Getting Started: Making your first Operator in NOODS Maker
NOODS versus NOODS Maker
NOODS and NOODS Maker are two separate apps on Steam.
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- NOODS: free app. This is where Operators actually live and run on your desktop.
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- NOODS Maker: the authoring tool. This is where you build a new Operator from your own art and settings, then export it as a *.operator package.
You need NOODS Maker to create an Operator. And you’ll need NOODS to run one. Most creators have both installed: NOODS Maker for building, NOODS for testing.
Check out this video for tips on getting started:
Preparing your Art and Assets (Outside of NOODS Maker)
NOODS Maker does not draw your character for you. Design your character art in a separate tool first (Aseprite, Procreate, etc.), then bring finished frames in.
Note, there are set Sprite Sizes. Draw your canvas at or export to this sprite size which is locked in for all frames.
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- 16×16
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- 32×32
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- 64×64
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- 128×128
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- 256×256
Asset limits to build around:
| Asset | File type | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Operator | PNG | 1 MB per file | Max 256×256 px |
| Actions (Animations) | PNG | 50 frames per action, 3 MB per total loop | Resolution matches your Base Operator asset |
| Looping Animations | PNG | Refer to Animation Cheat Sheet | Resolution matches your Base Operator asset |
| Sound files | MP4 | 10 seconds or less |
Refer to the Animation Cheat Sheet for a list of Actions: https://glossbird.com/noods-maker-wiki/operator-animation-cheat-sheet/
Check out this YouTube video on an introduction for drawing Operator animations:
Organizing Your Files Before You Upload
We recommend one dedicated folder per Operator, with three subfolders:
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- Operator frames: all character frames and action sequences
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- UI elements: button/menu art (if you’re customizing NOODS Maker’s UI)
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- Sounds: short sound files for buttons or to use as a base for your voice over effect
Inside your Operator images subfolder, break things down further by action (idle, walk, wall climb, etc.) so you can batch-select all frames for one action at once, the Actions upload screen takes files per action.
Create a new Operator
On the Create Operator screen, you’ll set a Sprite Size that you have already designed to. This locks every animation frame you upload afterward to that dimension.
Name and Biography also get set here. Note, if you choose to sell your Operator on Steam, the name and biography here are part of your store listing later.
Adding Actions
Each action (Standing Idle, Walking, etc.) gets its own upload. Click into an action to open the upload window, then either drag a whole folder of frames in at once (batch upload) or add them one at a time.
Once uploaded, frames show in a numbered grid (3 per row). Click a frame’s number to retype its position, or drag frames to reorder.
Actions are grouped in steps: Step 1 covers basic actions (standing idle, sitting idle, climbing idle, drag, grab window, throw window), Step 2 covers basic movement (walking, slow scoot, wall climb, ceiling climb, falling, bounce, dragging window), Step 3 covers alternate movement, Step 4 is up to 4 additional custom actions.
Typing In Dialogue Lines
Dialogue lines are plain text, one line per entry.
Each line has a checkbox (for bulk duplicate/delete), the text field itself, a play button to preview your Operator speaking that line based on the Voice Style slider settings.
UI Picker
Treat UI choices as part of your Operator’s identity.
Lives under its own tab, several steps:
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- Presets: preset color + font combinations you can drop in, then tweak from there.
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- Palette: your last 12 used colors, saved per Operator.
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- Color language to keep in mind while picking: grey = not opened yet, green = complete/correct, yellow = currently active, red = incomplete/error.
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- Screenshots (final step): upload a store image (max 300×300 px) and an icon (50×50 px) that represent your Operator for its store listing.
Personality Traits
Three sliders set your Operator’s personality and directly drive behavior:
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- Energy: speed of animations, and how often they change.
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- Predictability: whether your Operator is a mischievous window-stealer or a disciplined pal.
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- Chattiness: how often dialogue lines trigger.
Each slider snaps to the notches. The preview above the sliders updates live with a plain-language summary as you adjust them, so you can sanity check your Operator’s vibe before moving on.
