, show a secret door, or make a character appear

• Play sounds or music: Start background music, play a notification sound, or trigger sound effects

• Move to another scene: Automatically take players to the next level or area

• Update the game: Change the score, unlock achievements, or modify game variables

• Create visual effects: Start animations, fade effects, or other visual changes

How It Looks in the Editor

While editing your game, the Action Scheduler shows you helpful information:

• Clock icon: So you can easily spot it among other components

• Component name: The name you gave it (helpful when you have multiple timers)

• Timing method: Shows whether it's using scene start, game start, etc.

• Timer setting: Displays how long the countdown is or what date/time it's set for

• On/Off status: Shows whether the timer is currently active or disabled

Popular Ways to Use Action Scheduler

Teaching Players (Tutorials)

Create automatic message sequences where information appears at perfectly timed intervals, without requiring any user action.

Multiple Action Schedulers Working Together:

Action Scheduler #1 (Scene Start + 0 seconds)
    ↓
0:00 - Shows welcome message: "Welcome to the magical forest!"

Action Scheduler #2 (Scene Start + 5 seconds)
    ↓
0:05 - Plays ambient forest sounds

Action Scheduler #3 (Scene Start + 10 seconds)
    ↓
0:10 - Shows narrator text: "Long ago, a treasure was hidden here..."

Action Scheduler #4 (Scene Start + 20 seconds)
    ↓
0:20 - Reveals a glowing hint on screen

How it works: Each Action Scheduler is a separate component with its own timing. You can have multiple schedulers in the same scene, each set to trigger at different moments to create a flowing sequence of automatic events.

Storytelling

Control when story elements are revealed to create suspense, drama, or perfect pacing in your narrative.

Example: Have a character's dialogue appear, wait 5 seconds, then play a dramatic sound effect.

Challenges and Games

Add excitement with timed events, automatic level progression, or surprise elements that keep players engaged.

Example: In a puzzle game, reveal a hint after 2 minutes if the player hasn't solved it yet.

Atmosphere and Mood

Create living, breathing game worlds with automatic background changes, weather effects, or ambient sounds.

Example: Change the background music after 3 minutes to signal a shift in mood or difficulty.

If Something's Not Working

My Timer Isn't Triggering

Check these common issues:

• Make sure the Action Scheduler component is turned on (enabled)

• Most Important: Verify that you've set up an action for "When Timer Executes" - this is required for the component to work

• If using "Game Start" timing, make sure you have defined a starting scene for your game.

• Double-check your time settings - did you set both minutes and seconds to 0 by accident?

The Timing Seems Off

• Test your game from the beginning to see the actual timing

• Remember that "Scene Start" timing resets every time someone enters the scene

• For consistent timing across your entire game, use "Game Start" instead

Creative Tips

Create Event Chains

Use multiple Action Schedulers to create elaborate automatic sequences. Each scheduler works independently but together they create a coordinated experience.

Example - Automated Story Sequence:

• Scheduler A: Shows character after 3 seconds

• Scheduler B: Character speaks after 8 seconds

• Scheduler C: Background music starts after 12 seconds

• Scheduler D: Character exits after 18 seconds

Pro Tip: You can also use one Action Scheduler to trigger an action that enables/disables other components, creating even more complex automated sequences!

Smart Hint Systems

Set up helpful hints that appear when players might be stuck, making your game more user-friendly without being pushy.

Example: If it's a puzzle game, show a small hint after 1 minute, a bigger hint after 3 minutes.

The Action Scheduler is an amazing way to make your games feel more alive and engaging. With a little creativity, you can use it to create memorable moments that happen at just the right time, making your players feel like they're experiencing something truly special.