How to Save and Load a List GameObject in Unity

Описание: Learn how to effectively save and load a `List GameObject ` in Unity, ensuring player progress is recorded and characters remain purchased across sessions.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/68666797/ asked by the user 'IcyThug' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/16333362/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/68674450/ provided by the user 'dgates82' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/2209181/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Saving and Loading a List GameObject in Unity

When developing a game in Unity, one common challenge developers face is saving and loading data, particularly when it comes to player progress. In this guide, we’ll explore a solution for saving and loading a List<GameObject> which contains data for characters purchased in your game. We’ll break down the process into clear and manageable steps, providing code examples along the way.

Understanding the Problem

In many games, players can purchase characters or items that they wish to keep across gameplay sessions. The issue arises when players quit the game and start again only to find that their purchases have not been saved. In this specific example, we want to save a List<GameObject> named characters that holds the data of these characters.

Current Situation

You have a List<GameObject> containing your character data.

Players can buy characters from a shop, which updates this list.

When the game is closed and reopened, the purchases are not retained, and the player must repurchase characters.

Simple Solutions

While you might think using PlayerPrefs could be the solution, it cannot simply save lists or complex objects directly, especially those that inherit from MonoBehaviour, such as GameObjects. To overcome this limitation, we can utilize a custom serialization approach for more structured data.

Step 1: Creating Serializable Character Classes

Firstly, create a class to store relevant character data. You will need attributes such as ID, name, hit points, and attack damage. Here's an example class:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Modify Your Character Class

Next, your character GameObjects will utilize the above data:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 3: Create a Save Data Class

Next, build a second class to hold an entire collection of characters in one object. This class can include a list of CharacterData.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 4: Implementing the Save Manager

Finally, craft a SaveManager class that will handle the serialization and deserialization of your data. Here’s an overview of what it should look like:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

By employing the methods outlined above, you can effectively save and load your List<GameObject> containing character data in Unity. This ensures that purchases remain intact between gaming sessions, providing a seamless experience for your players. Serialization in Unity doesn't have to be complicated — with the right approach, you can manage character data efficiently.

Additional Tips:

Always ensure to handle exceptions when loading data.

Consider saving to a local file with proper permissions for broader applications.

Test thoroughly to ensure saved data matches expected results.

In implementing these changes, you'll significantly enhance your game's data management capabilities, leading to improved player satisfaction and engagement.