GUI Options: iOS

Unity Engine
1

So since I am hearing such bad things about how taxing the Unity OnGUI is to the iOS and that the alternatives are SpriteManager, SpriteManager2 and EZ GUI are the way to go… I am wondering, if I can gather a consensus? What do the actual Unity members like?

Is it worth the money to invest? Is OnGUI not that bad?

Thanks
Ren

2

You should not use Unity’s GUI (at least until 3.5 is out). I have a solution with SpriteManager and it works great on iOS and PC/Mac alike.

If you are starting your project today, or planning it for ne next month or so, I would suggest you wait for Unity 3.5 that promisses a very good GUI system.

3

There is no new GUI system in Unity 3.5.

As for whether OnGUI is appropriate, it depends on what you’re doing. It’s OK for menus and so on, but you wouldn’t want to run an entire 2D game using it.

–Eric

4

Unity 3.5 will not have a new GUI system. It will not be ready until sometime in the future.

Using the older 3D Text and 3D Texture is much less taxing than OnGUI, and useable on iOS if you only have a few elements visible during gameplay (more are OK on menus, etc.).

5

Hmmmm I read about the new GUI a while ago… it looks like it will not be ready… sorry about that.

6

So basically all I want to do is use the GUI for in game buttons, 4 of them to be precise. Pause, left, right, shoot and a few other hud items. What about a pause screen menu? Have not thought about that one.

I may use it for menus too, but unsure at the moment. But my game play, objects move here do that etc done in the game engine not part of gui. I just want GUI to be my stationary buttons.

So with that would you say OnGUI is fine for my needs to be built for iOS?

When the new GUI system comes out, does that mean different code on my end? will my old onGUI code be compatible? or is it just enhanced performance that is the difference that the new system brings?

7

I would use GUITextures for that. Even on a desktop.

–Eric

8

Right.
I am fine with that.
I am just thinking, how I could use something like EZGUI to enhance my game beyond the standards. As in make way cooler menu selections. Interactive menus basically. I have no intrinsical proof but I am thinking that with EZGUI these (menus) could be made much more interesting.

Up until now I have not thought of menus as anything but standard Angry Bird like things so it is not essential I guess, maybe just a temptation.