The console window is one of our new additions to BT3, available to anyone who has purchased a Parts Pack. Even if you purchased Parts Pack 1 weeks ago, you still get access to the console window in this update. This is a dev tool that’ll let you take control of the game as we do!

To turn it on or off, press the grave accent  ( ` ) key. This brings up a small bar at the top of your screen, displaying the frames per second, a text entry field, and an arrow to maximize the window. Once maximized, you can see output from various commands you’ve entered. Type “?” or “help” to see a list of available commands. I’ll explain these commands in more detail here.

clear - Pretty straightforward. Just clears whatever text is in the output display.

destroy - Permanently destroys the console window, removing all references to it. Not really necessary in most cases, especially since you’ll need to reload the game to get it back. But if you absolutely will not use it, destroying it could help a bit with performance.

display_units – Displays unit table. This will show what tanks have already been loaded into the game, displaying their keys and tank ID’s. For more clarification on enemy keys, see our post on enemy types.

downgrade – Bumps your tank down a tier. Useful if you want to make a specific tier of tank, or see your entire upgrade tree without having to wait for enemies to downgrade you.

insert_unit – Inserts another unit into the table. This is useful for controlling what enemies you want to see. For example, if you made an enemy that doesn’t fit any of the existing types, you can manually insert it and declare it whatever type you want. Imagine the fun you have when your Class 5, 50 GP toting enemy is classified as a TinyDeadHead. ;) You can also use it to simply make more challenging enemies appear much earlier. To do this, type insert_unit, followed by the enemy ID, followed by the key you want it to have. For example:  “insert_unit E10006592 TinyDeadHead”.

output_last_wave – Shows the last wave that was generated. So, if you go to a new bubblefield, it will show you the wave for that bubblefield. However, if you backtrack to one you’ve already been to, it will continue to display the wave for the newest bubblefield added. This is helpful if you see an enemy you like. You can get its ID and use insert_unit to add it to your games without having to search through your downloaded tanks to find it.

set_gp – Sets the gunpoints for your avatar tank.  Create a tank that decimates enemies before they can blink! (Wait, do bubble tanks blink?) However, this does not translate to infinite guns, as you are still limited by complexity. Still, you can make tanks that aren’t tanks so much as massive piles of guns, leaving a trail of death and destruction in their wake! To use, simply type set_gp, space, then the number you wish to set it to. Example: “set_gp 200″.

spawn – Inserts an enemy directly into your current bubblefield. A great way to test your creations and face them one on one. To use the command, type “spawn” followed by the enemy tank ID. For example, “spawn E10000019″.

trace – Traces out whatever you type in. It’s a good way to add notes to your console window for later reference.

trace_enemy_array – Traces out all the tanks you have saved, showing tank name, author name, and tank ID. Can be used to look up tank ID numbers for your own tanks.

unlock_all_parts – Unlocks all avatar parts. You are still limited by size restrictions, as some guns require a specific size in order to place them.

upgrade – Bumps your tank up to the next tier.

Enjoy your new found powers. You don’t even have to use them responsibly! :D