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How to create a text engine in Scratch - Complete beginner guide

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TB

TextEngine_Builder

Posted on July 26, 2025 • Beginner

🔤 Need help creating a text engine!

Hey everyone! I’m working on a story-based game in Scratch and I really need help making a text engine. I want to create:

  • Smooth typewriter effect for dialogue
  • Text that appears letter by letter
  • Different text speeds and formatting
  • Interactive dialogue boxes
  • Text animations and effects

I’ve seen some amazing text engines in other Scratch projects, but I’m not sure how to build one from scratch. Can someone help me understand the basics and guide me through the process? 🤔

Thanks in advance for any help! 🙏

ST

ScratchTutor_Alex

Replied 4 minutes later • ⭐ Best Answer

Great question @TextEngine_Builder! I’ll walk you through creating a complete text engine step by step. Here’s everything you need to know:

🎯 Text Engine Architecture

First, let’s understand how a text engine works:

flowchart TD A[📝 Text Input] --> B[Text Processing] B --> C[Character Splitting] C --> D[Display Loop] D --> E{More Characters?} E -->|Yes| F[Show Next Character] E -->|No| G[Text Complete] F --> H[Wait/Delay] H --> D G --> I[Wait for Input] I --> J[Next Text/Action] style A fill:#e1f5fe style G fill:#e8f5e8 style J fill:#fff3e0

🔧 Basic Text Engine Setup

Let’s start with the foundation. Create these variables:

    // Variables needed for text engine
set [text to display v] to [Hello! Welcome to my game.]
set [current text v] to []
set [text position v] to (1)
set [text speed v] to (0.05)
set [text complete v] to [false]

⚡ Core Text Display Logic

Here’s the main text engine script:

    // Main text engine script
when flag clicked
set [text position v] to (1)
set [current text v] to []
set [text complete v] to [false]

repeat until <(text complete) = [true]>
if <(text position) ≤ (length of (text to display))> then
set [current text v] to (join (current text) (letter (text position) of (text to display)))
change [text position v] by (1)
wait (text speed) seconds
else
set [text complete v] to [true]
end
end

// Display the text
forever
say (current text)
end

🎨 Advanced Features

Now let’s add some cool features to make your text engine more professional:

    // Enhanced text engine with effects
define display text [message] with speed [speed]
set [text to display v] to (message)
set [text position v] to (1)
set [current text v] to []
set [text complete v] to [false]
set [text speed v] to (speed)

repeat until <(text complete) = [true]>
if <(text position) ≤ (length of (text to display))> then
set [current letter v] to (letter (text position) of (text to display))

// Special character handling
if <(current letter) = [|]> then
wait (0.5) seconds  // Pause for dramatic effect
else
if <(current letter) = [*]> then
// Skip asterisks (formatting markers)
else
set [current text v] to (join (current text) (current letter))
// Add typing sound effect
play sound [typing v] until done
end
end

change [text position v] by (1)
wait (text speed) seconds
else
set [text complete v] to [true]
end
end

💬 Dialogue Box System

Create an interactive dialogue system:

    // Dialogue box with character portraits
when flag clicked
go to x: (0) y: (-120)
set size to (100) %
show

// Create dialogue box background
switch costume to [dialogue box v]

// Display character name
go to x: (-180) y: (50)
say [Character Name] for (0.1) seconds

// Display main dialogue text
go to x: (0) y: (0)
display text [Hello! This is a dialogue system.] with speed [0.03]

// Wait for player input
wait until <key [space v] pressed?>

// Clear and prepare for next dialogue
set [current text v] to []
hide

🌟 Text Effects and Animations

Add some visual flair to your text:

    // Text with color and shake effects
define display text with effects [message]
set [text to display v] to (message)
set [text position v] to (1)
set [current text v] to []

repeat until <(text position) > (length of (text to display))>
set [current letter v] to (letter (text position) of (text to display))

// Color effects based on characters
if <(current letter) = [!]> then
set [color v] effect to (pick random (1) to (200))
end

// Shake effect for emphasis
if <(current letter) = [?]> then
repeat (3)
change x by (pick random (-2) to (2))
change y by (pick random (-2) to (2))
wait (0.05) seconds
end
go to x: (0) y: (0)
end

set [current text v] to (join (current text) (current letter))
change [text position v] by (1)
wait (0.04) seconds
end

clear graphic effects

⚙️ Text Engine Settings

Make your text engine customizable:

    // Settings and configuration
when [s v] key pressed
// Toggle text speed
if <(text speed) = (0.05)> then
set [text speed v] to (0.02)  // Fast
else
if <(text speed) = (0.02)> then
set [text speed v] to (0.1)  // Slow
else
set [text speed v] to (0.05)  // Normal
end
end

when [enter v] key pressed
// Skip to end of current text
if <(text complete) = [false]> then
set [current text v] to (text to display)
set [text complete v] to [true]
end

when [space v] key pressed
// Continue to next dialogue
if <(text complete) = [true]> then
broadcast [next dialogue v]
end

📚 Multiple Text Management

Handle multiple dialogue lines efficiently:

    // Dialogue sequence manager
when flag clicked
set [dialogue index v] to (1)
set [dialogue list v] to [Hello!|Welcome to my game.|Let's start the adventure!|Good luck!]

when I receive [next dialogue v]
if <(dialogue index) ≤ (4)> then
set [current dialogue v] to (item (dialogue index) of [dialogue list v])
display text (current dialogue) with speed (0.04)
change [dialogue index v] by (1)
else
// End of dialogue sequence
broadcast [dialogue complete v]
hide
end

🎮 Integration Tips

  • Performance: Use “say” blocks for simple text, custom sprites for complex formatting
  • Timing: Adjust text speed based on reading difficulty
  • User Control: Always allow players to skip or speed up text
  • Visual Design: Create attractive dialogue boxes with proper contrast

This text engine will give you professional-looking dialogue for any type of Scratch project! 🎯

GD

GameDev_Sarah

Replied 15 minutes later

@TextEngine_Builder Here’s a helpful video tutorial that covers text engines in detail:

🎥 Recommended Tutorial: Advanced Text Engine Tutorial Series

Also, here’s a quick tip for beginners:

    // Simple starter text engine
when flag clicked
ask [Enter your message:] and wait
set [message v] to (answer)
set [position v] to (1)

repeat (length of (message))
say (letters (1) to (position) of (message))
change [position v] by (1)
wait (0.1) seconds
end

Start with this simple version and then build up to the more advanced features! 🚀

TB

TextEngine_Builder

Replied 25 minutes later

@ScratchTutor_Alex @GameDev_Sarah This is absolutely amazing! 🤩

The step-by-step explanation is exactly what I needed. I’m going to start with the simple version and work my way up to the advanced features. The video tutorial is also super helpful!

Thank you both so much for the detailed help! Can’t wait to implement this in my story game! 🎮✨

VB

Vibelf_Community

Pinned Message • Moderator

🚀 Master Advanced Scratch Programming Techniques!

Excellent discussion on text engines! For those looking to create even more sophisticated interactive experiences:

  • 🎭 Advanced dialogue systems with branching narratives
  • 🎨 Custom text rendering and typography effects
  • 🔊 Audio integration and voice acting synchronization
  • 📱 Cross-platform text engine optimization

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