Lists

make-public

What if you have more than one thing to remember?

The pattern is htat you have a "manager" object, and that "manager" object has a List of things it is managing.

So you might have a GoombaManager script that keeps a List of Goombas.

A list is like an array, but smarter.

List

Array

//Lists Example

Light[] lightArray;
lightArray = FindObjectsOfType<Light>();

// make a new list and copy the contents of this array into it
List<Light> lightList;
lightList = new List<Light>(lightArray);

// Declare and set up a List of whatever type you need
// Instantiate the new thing and save a reference
// Add the reference to the List

// Says: I need a list at some point.
// It's like you're thinking about needing groceries, so you get out your resuable grocery bag.
List<Enemy> enemyList;

// Says: I'm making the list now.
// This is like getting out a piece of paper to write down your grocery list, but there's nothing in it yet.
enemyList = new List<Enemy>();

//do this five times
for (int i=0; i<5; i++)
{
  // Make a new copy of the enemy prefab and keep a reference to it (instead of forgetting it forever)
  GameObject newEnemyGO = Instantiate(enemyPrefab);
  // Ask the newly created GameObject for a script component called Enemy
  Enemy newEnemy = newEnemyGO.GetComponent<Enemy>();
  // Add this copy of the Enemy script to the List
  enemyList.Add(newEnemy);
}

// This works the same way for other components.

List<Light> listOfLights;
listOfLights = new List<Light>();

for(int i = 0; i < 5; i++)
{
  GameObject newLightGO = Instantiate(lightPrefab);
  Light newLight = newLightGO.GetComponent<Light>();
  listOfLights.Add(newLight);
}

// Same for transforms!

List<Transform> enemyTransforms;
enemyTransforms = new List<Transform>();

for (int i=0; i<5; i++)
{
  GameObject newEnemyGO = Instantiate(enemyPrefab);
  Transform newEnemyTransform = newEnemyGO.transform;
  enemyTransform.Add(newEnemyTransform);
}