1. Place Objects
Add physical objects, scene objects, collectibles, hazards, platforms, triggers, particle fields, or drawn physics lines.
Complete help
Ancient Machines Walkthrough
Controls, right-side level menu options, object physics, object game behavior, dedicated game-settings guides, joints, and machine-building workflows.
Start here
How a level comes together
The editor flow is simple at the top level: place objects, tune how they behave, connect systems, then play and refine.
2. Tune Physics
Use object settings for body type, density, friction, restitution, sensors, scale, rotation rules, and collision precision.
3. Add Game Rules
Use game settings for targets, goals, collecting, damage, creation timing, interaction, character controls, and trigger behavior.
4. Connect Motion
Add joints, motors, advanced paths, groups, physics lines, one-way platforms, or systems that move objects over time.
5. Wire Logic
Use trigger zones and chips to turn contacts, timers, motor limits, object values, and events into changes elsewhere in the level.
6. Test and Iterate
Switch into play mode, watch the machine run, then return to create mode and adjust the exact object or system that needs work.
Level type walkthrough
How each level type actually plays
The level type changes the solve-mode contract: whether the player builds a machine, interacts with a prepared scene, or controls a platform character.
Build To Solve
The player starts in create mode and assembles a solution machine from the available objects. This mode is about choosing the right parts, positioning them, rotating and scaling them, adding joints, and then testing whether the machine can complete the objective.
Budget is central here. User-owned solution objects are counted by the solution-cost system. Object type, subtype, texture price, scale, static or kinematic body type, and joint settings can all increase the final cost.
Use this type when the puzzle should be solved by construction: bridges, launchers, chain reactions, moving platforms, weighted mechanisms, motorized arms, or machines that the player must design under a budget limit.
Touch To Solve
The level is mostly authored in advance, and the player solves it by interacting with configured objects. Touch settings decide whether an object can be dragged, whether touch applies force or torque, whether a motor starts on touch, or whether touch activates destruction and trigger-zone logic.
Touch levels still use the same physics and object-game systems, but the important question is not what the player builds. The important question is which objects respond to direct input and what chain reaction that input starts.
Use this type for switches, timing puzzles, tap-to-release mechanisms, drag puzzles, touch-controlled hazards, and levels where a small number of meaningful player actions should start a larger machine.
Jump To Solve
The level becomes a platform-style challenge. One object can be marked as the main character, and other objects can be marked as platform ground so the character knows when jumping is allowed.
Platform Settings control the feel: can jump, continuous jump, secondary jump controls, jump force, second jump force, move force, air force, down jump, checkpoints, recreate-on-destroy, and what happens when the main character dies.
Use this type when the solution depends on character movement, timing jumps, collecting items, avoiding hazards, activating triggers from the character, and keeping the camera focused on the playable object.
Build mode
Budget and solution cost
Build To Solve levels can limit how expensive the player's assembled machine is allowed to be.
What The Budget Counts
The solution cost is calculated from user-owned objects placed for the solution. Each object starts with a price from its type, subtype, or texture, then scale changes increase the cost. Static and kinematic bodies can cost more because they are stronger building pieces.
Joint Cost
Joints add their own cost on top of the object price. Motors, torque, speed, force, looped motors, pin-to-wall behavior, and distance-joint length can all make a machine more expensive.
Budget Display
The budget panel shows the current solution cost against the level budget. When the solution goes over budget, the cost is highlighted so the player can see that the machine needs to be simplified.
When Over Budget
If the solution cost is greater than the level budget, the player must remove parts, reduce scale, simplify joints, or choose cheaper objects before the solution is accepted.
Object Settings Help
Physics object settings
These settings decide how the selected object behaves as a physical body.
Body Type
Dynamic bodies react to gravity and forces. Static bodies do not move. Kinematic bodies have infinite mass and are moved by velocity settings.
Scale
Increases or decreases object scale. Larger bodies also have more mass.
Density
Higher density gives an object greater mass, making it harder to move.
Restitution
Controls bounciness. Higher restitution is more elastic, lower restitution is less bouncy.
Friction
Controls how hard the object is to move or slide while touching another object.
No Rotation
Disables object rotation.
Is Sensor
Sensor objects do not collide physically, but they still detect contact with other objects.
Is Hidden
Hides the object from the visible scene.
Reverse Velocities
For kinematic bodies, reverses velocity when the kinematic object collides with this object.
Force Field Multiplicator
Multiplies force field strength so force values can be tuned more precisely.
High Precision Collision
Uses more precise collision calculation for the object. It is CPU intensive, so use it only where needed.
Selected object toolbar
Controls that change by object type
When an object is selected, the bottom toolbar is rebuilt for that object. A normal object, color object, physics line, force field, jointed object, or selected group can expose different actions. Each row opens a dedicated page with a deeper explanation of that control.
Object Settings
The default settings button for most selected objects. It opens the physics/body settings for the selected object.
Game Settings
Appears when the object supports gameplay behavior. It opens object rules such as touch, trigger zone, chip, collect, platform, camera, filter, animation, gun, or propulsion settings.
