Build it in our OpenRCT2 Studio too: set up a park plugin, wire up events, read the park and export real plugin files in the browser, with no install. Open the OpenRCT2 Mod Studio →

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Ember says: events are the door between your code and the living park. Pick the right event and your plugin feels like it has been part of the game all along.

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Meet the Events

The park broadcasts, you listen

Active

🎯

Goal for this step

Know three useful events and when they fire.

1interval.tick fires many times a second. Good for smooth checks, easy to overload.
2interval.day fires once per in-game day. Good for slow, gentle logic.
3ride.ratings.calculate fires when the game rates a ride. Good for reacting to builds.

🧠

Knowledge Check

+15 XP

Which event fires once per in-game day?

Ainterval.tick

Binterval.day

Cride.ratings.calculate

⏱️

Pick the Right Speed

Do not run too often

Locked

🎯

Goal for this step

Choose events that match how often your code needs to run.

1Anything on interval.tick runs constantly. Keep it tiny.
2Anything on interval.day runs rarely. It can do a bit more.
3Rule of thumb: use the slowest event that still does the job.

✏️

Fill in the Blanks

+15 XP

For a job that only needs to run once a day, use interval..

🧠

Knowledge Check

+15 XP

Why avoid putting heavy code on interval.tick?

AIt runs so often it can slow the game down

BIt only runs once

CIt deletes your save

💬

Different Messages

Make the park talk

Locked

🎯

Goal for this step

Send a different message each time the event fires.

1Keep a counter in your plugin that grows each time the event runs.
2Pick a message based on the counter.
3Use park.postMessage to show it.

var days = 0;
function main() {
  context.subscribe("interval.day", function () {
    days++;
    park.postMessage("Day " + days + " in the park!");
  });
}
registerPlugin({ name: "Day Counter", version: "1.0", authors: ["You"], type: "local", main: main });

✏️

Fill in the Blanks

+15 XP

We store the day count in a so it can grow each time.

🧠

Knowledge Check

+15 XP

How does the plugin remember the day count between events?

AIt keeps it in a variable

BIt guesses

CIt asks the player

🧪

Test the Timing

Watch it happen

Locked

🎯

Goal for this step

Confirm your message appears once per day.

1Load a park and let a few days pass.
2Watch the console and the in-game messages.
3If it fires too often, you are on the wrong event.

🧠

Knowledge Check

+15 XP

Your message appears many times a second. What is wrong?

AYou used interval.tick instead of a slower event

BYour message is too long

CThe park is broken

🎨

Design a Little Life

Give the park personality

Locked

🎯

Goal for this step

Invent three messages the park might say at different moments.

1A cheerful morning message.
2A busy-weekend message.
3A gentle reminder to tidy the paths.

✏️

Fill in the Blanks

+15 XP

Messages are written for , so keep them short and friendly.

🧠

Knowledge Check

+15 XP

Who is the message really for?

AThe player

BThe compiler

CThe developer toolbar

Talk to the ParkEpisode 3: Events and Messages

Talk to the Park
Episode 3: Events and Messages