Properties¶

Game Creator properties are a special type of class that allows to dynamically specify the source of a field value using a dropdown menu. The menu's options are dynamic and can be added without the need of overwriting Game Creator core code, allowing to write maintainable and decoupled code.

There are different types of Properties, each with its own set of options. All of them have in common that, when retrieving them, an instance of Args parameter is passed, which contains two fields:

• Target: A reference to the Game Object responsible for calling the property
• Self: A reference to the Game Object containing the property reference.

Property Get types allow to retrieve a value and Property Set types allow to set a value. Game Creator comes with a collection of both types, but each module increases the amount available. You can even create your own property types to extend the existing ones.

Property Get Types¶

There are a few default property types available:

• PropertyGetBool: A boolean value type
• PropertyGetColor: A representation of a Color
• PropertyGetDecimal: A decimal value
• PropertyGetDirection: A Vector3 representing a direction
• PropertyGetGameObject: References a game object
• PropertyGetInstantiate: Allows to reference an instance
• PropertyGetInteger: An integer value
• PropertyGetLocation: A position and/or rotation
• PropertyGetOffset: A Vector3 that offsets from a position
• PropertyGetPosition: A Vector3 representing a point in space
• PropertyGetRotation: A Quaternion representing a rotation
• PropertyGetScale: A Vector3 representing a scalar value
• PropertyGetScene: Allows to select scene objects
• PropertyGetSprite: Returns Sprite assets
• PropertyGetString: Returns texts
• PropertyGetTexture: To retrieve Texture assets

Property Set Types¶

• PropertySetBool: Sets a boolean value
• PropertySetColor: Sets a Color type value
• PropertySetGameObject: Sets a game object reference
• PropertySetNumber: Sets a numeric value
• PropertySetSprite: Sets a Sprite reference
• PropertySetString: Sets a text-based value
• PropertySetTexture: Sets a Texture asset reference
• PropertySetVector3: Sets a Vector3 type value

Using Properties¶

To use a property it's very simple. You just need to declare them as you would with a primitive type, but instead of getting the value directly, call the Get(args) method to retrieve its value.

For example, let's say that in a component, you want to get a string value. Instead of declaring a value like this:

public string myValue = "This is my string";

You could use a property so the source of that string value isn't hard-coded, but set from the Inspector. Like this:

public PropertyGetString myValue = new PropertyGetString();

This will display a dropdown menu on the Inspector with the current option selected. By default it's a constant string, but the value can be chosen to come from the name of a game object, a local or global variable, etc.

To get the value you simply call the Get(args) method:

string value = this.myValue.Get(args);

Args args = new Args(this.gameObject);