Dialogue System

The Dialogue System is the runtime engine inside GS_Cinematics that drives all authored narrative experiences. It connects a persistent .dialoguedb asset to a node-graph sequencer, world-space and screen-space UI display, and an extensible set of polymorphic conditions, effects, and performances. Every piece is a standalone component communicating through EBus interfaces, so you can replace or extend any layer without modifying the gem itself.

The system is managed by the GS_DialogueManagerComponent, which participates in the standard Game Manager startup sequence.

For usage guides and setup examples, see The Basics: GS_Cinematics.

Contents

• Architecture
• Dialogue Manager
• Dialogue Sequencer
• Data Structure
• Effects
• Performances
• Dialogue UI
• Actors
• Editor
• See Also

Architecture

Breakdown

A dialogue sequence is authored in the node editor, stored in a .dialoguedb asset, and driven at runtime by the Dialogue Manager and Sequencer:

Layer	What It Means
DialogueDatabase	Stores named actors and sequences. Loaded at runtime by the Dialogue Manager.
DialogueSequence	A directed node graph. The Sequencer walks from startNodeId through Text, Selection, Effects, and Performance nodes.
Conditions	Polymorphic evaluators on branches. Failed conditions skip that branch automatically.
Effects	Polymorphic actions at EffectsNodeData nodes — set records, toggle entities.
Performers	Named actor anchors in the level. Resolved from database actor names via DialoguePerformerMarkerComponent.

Conditions, effects, and performances are discovered automatically at startup — custom types from any gem appear in the editor without modifying GS_Cinematics.

E Indicates extensible classes and methods.

Patterns - Complete list of system patterns used in GS_Play.

Dialogue Manager

GS_DialogueManagerComponent owns the active dialogue database and performer registry. Extends GS_Core::GS_ManagerComponent.

Dialogue Manager API

Dialogue Sequencer

DialogueSequencerComponent traverses a node graph at runtime. The DialogueUIBridgeComponent routes dialogue and selection events to whichever UI is registered.

Dialogue Sequencer API

Data Structure

The .dialoguedb asset format, DialogueSequence, ActorDefinition, all node types, the polymorphic condition hierarchy, and localization types.

Data Structure API

Effects

Polymorphic DialogueEffect types executed synchronously from EffectsNodeData nodes. Built-in: SetRecords_DialogueEffect, ToggleEntitiesActive_DialogueEffect. Fully extensible.

Effects API

Performances

Polymorphic DialoguePerformance types executed asynchronously from PerformanceNodeData nodes. Built-in: MoveTo, PathTo, RepositionPerformer. Fully extensible.

Performances API

Dialogue UI

Screen-space and world-space dialogue display, selection menus, the typewriter text-reveal system, and the babble audio system.

Dialogue UI API

Actors

DialoguePerformerMarkerComponent places named performer anchors in the world, plus the ActorDefinition data model.

Dialogue Actors API

Editor

The in-engine GUI for authoring dialogue databases, sequences, and node graphs.

Dialogue Editor

See Also

For conceptual overviews and usage guides:

• The Basics: GS_Cinematics

For related references:

• Cinematics Manager – Cinematic lifecycle and stage markers
• GS_Cinematics Overview – Top-level gem reference
• GS_Core Managers – Manager base system

Get GS_Cinematics

GS_Cinematics — Explore this gem on the product page and add it to your project.