Color Object
Appears for color objects. It opens the main color-object editor for fill, stroke, alpha, labels, and visual state setup.
Color Detail
Opens the detail-layer settings for a color object, including overlays, texture/detail styling, and per-state visual detail configuration.
Color Detail Filter
Appears in create mode when the selected color object has detail layers. It controls which color details are included, filtered, or edited for the current state.
Advanced Path
Appears for objects that can move along an advanced path, especially kinematic non-scene objects. It opens path speed, loop, reverse, wait, rotation, activation, and path-completion trigger options.
Add Or Choose Joint
Shows the joint list for the selected object. From here the player can add revolute, prismatic, distance, weld, or rope style connections.
Joint Settings
Appears when the selected object has a configurable joint. It exposes motor, limits, loop, pin-to-wall, frequency, and damping settings.
Physics Line
When a physics line or one of its points is selected, the toolbar switches to line-editing actions for points, segments, curves, and line skins.
Bezier Point
Enables or disables bezier behavior for the selected physics-line edit point, allowing curved line segments instead of only straight segments.
Segment Editing
Controls segment-level editing on physics lines, useful when a single line needs different movement, material, or curve behavior per segment.
Delete Edit Point
Removes the currently selected physics-line edit point without deleting the entire line object.
Force Field Direction
Force-field objects expose direction controls so the field can push, pull, or apply custom directional behavior to bodies inside it.
Multiple Selected Objects
When several objects are selected, the toolbar focuses on group operations, copying properties, moving, deleting, and other actions that apply to the current selection.
Object Game Settings menu
Game setting groups and icons
Each row opens a dedicated page with a deeper explanation of how that Object Game Settings group works.
Builder Settings
Builder Settings define how an object participates in Build To Solve levels and player-created machines. Open the detailed guide.
Touch Settings
Touch Settings control what happens when the player taps, drags, or directly interacts with an object. Open the detailed guide.
Physics Properties Settings
Physics Properties Settings expose gameplay-facing physics modifiers for selected objects. Open the detailed guide.
Connection Settings
Connection Settings control how the selected object can connect to joints, chips, and other machine systems. Open the detailed guide.
Trigger Zone
Trigger Zone settings turn an object into an event area or event controller that can start other gameplay changes. Open the detailed guide.
Chip
Chip settings make an object process values and events, then send the result to other objects or systems. Open the detailed guide.
Collect Settings
Collect Settings define collectible objects, collectors, stars, and point rewards. Open the detailed guide.
Deactivation Settings
Deactivation Settings control whether an object starts inactive, becomes active later, or is disabled by gameplay. Open the detailed guide.
Clone Object Settings
Clone Object Settings define how an object can create copies or spawned versions during the level. Open the detailed guide.
Follow Object Settings
Follow Object Settings make one object track another object, including smart-follow style behavior. Open the detailed guide.
Laser Object Settings
Laser Object Settings configure beam-like object behavior, contact rules, filtering, and damage-style interactions. Open the detailed guide.
Shape Shifter
Shape Shifter settings transform the physical properties of another object when contact or configured gameplay conditions happen. Open the detailed guide.
Destruction Settings
Destruction Settings define damage, object breaking, destroy-on-contact rules, and fail or score consequences. Open the detailed guide.
Bomb Settings
Bomb Settings configure explosive or particle-based destruction behavior and which objects can be affected by it. Open the detailed guide.
Time Settings
Time Settings control delayed creation, repeated intervals, restore delays, and other time-based object behavior. Open the detailed guide.
Platform Settings
Platform Settings configure platform-level behavior such as main character, ground, jump, and left-right movement. Open the detailed guide.
Camera Settings
Camera Settings decide when the game camera should follow an object or focus on important movement. Open the detailed guide.
Filter Settings
Filter Settings decide which objects are accepted, ignored, collected, damaged, triggered, or targeted by other systems. Open the detailed guide.
Position Settings
Position Settings configure object placement, movement-related references, offsets, and directional behavior. Open the detailed guide.
Animation Settings
Animation Settings control visual state, frame changes, movie behavior, and gameplay-driven appearance updates. Open the detailed guide.
Scene Settings
Scene Settings handle decorative or environment objects that belong to the level scene rather than the player-built machine. Open the detailed guide.
Gun And Bullet Settings
Gun And Bullet Settings let any configured physics object fire another preview object as a projectile. Open the detailed guide.
Propulsion Settings
Propulsion Settings configure thrust-like behavior for objects that push themselves or emit movement force during play. Open the detailed guide.
Object Controls Help
Control icons
These are the main editor and play controls shown with the original iPadRetina icon assets copied into the site.
Center Scene
Centers the game scene scale and position.
Level Objective
Shows the level objective and explains what must be done to complete the level.
Lock Scene Objects
Locks all scene objects so they cannot be selected or moved by accident while zooming or dragging the scene.
Create Mode
Returns to level create mode.
