Failing to make array of gameobjects

[Shroomi84]

I don’t see what is wrong

[Kurt-Dekker]

@Shroomi84

I don’t see what is wrong

Hurry over to any C# code example for how to correctly initialize arrays.

ALSO, initialize the array in Start(), otherwise Unity’s serialization might wipe out your coded 6 size.

Here’s why:

Serialized / public fields in Unity are initialized as a cascade of possible values, each subsequent value (if present) overwriting the previous value:

• what the class constructor makes (either default(T) or else field initializers, eg “what’s in your code”)

• what may be saved with the prefab

• what may be saved with the prefab override(s)/variant(s)

• what may be saved in the scene and not applied to the prefab

• what may be changed in the scene and not yet saved to disk

• what may be changed in OnEnable(), Awake(), Start(), or even later

Make sure you only initialize things at ONE of the above levels, or if necessary, at levels that you specifically understand in your use case. Otherwise errors will seem very mysterious.

Here’s the official discussion: Serialization in Unity

If you must initialize fields, then do so in the void Reset() method, which ONLY runs in the UnityEditor.

Here’s more nitty-gritty on serialization:

Unity - Manual: Script serialization

Field initializers versus using Reset() function and Unity serialization:

Sensitivity in my MouseLook script.

Whatever value you set and save in your scene or prefab will wipe out the field initializer value you change in the code above. This is a common source of confusion: the object is created, so at that instant in time it has the value you set in code, but before the object is put into use, if Unity has a saved scene or saved prefab that this is already in, then the value saved is overwritten. It’s best to remove the initialization value above and instead provide it in a Reset function: public f…

Crouch speed is faster than Movement Speed

If something is public: The instant you add that to your scene / prefab it is 10f … AND THEN IT GETS SERIALIZED. Now go change the value in code. Note that it has no effect: the serialized value writes over the code value. This is how Unity serialization works. If you want to define it in code, make the variable private. If you want to define it in the editor, make it public and DO NOT INITIALIZE IT. Instead, make a Reset function, which ONLY runs at the instant it is added: void Reset(…

To avoid complexity in your prefabs / scenes, I recommend NEVER using the FormerlySerializedAsAttribute

[Shroomi84]

Thanks so much for the help. I’ve moved it into the start function but I’m not sure I understood what you said about serialization. Do you think you could display a proper example of how I should lay this out?

[Kurt-Dekker]

@Shroomi84

Do you think you could display a proper example of how I should lay this out?

Ideally make that array field private.

Otherwise, if your code is always jamming those X number of specific objects into that array, AND you want external (public) access, make it a property, then allocate it in Start().

public GameObject[] mylist { get; private set; }

// and then in Start() just initialize it:

mylist = new GameObject[] { a,b,c,d};

If you had actually posted the code properly I could have copy/pasted and modified it so it just dropped in as if it was your code above, but I’m not retyping your code.

NOTE: you might want to look into ScriptableObjects… they are perfect for making these sorts of pre-authored data sets, such as the list of attacks.

Here’s some ScriptableObject scribblings:

ScriptableObject usage in RPGs:

ScriptableObjects for an RPG with multiple units in your team

The most important concept about ScriptableObjects (SOs) is that they are custom-shaped blobs of data that you can edit inside the Unity inspector. The serialized values inside a SO map directly to that created asset on disk, the instance of the SO. When your game runs, it needs some data. One way to get that data is to hard-code it in the code. That is bad because when you change it, you need to change code. That’s why we have things like a SO to configure existing unchanging shipped code. W…

Creating lookup tables that can be assigned in the inspector.

This looks like a job tailor made for ScriptableObjects! ScriptableObjects are basically structured blobs of predefined data to help you create content for your game. For instance if I had a ScriptableObject called Weapon, it might have these properties: name detailed name description damage toughness weight what it looks like in the inventory what model it uses in game what animations the player uses to swing it I would create many of these Weapons, each one a file on disk (also called an…

Usage as a shared common data container:

Better Data with Scriptable Objects in Unity! (Tutorial)