Introduction to the 2D Extras Project
The 2D Extras project is a valuable resource for game developers working on 2D games in Unity. This repository contains a collection of reusable scripts that enhance the creation process of 2D tile-based games by providing additional functionality for the Unity Tilemap system.
Key Features
The project focuses on expanding the tools available for 2D tilemaps, offering a broad range of unique Brushes and Tiles. These tools can be easily customized to fit specific game development needs, allowing developers to craft their own specialized tools or modify the existing ones.
Notable Tools and Features
Brushes
The Brushes included in the 2D Extras are designed to simplify and enhance the process of creating and manipulating tilemaps. Some of the standout Brushes are:
- Coordinate Brush: This helps visualize cell coordinates within the scene, aiding in the precise placement of tiles.
- Line Brush: Efficiently draws lines on the tilemap, streamlining the painting process.
- Random Brush: Allows for the random placement of tiles, introducing variability.
- Prefab Brushes: These include Prefab and PrefabRandom Brushes, which are used for placing GameObject instances into the scene. They offer a way to add diverse GameObjects at structured locations effortlessly.
- GameObject Brush: Use this for manipulating GameObjects directly within the scene.
- TintBrush and TintBrushSmooth: These tools offer basic and advanced options for applying tint colors to tiles, including smooth color gradients.
Tiles
The project provides a rich set of Tile types to address various design scenarios:
- Animated Tiles: Display a sequence of sprites to create animations on the tilemap.
- Pipeline and Terrain Tiles: Consider neighboring tiles to decide the sprite to display, perfect for creating continuous or terrain-like visuals.
- Random and Weighted Random Tiles: Choose sprites at random, with options to assign probabilities to different sprites.
- Rule Tiles: These versatile tiles can be set to display various sprites based on custom rules, ideal for creating dynamic tile behaviors. Variants like Hexagonal and Isometric Rule Tiles are available for specific grid types.
Additional Tools
- GridInformation: A utility for managing data based on grid positions and keywords.
- Custom Rules for RuleTiles: This feature allows the creation of new, tailored rules for Rule Tiles, fostering unique gameplay mechanics.
Transition to Tilemap Extras
Recently, the 2D Extras functionality has been integrated into the Tilemap Extras package available through the Unity Package Manager. This ensures developers have direct access to the latest tools without needing the GitHub repository, which has now been made read-only. Tilemap Extras encompasses Animated Tiles, RuleTile variants, and various Brushes, along with sample use-cases.
Developers are encouraged to share their needs and feedback through Unity’s official channels if there are specific features they would like to see included in future updates of the Tilemap Extras package.
Usage Instructions
To incorporate the 2D Extras package into a project, developers can choose to download the repository directly or add it to their Unity project’s Package Manager manifest. This approach simplifies the integration process, providing flexibility in how developers access and manage the tools.
Conclusion
The 2D Extras project and the subsequent Tilemap Extras package represent an essential asset for Unity developers focused on 2D game development. By offering customizable tools and a straightforward integration method, these resources empower developers to enhance the creative possibilities within their games.