Assets are a concept at the core of LootLocker. In its simplest form, an Asset is an item of property that can store both LootLocker-specific and game-specific data that can then be read by your game or connected to a Player (through the Player's inventory) — something a Player can earn, purchase, possess, or equip.
Assets must be assigned a Context and Complexity so that LootLocker knows how they'll be used. See Understanding Assets for how the Asset Manager and Asset data fields work.
Context
An Asset's Context is a way to group and describe Assets. All Assets must be assigned a Context when they're created. Defining an Asset's Context tells your game what type of Asset it is, and tells LootLocker what information or logic to store on the Asset and any special relationships it should have, for example with Character Classes and Default Loadouts.
Complexity
An Asset Complexity adds additional functionality and logic to Assets assigned to a specific Asset Context. Every Asset Context must be assigned an Asset Complexity. There are several types of Asset Complexities:
- Generic Asset: doesn't add any additional functionality or logic to the Asset Context.
- Loot Box: adds the ability to have an Asset randomly selected from a predefined group of Assets.
- Rental: adds the ability to temporarily grant Assets that expire after a set amount of time.
- Drop Table: adds the ability to randomly select an Asset from a predefined table of Assets that Players can select from.
Asset Instance
Asset Instances only matter when dealing with Assets in a Player's inventory. An Asset listed in the Asset Manager is a Reference Asset — it's never owned by a Player and doesn't contain dynamic data stored by your game. When an Asset is granted to a Player's inventory, an Asset Instance is created based on the Reference Asset. An Asset Instance is an extension of the Asset the Player possesses, and contains data specific to that instance. Since an Asset Instance is an instance of an Asset, any changes made to the Reference Asset also update the Asset Instance. This instance can be traded to other Players or modified based on its relationship to your game.
Use Cases
- Virtual Goods
- Player Cosmetics
- Loot Boxes & Gachas
- Drop Tables
- Game Config & Balancing
- Character Buffs & Skill Cooldowns
- Character Equipment Systems
How-To
Generic
- Create & Configure an Asset
- Organize & Search for Assets
- Retrieve Assets In-Game
- Set Up an Asset Storage Template
- Check Grant Notifications
- Set Up a Game Config Asset
- Equip an Asset onto a Character
Complexity Specific
- Create a Loot Box
- Work with Loot Boxes In-Game
- Create a Drop Table
- Work with Drop Tables In-Game
- Create a Rental Asset
- Work with Rental Assets In-Game