Object Settings
Configures object physics properties such as scale, density, restitution, friction, sensors, and precision.
Object Game Settings
Configures game behavior such as target, goal, interactivity, destruction, collecting, damage, and creation rules.
Joint List
Opens the joint list dialog where you can add or remove an object joint.
Joint Settings
Configures joint properties. Different joint types expose different settings, and this control is disabled when the object has no joint.
Duplicate Left
Duplicates the selected object with all properties and places it to the left.
Duplicate Up
Duplicates the selected object with all properties and places it above.
Duplicate Right
Duplicates the selected object with all properties and places it to the right.
Duplicate Down
Duplicates the selected object with all properties and places it below.
Move Object Controls
Shows precise movement controls for positioning an object on the scene.
Rotate Right
Rotates the selected object 45 degrees to the right.
Rotate Left
Rotates the selected object 45 degrees to the left.
Reset Rotation
Sets object rotation back to 0.
Horizontal Drag Lock
Locks or unlocks horizontal dragging. When horizontal drag is locked, the object can only be dragged vertically.
Vertical Drag Lock
Locks or unlocks vertical dragging. When vertical drag is locked, the object can only be dragged horizontally.
Scale Up
Increases the scale of the selected object.
Scale Down
Decreases the scale of the selected object.
Reset Scale
Resets object scale to 1.
Select Previous
Selects the previous object in the scene.
Select Next
Selects the next object in the scene.
Delete Object
Removes the selected object from the scene.
Object Game Settings Help
Gameplay object settings
These settings turn physical objects into targets, goals, collectibles, hazards, characters, timed objects, or gameplay devices.
Object Type
Sets target or goal behavior. Targets must collide with accepted goals to complete a level.
Object Name
Names an object so it is easier to identify inside the editor.
Accept Targets
Selects which target objects a goal accepts. Multiple targets can be accepted.
Creation Timeout
Delays object creation after the level starts by the chosen number of milliseconds.
Is Preview Object Hidden
Hides the preview object in solve mode before the level starts.
Is Interactive
Allows the object to be grabbed and dragged after the level starts.
Follow This Object
Makes the camera follow the object when it moves.
Enable Motor On Touch
Starts the object's motor when the object is touched.
Destroy On Touch
Destroys the object when it is touched.
Destroy Points
Sets how many points the player receives when the object is destroyed.
Enable Damage
Enables staged object damage. There are two damage stages, and support depends on object type.
Strength
Sets how much damage an object can receive before being destroyed.
Initial Damage
Sets the object's damage value when the level starts.
Minimum Force To Cause Damage
Sets the minimum contact force required to damage the object.
Is Collectable
Makes the object collectible by another object that can collect.
Can Collect
Allows the object to collect stars and other collectible items.
Collect As Star
Makes the object count as a star when collected. A level can use up to three star collectibles.
Collect Points
Sets the points awarded when the object is collected.
Fail Level On Destroy
Fails the level when this object is destroyed.
Minimum Contact Force To Play Sound
Sets the minimum impact force required for contact sound effects.
Is Platform Ground
Makes the object count as ground for platform levels, enabling jumps only while the character touches it.
Is Main Character
Marks the selected object as the main character for platform levels.
Jump Force
Sets the force applied when the main character jumps.
Left/Right Force
Sets the movement force applied when the character moves left or right.
Create On Interval
Automatically creates the object repeatedly while the level is running.
Create Interval
Sets the delay between automatic object creation events.
Disable Static Skin
Disables the static skin of the selected object.
Destroyed By Bomb
Allows bomb particles to destroy this object.
Destroy Other Object On Contact
Destroys other objects that collide with this body.
Disable Destruction By Other Object
Prevents this object from being destroyed by objects configured to destroy others on contact.
Allow Connecting Distance Joint
Allows a distance joint to be connected to this object.
Allow Connecting Weld Joint
Allows a weld joint to be connected to this object.
Object Joint Help
Joint types
Joints connect objects or constrain movement, making rotating arms, sliding platforms, pendulums, locked mechanisms, and moving machines possible.
Revolute Center Joint
The object rotates around its center.
Revolute Top Joint
The object rotates around its top tip.
Revolute Bottom Joint
The object rotates around its bottom.
Revolute Left Joint
The object rotates around its left side.
Revolute Right Joint
The object rotates around its right side.
Prismatic Vertical Joint
The object is constrained so it can move up and down.
Prismatic Horizontal Joint
The object is constrained so it can move left and right.
Custom Prismatic Joint
Sets a custom translation angle instead of only horizontal or vertical movement.
Distance Joint
Connects two objects so they do not separate, while each object can still rotate around its own center.
Weld Joint
Connects two objects so they do not separate and cannot rotate independently around their centers.
Rope Joint
Creates a rope-like constraint that keeps connected bodies within a maximum distance.
Editor reference
Game settings are meant to combine
The strongest Ancient Machines levels usually come from combinations: a trigger starts a moving platform, a chip changes a motor speed, a shape shifter alters object mass, or a gun fires a custom bullet.
