Random Animal Stampeed

1. Create a spawn manager

• In the Hierarchy, create an Empty object called “SpawnManager”
• Create a new script called “SpawnManager”, attach it to the Spawn Manager, and open it
• Declare new public GameObject[ ] animalPrefabs;
• In the Inspector, change the Array size to match your animal count, then assign your animals by dragging them from the Project window into the empty slots Note: Make sure you drag them from the Project window; not the Hierarchy! If you're going to spawn objects, you need to make sure you're using Prefabs, which are stored in the Project window.

2. Spawn an animal if S is pressed

• In Update(), write an if-then statement to instantiate a new animal prefab at the top of the screen if S is pressed

• Declare a new public int animalIndex and incorporate it in the Instantiate call, then test editing the value in the Inspector

3. Spawn random animals from an array

• In the if-statement checking if S is pressed, generate a random int animalIndex between 0 and the length of the array

• Remove the global animalIndex variable, since it is only needed locally in the if-statement

4. Randomize the spawn location

• Replace the X value for the Vector3 with Random.Range(-20, 20), then test

• Within the if-statement, make a new local Vector3 spawnPos variable 

• At the top of the class, create private float variables for spawnRangeX and spawnPosZ

5. Change the perspective of the camera

• Toggle between Perspective and Isometric view in the Scene view to appreciate the difference

• Select the camera and change the Projection from “Perspective” to “Orthographic”

6. Lesson Recap

• • The player can press the S to spawn an animal

  • Animal selection and spawn location are randomized

  • Camera projection (perspective/orthographic) selected
    

New Concepts & Skills

• • Spawn Manager

  • Arrays

  • Keycodes

  • Random generation

  • Local vs Global variables

  • Perspective vs Isometric projections

Next Lesson

• Using collisions to feed our animals!